At SWISS, diversity has made it into the cockpit too. Whether gay or queer, modernity has arrived above the clouds. DISPLAY flew along — on the long-haul route to Bangkok.
Markus, a pilot with SWISS for ten years, is a living example. Even before take-off, the diversity of the team is evident: the briefing of the pilot team, made up of Captain Walter Staub, First Officer Luca and First Officer Markus Herrmann, highlights the different experiences that make for an enriching collaboration.
Markus trained as a polymechanic, but thanks to his father, who was also a pilot, he dreamed even as a boy of flying a plane one day. At 25, he felt ready to start a career in aviation. Being gay was never an obstacle to taking up this profession, Markus says.
A working day above the clouds
The day begins in Zurich with packing (what you mustn’t forget for Bangkok: swimming trunks, sports kit for the gym and flip-flops), studying the route and weather on the company iPad, the pilot briefing at the Operation Center and the outside check of the aircraft. As the flight takes around eleven hours, every crew member has to observe the statutory rest periods – since Markus will be carrying out the landing, he is the first to lie down in the crew bunk.
After the rest comes dinner, prepared by Martin Künzi from SWISS First: saffron gnocchi with plenty of pepper. Well fortified, Markus takes over his flying shift, checks the fuel and calculates the remaining distance. Landing in Bangkok calls for full concentration, as the aircraft with 320 people on board has to be brought down safely. This is followed by the “Captains Handshake” – a symbolic gesture to thank colleagues for a successful flight. In the evening, the crew meets on the rooftop for an end-of-shift drink.
Diversity is an important goal
Markus has never made a secret of his sexual orientation. As an ambassador for the pilot profession, he is keen to show young people that this dream job is open to everyone. “The future of aviation is as colourful as the world beneath us,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “By promoting diversity in our cockpits, we are flying not only to new destinations but also into a more inclusive future.” And pilot Chiara Paganini adds: “Diversity and inclusion in the crew are a sign of progress, but also essential prerequisites for safe flight operations.”
A report by Raphael Hadad
