World Pilot’s Day

April 26th is World Pilots' Day, first established by the Turkish Airlines Pilots' Association and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Association (IFALPA), which represents more than 100,000 professionals worldwide. The occurrence honours the Turkish pilot Fesa Evrensev, whose first flight happened on that date back in 1912, and his importance in the history of the aviation world. WPD celebrates the job of pilots and their pivotal role in a globalized and interconnected world!

While the history of flight spans decades, it wasn’t until 2014 that pilots received an official day of celebration, believed to be initiated by the Turkish Airlines Pilots’ Association (TALPA). However, this date was not decided upon by chance.  

The association selected April 26 to highlight the inaugural flight of the first Turkish pilot, Mehmet Fesa Evrensev, who had played a significant role in the development of Turkish aviation since the early 1910s,

According to Turkish sources, Fesan Evrensev was the first Turkish military pilot to take part in several military flight missions during the Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913.

In 1933, around 20 years after his first flight, Fesa Evrensev was appointed Director General of Turkey’s first air transport organization, the Airlines State Operations Administration. This was the predecessor of the country’s current national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines. In 1944, Fesa Evrensev became part of the Turkish Aeronautical Association, where he held several managerial positions during his career.

The idea to turn April 26 into an international celebration was further established by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA). The organization, based in Canada and formed in 1948 to merge various pilot associations into a single unit, currently represents the interests of more than 140,000 pilots worldwide.

In 2013, IFALPA initiated negotiations to establish a specific date to celebrate Pilots’ Day.

As TALPA had been the first to celebrate April 26 in honour of Fesa Evrensev’s first flight, IFALPA saw the date and its ties with a prominent piloting figure as an opportunity to recognize the work of all pilots across the globe. The following year, on April 26, 2014, International Pilots’ Day was celebrated for the first time.