Some photographs capture more than just a moment — they capture a story, a tradition, and memories that continue to live on for years. One of the most recognizable images in the history of the airBaltic Pilot Academy is exactly that kind of photograph.
Taken in May 2021 at the Academy’s base in Liepāja, the image shows student pilot Deniss Artemjevs standing beside a Diamond DA42 aircraft while a bucket of water is poured over him after an important training milestone. Nearly five years later, the photo is still widely used in Pilot Academy presentations, Open Day materials, social media posts, and other communication channels. A printed copy even hangs on the wall at the Academy’s Liepāja base, where new students see it almost every day.
Today, Deniss continues his career at airBaltic and is already on his way toward becoming a captain. Looking back, he says the photograph perfectly captured the spirit of pilot training — even if the real story behind the image was slightly different from what most people imagine.
“The Actual First Flight Happened Earlier”
“Yes, I remember it very well,” Deniss says with a smile. “But the funny part is that it wasn’t really my first flight on the DA42. The actual first one had happened a few days earlier.”
At the time, a local television crew had planned to film an interview with representatives of the Pilot Academy. To make the story more visual and interesting, the Academy team decided to recreate the traditional celebration after the flight for the cameras.
“So my real first DA42 flight went completely unnoticed,” Deniss laughs. “No new epaulettes, no water splashing, no tradition. All the fun happened a few days later when the cameras were there.”
What started as a recreated moment for television unexpectedly became one of the Academy’s most iconic images.
A Tradition Every Student Remembers
Even though the famous photograph was recreated for filming purposes, the tradition itself is very real and remains one of the most memorable parts of pilot training.
The celebration begins after a student completes their first solo flight on a single-engine aircraft. Traditionally, the student’s tie is cut, an additional stripe is added to their epaulettes, and finally comes the famous bucket of water — usually cold.
The same celebration takes place again after the student completes their first flight on a twin-engine aircraft such as the Diamond DA42.
For many students, these moments symbolize important milestones on the journey toward becoming a commercial pilot. Beyond the technical achievements, they also create memories, friendships, and stories that stay with students long after graduation.
“We Joked About Being Local Celebrities”
Although the image became widely known inside the Academy, Deniss himself never printed or framed the photo at home. Still, years later, he was surprised to discover it hanging in the Academy office in Liepāja.
“It made me smile,” he recalls. “I wrote to the other ‘hero’ of the picture — Antra, who poured the water. She was surprised and pleased as well. We even joked about being local celebrities.”
Over time, the image has become something of a symbol for the Academy — representing not only training milestones, but also the atmosphere and traditions that students experience during their journey.
Flying the Diamond DA42
For Deniss, training on the Diamond aircraft remains an important chapter in his aviation career. During the final phase of Pilot Academy studies, students move into IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) training, where much greater focus is placed on instruments, navigation, and cockpit procedures.
Looking back, Deniss remembers the transition from the single-engine Diamond DA40 to the twin-engine DA42 as smooth and intuitive.
“Both aircraft are equipped with advanced Garmin avionics and very convenient cockpit displays,” he explains. “That made the transfer from the DA40 to the DA42 very comfortable and easy.”
Training during the Covid period also made that stage of studies somewhat unique. Flight schedules were more irregular than usual, which made certain moments blend together over time.
“As quite a lot of years have passed already, the memories are not as distinct as they used to be,” Deniss says. “Especially because during Covid, flights didn’t happen as frequently from a planning perspective.”
Still, the overall experience remains unforgettable.
Returning to the Diamond One Day?
Today, Deniss flies the Airbus A220 for airBaltic, continuing to build experience and progress toward the captain’s seat. Yet despite moving on to airline operations, he has not completely left smaller aircraft behind.
“I still maintain my single-engine piston license,” he says. “So if I ever want to fly the Diamond again — I can.”
And while aviation careers naturally move forward toward larger aircraft and greater responsibilities, one photograph continues to bring Deniss — and many Pilot Academy students — back to the beginning of the journey: a sunny day in Liepāja, a Diamond aircraft, and a bucket of cold water waiting after landing.
