How conquering a fear of heights led to a career in aviation

At first glance, a PhD in physics and a job at an aircraft maintenance company might seem hard to reconcile. One field deals with fundamental science, research, and theoretical formulas, while the other belongs to the highly regulated aviation industry, where practical challenges are solved daily. Yet the story of Laurynas Giriūnas shows that these worlds can intersect where precision, logical thinking, and the ability to see structure even in complex processes are essential.

After completing his doctorate in physics, Laurynas ultimately chose a career in IT and data analytics. Today, he works for the international aviation MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) company FL Technics, where decisions that impact the efficiency of the entire organization are driven not by formulas or equations, but by real operational data.

From a fear of heights to a passion for aviation

At the start of our conversation, Laurynas admits he never dreamed of working in aviation as a child - his talents always leaned toward the exact sciences, which naturally shaped his future. "I was always good at math, physics, and chemistry, so I chose to study chemical physics. After a couple of years, I switched to physics and eventually completed a PhD," he recalls.

Still, a career in research didn't appeal to him. "During my doctoral studies, I realized that scientific research and physics-related work weren't for me. While considering my next steps, I chose a field where many of my acquaintances were already working - IT, programming, and data analytics," he says. Logic and working with numbers are also key in these fields, allowing him to apply his existing skills successfully.

Laurynas's move into aviation, however, was also driven by something personal. "I set myself a goal to overcome my fear of heights - and that completely changed how I spend my free time. I started skydiving, earned pilot and paragliding licenses, and even got a wingsuit that allows me to glide through the air. My life became very connected with height and flight in various forms.

I also travel a lot - this year I expect to visit my 60th country - so I spend plenty of time on airplanes. Aviation naturally became interesting, not just as a hobby but as a potential career path. I wanted to understand what happens behind the scenes and contribute to aviation safety," he explains.

So, when he saw a job opening at FL Technics for a specialist in his field, he immediately decided to give it a try.

Data: essential for both flight safety and operational efficiency

Today, Laurynas works with many different types of data - from warehouse inventory and employee vacations to ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and aircraft maintenance process data. "I'm close to the point where I've worked with nearly all the data available in the MRO field that can be analyzed or summarized," he laughs.

One of his main tasks is developing data visualizations that allow employees in various departments to see key information about their operations in real time. "This helps plan work more efficiently, react quickly to changes, and make sure no detail goes unnoticed.

For example, one important task is managing notifications for tool calibration - ensuring all equipment meets the highest standards and aviation safety requirements.

I also created a system that allows the finance team to instantly see inventory balances and values for all warehouses, both in real time and for any past period. Of course, maintaining all servers so that information is not lost and remains visible in reports and dashboards is also part of my job."

According to Laurynas, balance is key in his role - between independent work and collaboration. "Most tasks I do on my own, but I'm constantly communicating with colleagues to get more context, understand system specifics, or ask for help when needed.

Right now, I mostly work with the finance and warehouse departments, but I've also collaborated with HR, base maintenance, procurement, logistics, and many other teams."

When asked what inspires him most, Laurynas answers without hesitation: "Knowing that my work contributes to people starting and ending their holidays safely. After all, vacations are when we experience the most memorable moments in life - and I want to help make sure those memories aren't spoiled by flight delays or stress while waiting for a repaired aircraft. I travel a lot myself, so I've experienced such situations - they can really throw off your plans."

Looking ahead: the growing role of artificial intelligence

Laurynas predicts that the role of data analysts will evolve alongside technological progress. "I think the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to grow, just like in many other fields. AI will help solve more problems, increase efficiency, and take over some standardized tasks." He already uses AI tools regularly:
"Of course, AI tools aren't yet advanced enough to give perfectly accurate answers every time, but they already make daily work much easier - and I'm sure this progress won't stop anytime soon."

For Laurynas, this constant change highlights an important truth: in data analytics, strong fundamentals matter more than choosing a specific industry. "When studying data analytics, I don't think it's worth focusing on a particular sector right away. The skills you gain are widely applicable, and specialized knowledge comes with experience."

He emphasizes that the most valuable skills for any analyst are universal - logical thinking, the ability to structure information, extract key insights, and understand how data informs decisions. "Technologies, tools, or even industries may change, but these core competencies remain essential and help you adapt - whether to AI advancements or a new work environment."

Extreme hobbies that help at work

When Laurynas isn't working with numbers and data, he leads an active - even extreme - lifestyle. "I always try to spend my free time actively, and my vacation days disappear faster than I can earn them - so I've been 'borrowing' future days off for a while now," he laughs.

His list of adventures is impressive: "Diving with sharks in Mexico and Egypt, cycling 7,000 kilometers across the Balkans, climbing Mont Blanc, Elbrus, and Kilimanjaro, and traveling through countries like Iran, El Salvador, Peru, Tanzania (for safaris), and the deserts of Uzbekistan.

Of course, skydiving still takes up a lot of my time. I'm already excited for my next trip - jumping off cliffs with a parachute in the Sahara Desert in Algeria."

These experiences, he says, help him both relax and grow professionally. "Stepping outside your comfort zone helps at work too - especially when facing tough or seemingly impossible tasks.

I remind myself that I've overcome bigger challenges before. I look for solutions, try different approaches, and step by step, things start working out."