A SUSSEX graduate starred in the ITV1 programme EasyJet: Inside the Cockpit last night.

Charlotte Sullivan, 22, attended Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College and studied BSc (Hons) air transport with commercial pilot training at Bucks New University.

Charlotte, from Burgess Hill, was among young pilots shown going through their training with the air provider.

She is now a first officer with EasyJet, based in Edinburgh, and has her sights firmly set on reaching for the skies as her career soars.

Charlotte also attended Birchwood Grove County Primary School in Birchwood Grove Road, Burgess Hill, and was a member of 2529 (Burgess Hill) Squadron of the Air Training Corps.

Her talents extend to music as she was also a member of Burgess Hill Musical Theatre Society and Burgess Hill Marching Youth.

Charlotte said: “I took part in the ITV series because I’m interested in helping people understand the complex route to the flight deck and also to encourage young people to consider this as a career path as I was 13 before I realised that flying was a dream I could actually realise.”

Her role regularly takes her to Paris, Munich and Nice and she hopes ultimately to rise to a position as captain but first she must complete further basic training.

The ambitious graduate has completed her initial training and is spending her first two years at EasyJet.

She hopes to progress to senior first officer.

Charlotte said: “I am thoroughly enjoying my job.

“It still doesn’t feel like a real job. I can’t believe I don’t have to start looking for a ‘real’ job soon because I am actually getting paid to fly.

“The lovely comments from crew and passengers at the end of a long day or watching the sun rise in the morning are just some of the reasons I am reminded daily of the magical quality of my job.

“Studying at Bucks New University was my first real step into the industry.

“Not only did I learn a lot about flying and aviation I also learnt a lot about myself and the world.

“The carefully constructed course makes it possible to study a full BSc (Hons) degree and a frozen airline transport pilot licence all at the same time, which is quite incredible considering that many rank the two the same.

“Prospective pilots are provided with a solid environment to learn all they need to know.”