Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine October 2015 | Page 104

102

Explore | Interview

INTERVIEW
CYRIL RAFFERTY
WENAS

FLYING
HIGH

Interview by Adeste Adipriyanti
Photography by Hendra Wiradi Wahab

Colours speaks with one of
Garuda Indonesia’s youngest
pilots, Cyril Rafferty Wenas,
about chasing your dreams.
Before the Wright brothers’ legendary
success in 1903, the concept of human flight
seemed like far-fetched fantasy. From that
first thrilling flight, lasting just 12 seconds
over a distance of 37m, today thousands of
jet planes criss-cross the skies, flying millions
of passengers across oceans and continents
every day.
While flying has become an inseparable part
of modern life, the world of aviation still
inspires a sense of awe. That sensation of
pure wonderment is what first inspired
Cyril Rafferty Wenas, and what continues
to inspire him every time he steps into the
cockpit of a Garuda Indonesia aircraft.
For Cyril, becoming a pilot was a lifelong
dream. A dream that drove him to study
hard, stay in shape and remain disciplined.
His dream grew stronger in high school
when he learned more about Indonesia’s
aviation industry, and that becoming
a pilot was a viable profession to pursue.
Despite his strong will, Cyril was faced with
the challenge of convincing his family. No one
in his family had ever worked in the aviation
industry. His father was an entrepreneur and
his mother worked at a travel agency.
He even had his own personal doubts.
“Aside from my family, there were times
when I wasn’t so sure myself. I was worried
I didn’t have what it takes to satisfy all the
strict requirements. Ultimately I decided
I should at least give it a shot and enrol in
flight school. If I had failed, at least I had
tried,” said the 27-year-old pilot.