We’re back with another amazing Crew to Office story! Ricards Stengauers, our SMS Team Lead, joined our Smart Team more than 8 years ago when he started his journey in the skies as a cabin crew.

How did it all begin? “I was looking for a new professional challenge when a good friend of mine at SmartLynx suggested I give aviation a shot”, Ricards shares. “That was back in 2016 – in March it’ll be 8.5 years together with SmartLynx.”

As much as he loved flying, being away from family for long time wasn’t easy. “Luckily, SmartLynx had office opportunities, so I took the chance to continue my aviation career on the ground,” he says. Ricards transitioned from Crew Operations to Safety and now he’s leading our Safety Management System team, helping us fly safely every day.

Although Ricards has changed his uniform to office attire, his time as a cabin crew still plays a big role in his work. “I can always reflect on the crew perspective and operational experience when making decisions,” he shares.

Ricards’ favorite part of cabin crew life was the opportunity to travel. “Breakfast in Paris and dinner in Barcelona – what’s not to love?”, he asks with a smile on his face. “And of course, people. Meeting crew members and passengers from all around the world really widens your perspective.”

Ricards, we’re glad you listened to your friend and decided to give aviation a try! Having you on our team both at cruising altitude and in the office is truly a blessing!