Frontiers May 2014 27 Irina Turanskaya SUPPORTS AIRLINES OPERATING BOEING JETLINERS BASED IN KIEV, UKRAINE In 1994, Irina Turanskaya applied for a six-month position supporting Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ field service representative in Ukraine. At that time, she didn’t have any experience in aerospace. But she did have a Ph.D. in linguistics. Turanskaya got the job, in part because the company’s airline customers knew little English and the field service representative didn’t speak Ukrainian. “I had worked as a teacher of English and French, and I speak Ukrainian and Russian,” she said. “Primarily, I was hired as an interpreter, and to assist the rep with everything else that needed to be done.” In 1998, she was asked to come back to the job, this time on a full-time basis. Turanskaya soon developed a passion for the work. But to continue, she realized she would have to take her education in a dramatically new direction. “I needed some technical knowledge, so I enrolled in a three-year course in mechanics at the National Aviation University in Kiev,” she said. After serving in a supporting role for six years, Turanskaya was promoted to field service associate for Ukraine. Today, she supports five airlines: Ukraine International Airlines, UT Air Ukraine, Kharkiv Airlines, Bravo Airways and Air Onix. Boeing airplanes in local fleets primarily include Next-Generation 737s, 737 Classics and 767 jetliners. She generally starts her day at 8 a.m. and works until around 6 in the evening—although she keeps her computer on until after 10 p.m., just in case important messages come in. There is a 10-hour time difference between Kiev and the Seattle area, where her Commercial Aviation Services colleagues are headquartered. “Evenings are the best chance for me to talk with people in Seattle and have answers ready for my customers in the morning—especially on urgent issues,” she said. Often, she uses her language skills to help her customers find help, even if it’s not directly related to her job. Turanskaya does most of her work at Boryspil International Airport, where she is close to the airline engineering departments. In her spare time, Turanskaya has several hobbies and avocations. She is taking classes in Gestalt psychology, which helps her establish balance in work, relationships and daily life. She also has been active in Toastmasters. She enjoys cooking, including Italian, French and local cuisine. “I really love cooking,” she said. “I have so many cookbooks at home. When I’m in the kitchen I just go crazy.” n PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Frontiers May 2014 Issue
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