For some aspiring pilots, aviation is a lifelong ambition shaped by the environment they grow up in. Such is the case for our latest edition of the Alumni Spotlights series, featuring Anton Trusch, who has since gone on to fly the Airbus A320 with easyJet.

 

 

Currently living in Hamburg and growing up between Germany and China, he was exposed to aviation from an early age, with his father working for Airbus. Although he had always been interested in becoming a pilot, it was after finishing high school that he decided to turn that ambition into a career. Having heard positive recommendations about FTEJerez from a close friend and former student, he joined the school in November 2023 to begin his professional pilot training.

Anton’s time at FTEJerez marked an important chapter in his journey towards the airline cockpit, combining the challenges of professional flight training with the experiences that come with life at the school. From there, his path continued into commercial aviation, eventually leading him to easyJet, where he now flies the Airbus A320.

Looking back on his journey, Anton reflects on the experiences that shaped him as a pilot and the memories he took with him from his time at FTEJerez. He also shares his perspective on making the most of the training journey and the transition from student pilot to airline First Officer.

We thoroughly enjoyed speaking with him about his journey. If you would like to find out more about his time at FTEJerez and his experience flying the A320 with easyJet, please continue reading the full interview below.

 

 

Could you tell us about your background and how you ended up at FTEJerez?

“Growing up between two cultures, with my father working for Airbus, aviation was always part of my life”

Being half German and half Chinese, I spent my childhood between the two countries. Also, my father worked for Airbus, so aviation was always part of my surroundings. I think that exposure played a big part in sparking my interest in flying from a young age.
After finishing high school, I decided that I wanted to become a pilot. It was something I had always been interested in, although I wasn’t exactly sure where or how I wanted to begin my training. I initially considered staying in Germany, but a good friend of mine, who I had gone to school with in China and who had also attended FTEJerez, recommended it to me.

 

Was there a particular phase or flight at FTEJerez that you enjoyed the most?

“The solo flights were probably the most enjoyable – having the freedom to fly around and explore different places was a great experience”

I would probably say the solo flights were the highlight of my training. Once you start doing solo navigational flights, you have the freedom to fly for a few hours, explore different places and simply enjoy being in the aircraft. Climbing to your cruising level, taking in the scenery and knowing that you’re flying the aircraft on your own makes it a really rewarding experience.

 

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently during your time at FTEJerez?

“I don’t think I would change anything. It’s important to take the training seriously, but also to enjoy the experience around it”

Honestly, I don’t think I would have changed anything. I’m not the kind of person who can study all day and lock myself away in my room. For me, it was important to find a good balance. You have to take the training seriously, pass your exams and get everything done, but you should also make the most of your time outside of studying and flying.

I also liked the way the training was divided into different phases. You complete the first part of ground school, then start flying, and later return to the remaining theory. Once you’ve experienced some of the concepts in the aircraft, things you learned during ground school start to make much more sense. You can see the practical application of things like propeller effects rather than just learning about them on a piece of paper.

For me, that structure worked really well. I think doing all the theory in one continuous block could have been more difficult from a motivation and hands on experience point of view, so I really enjoyed having the training split between ground school and flying.

 

When you were having a difficult time during your training, where did you find the motivation to keep going?

“You’re never really on your own at FTEJerez. Your course mates are always there to support you”

I think one of the biggest things about FTEJerez is how social the environment is. You live and study with people who are going through exactly the same experience, so you naturally become very close to your course mates.

There’s always someone around who can help, whether it’s with theory, preparing for a flight or simply answering a question. Everyone has different strengths, so you can learn a lot from each other.

That support makes a big difference when things get difficult. You know that the people around you understand what you’re going through and are there to help you keep moving forward.

 

How did you land your job and how did it feel when you found out you had been accepted by easyJet?

“You feel like you’ve achieved the milestone and taken the final step towards becoming an airline pilot”

It was a really special feeling. I felt like I had achieved an important milestone and taken another major step towards becoming an airline pilot.

I completed my training at FTEJerez by May 2025, and just a few months later, in August, the academy’s Careers Department contacted me about an opportunity to apply to easyJet. I took the chance, and everything moved very quickly. I completed the assessment in September, started my A320 Type Rating in October, and was officially hired by easyJet in January 2026.

FTEJerez provided a lot of support throughout the process, including information sessions, assessment preparation and an A320 simulator refresher session before the selection. Having that support from the Careers Team made a real difference and gave me the confidence to approach the assessment.

Flight training is demanding, and finding that first airline opportunity can be another major challenge. So, when I found out I had been accepted, I felt very accomplished and grateful. I knew there was still more training ahead, but I had taken another important step towards becoming an airline pilot.

 

Is there anything FTEJerez taught you, either theoretically or practically, that you still apply in your day-to-day life at easyJet?

I think one of the most valuable things FTEJerez gave me was a sense of independence. You’re given the opportunity to plan things yourself, make decisions and deal with situations when something changes. That teaches you how to problem-solve rather than simply following a set process.

I also think the MCC was a big advantage. Having the opportunity to train in a Boeing or Airbus-style cockpit, with instructors who had real airline experience, gave me a good introduction to the environment I would eventually work in. The quality of the training and the experience of the instructors really set you up well for the future.

 

 

If you or someone you know would like to be featured in our Alumni Spotlight Series, please reach out to us at president@fteturbojet.com or careers@fteturbojet.com.