In Another Life I Might Have Been a Bird

Paweł “Lojak” Kozarzewski tells Jarek Ziobrowski how he left the corporate world to dive into the deep end—specifically, to soar skyward on paramotors. He also explains how to start your own adventure in the air.

A few years earlier you were an IT specialist in a corporation. What made you leave a stable job and choose the sky?
My corporate adventure actually ended in 2019—so six years ago—and I don’t regret the change. I think everyone tries to find their own path in life, and I found mine in the sky. Many people told me that the way I fly might suggest I was a bird in another life. I don’t question those comparisons, because deep down I feel best up there—right at home. Sometimes it’s worth jumping into the deep end even when you have a stable job. I always believed—and still believe—that I can handle it, both in sports and in life.

What’s your personal philosophy of flying? Is it more sport, meditation, or a way of life for you?
After 13 years of flying, I can confidently say it fills my life in every aspect. For me it’s a sport -maybe niche and not widely recognized—but definitely a sport that let me fulfill myself. When I started this journey, I had many dreams and plans—and thanks to persistence, determination, and above all hard work, I’m where I am today, and I’m not afraid to admit I’m very proud of that. Believe it or not, I won’t be the first or last pilot to say that anyone who flies for pleasure leaves all their worries and problems on the ground the moment they lift off, and only what’s up there matters—so you can safely call it a kind of meditation. Still, you must always remember that a paraglider or paramotor doesn’t have an autopilot—we are the captain of this aircraft.

How can someone with no aviation background start with paramotoring today?
The simplest and cheapest way is a tandem flight with a tandem pilot or an introductory flight with an instructor. You fly for a dozen or so minutes, which is enough time to decide whether you want to pursue it. A tandem flight usually clears up all doubts; the next step is to enroll in a certified training center. Training ends with a state exam consisting of a theoretical part—a test—and a practical part—a simple flight around the exam site, the so-called airport traffic pattern. With good weather and if you’re available in the afternoons or mornings, you can complete training in 2–3 weeks, depending on the school. I earned my rating in two weeks. One thing to remember in this sport: there are never two identical flights—each one is different, and that’s the beauty of aviation; you never get bored, even when you’re repeating something. When I fly tandem, I usually have people on board who are taking their very first flight; it takes me back to my first time. In 11 years of flying tandem, I haven’t met anyone who was disappointed after a flight. Often, that first flight leads directly to signing up for a course.

What licenses and training are required to fly legally in Poland?
To become a paraglider pilot—whether on a free paraglider, with a backpack motor, on a paramotor trike, or as a tandem pilot—you need qualifications, i.e., a Paraglider Pilot Qualification Certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ULC). After completing the course and exam, the pilot receives this document from ULC. Each type—free paraglider, backpack-motor paraglider, paramotor (trike), or tandem pilot—has separate training and a separate exam; the ratings are currently without expiration. It’s the simplest and least expensive form of flying in the world. There’s no minimum training age specified in the Journal of Laws; a candidate can take the exam at 15.

What’s the maximum age?
There isn’t one. I’ve met students who started flying at 86 and did very well. There are two training paths. For powered flying, you can go straight to
a course on backpack-motor paragliders or paramotors (trikes—wheel launch), or take full free-flight paraglider training, which is divided into Stage I and Stage II. Some schools start powered students with free flight in a single stage that includes theory and 10 low flights. Stage 2 is 20 high flights. During training, the theory covers meteorology, aerodynamics, aviation law, navigation, equipment construction, and the pilot’s capabilities and limitations. The practical part includes flights, traffic rules, methods of losing altitude (“big ears”), and of course ground handling, which is crucial for developing a feel for the gear. In powered training, students perform solo navigation flights toward the end
of their course.

What are the approximate costs—from course to equipment purchase?
Course costs depend on the program and the school itself. To start flying, “zero-to-hero” courses in 2025 ran around PLN 5,000. As for equipment, the range is as broad as with cars—you can buy one for a few thousand or for many tens of thousands. For beginners, I recommend safe used gear.

You’ve flown over the Vistula, inside warehouses, and even inside stadiums. Which project stands out the most?
Each project was different and unique in its own way. Flying inside a stadium was one of my dreams from the very beginning. The negotiation process and waiting for venue availability took almost a year and a half. In 2024 I founded the professional Phoenix Paramotor Display Team, which performs shows around the world. I also perform regularly myself, and together with the Polish company Airlight we installed three lasers on my small paramotor. Combined with pyrotechnics, lights, music, and my flying with acro elements, it creates a nighttime aerial spectacle. I can confidently say I have the most advanced lighting and pyrotechnics/laser control system in the world thanks to Polish visionary Krzysztof Araszkiewicz. In 2024 I won three Polish Champion titles in a single season.

You were the coach of Qatar’s National Paramotor Team. What’s it like working with athletes from a different culture and climate?
Coaching the national paramotor team was definitely one of the coolest adventures tied to this sport. I haven’t led the team for over a year now, but I still have a great relationship with my former athletes. I’m still active in the Middle East. With the Phoenix team we perform in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and in early 2025 I opened a company in Qatar with the first Qatari airline pilot in history. I had no problem adjusting to a new culture; the climate is tougher—at +57°C in the summer it’s hard to function, so I usually spend summers in Poland, where I can fly shows, compete, and handle other projects. By the time this piece is published, I’m surely flying over the Qatari desert—winter there is perfect for this kind of activity.

What are your plans for 2026?
For the 2026 season I have several ambitious plans—sporting, commercial, and personal. My top priority for the first few months is developing the aviation center in Qatar. I’d also like to earn a gyroplane pilot license there and fly over the desert not only on a paramotor. In the meantime, I’ll be training and performing with the Phoenix Paramotor Display Team. And I’d like to find time to rest—maybe sneak off
to Spain and recharge.