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Sunny People: Meet Can and the T(h)rust Talent Program

Writer: Emir Aksoy
Emir Aksoy
3 days ago
4 min read

It's been a while since my last #SunnyPeople post, but I'm back with an exciting new chapter! Over the coming months, I will be sharing stories centered around our Maintenance Organization (which we love referring to as SunExpress Technic).


Specifically, I want to highlight one of my favorite initiatives: the T(h)rust Talent Program. Through this program, we recruit promising young technician candidates before they graduate, guarantee their internships, and train them within our culture. This helps us cover our long-term technical needs with strong organizational ties built right from the start.


Here is my first guest: meet Can Girenay.


Hailing from Antalya, Can graduated from Eskişehir Technical University's Department of Avionics. He joined the T(h)rust program on January 17, 2025, officially starting his SunExpress Airlines journey while still a student. Right after graduation, he transitioned into a full-time role on October 7, 2025, and has been serving as a Candidate Qualified Mechanic in our Line Maintenance Team at the Antalya Base ever since. His daily responsibilities include supporting maintenance events, performing inspections, troubleshooting, and contributing to flight safety alongside his team.


While reading our short Q&A, feel free to listen to one of his favorite tracks: ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" (a song he says he never gets tired of listening to on loop).



1. How did you learn about the T(h)rust Talent Program, and what motivated you to apply?

Luckily, I was one of the first students to learn about SunExpress's T(h)rust Talent Program, thanks to Eskişehir Technical University. SunExpress sent a team to our university to introduce this excellent program for the very first time on October 24, 2024, and I found the presentation incredibly impressive.


What motivated me most was the opportunity to launch my aviation career in such a professional maintenance environment at SunExpress, along with the chance to work at the Antalya Base (which happens to be my hometown). After that presentation, I started dreaming of working at SunExpress and building a long-term career in aircraft maintenance.


2. How would you evaluate your journey so far, transitioning from a student to an active member of our Line Maintenance team?

The transition from student to active member of the Line Maintenance team has been a truly valuable experience. During my studies, most of what I learned was theoretical. As soon as I joined the maintenance team, I had the opportunity to see how that knowledge applies directly to real-life operations.


Thanks to the SunExpress Line Maintenance team, this transition went smoothly. Everyone I work with has been incredibly supportive, and every task I’ve been involved in has helped me grow.


3. What is the most rewarding part of working here for you, and what has been your biggest challenge so far?

The most rewarding aspect of working in this environment is knowing that after completing all tasks and procedures, you have directly contributed to a safe operation. It gives you a profound sense of satisfaction, and every new day feels more motivating than the last.


The biggest challenge is undoubtedly the fast-paced time pressure inherent to Line Maintenance. While working on a task, you can definitely feel that pressure, but at the end of the day, it pushes you to improve throughout your learning process.


4. In your opinion, what sets the T(h)rust Talent Program apart from a standard aircraft technician role or application process?

The biggest difference lies in the developmental opportunities provided, especially the structured training modules. Through these sessions, we as young technicians get the chance to master the job both theoretically and practically before applying that knowledge to daily operations.

Also, starting at a young age allows us to absorb the professional maintenance culture at SunExpress right from scratch.


Q5. Tell us about your Lufthansa Technical Training experience and what you gained from the training environment in Hamburg?

A5. During my time at Lufthansa Technical Training GmbH, I had the opportunity to train alongside participants from different countries. This gave me great insight into how different work cultures operate and allowed me to adopt the best aspects of those differences.

Additionally, staying in Hamburg broadened my perspective, increased my international exposure, and significantly improved my English communication skills. Being a part of that training meant a lot to me and boosted my enthusiasm for professional development.



6. Any last thoughts or recommendations for aircraft technician students or anyone planning a career in a maintenance organization?

If you are a student reading this, I highly recommend looking into the T(h)rust Talent Program. My advice until you start working as an aircraft technician is to focus on your personal development, work on your English, and above all, never lose your passion for aviation!


Thank you, Can, for being the first to answer this series and for sharing such sincere responses. I hope your story inspires many aspiring aircraft technicians who will become your teammates in the near future!


To my readers: stay tuned for more #SunnyPeople stories focusing on our technicians and the world of SunExpress Technic.


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