About Me

I am a 1989 born enthusiastic aviator from Helsinki, Finland. My interest in airplanes and aviation began as a small child playing around with free flying model airplanes, which later evolved into an interesting hobby building and flying radio-controlled models from gliders and electric park flyers to large gas-powered airplanes.

Later on in my high school years I became interested in other things such as music and model aviation had to move to the background. However, after finishing high school and some studies in psychology I found airplanes again and I realised now it's the time to transition from models to real aircraft. In the spring 2009 I signed up for a gliding course organized by Nummela Gliding Center at Nummela airfield (EFNU). I flew ASK-21 gliders for the whole summer and in the end I gained my first flying licence, the Finnish national glider pilot's licence. Soon after that I received training for my first single-seat glider, the SZD-51 Junior, and was able to continue flying solo in the local gliding club I joined.

Autumn came and suitable weather for gliding ceased to exist. I knew I couldn't wait until next summer to be able to fly again so I decided to sign up for a light aviation course by Mäntsälä Aviation Club aiming for the ultralight pilot's licence. I studied theories in the autumn flying every now and then when the weather allowed. Finally next spring after finishing all the theories I could start taking flying lessons actively and I managed to gain my ultralight pilot's licence just before summer. Right away I continued gaining experience flying my aviation club's Atec Zephyr ultralights, the same airplanes I received training in.

One thing that helped me gain lots of flight experience was that my father and our friend decided to buy and share an ultralight airplane for sports and leisure travelling purposes. The plane in question was the Fk9 ELA, which is a very nice two-seater airplane with high-wing configuration equipped with a partial glass cockpit. With this airplane I was able to fly with minimal costs and gain a lot of hours circling the southern Finland taking friends up in the air, doing solo training flights or flying cross-country.

In the spring 2012 I finally understanded that I wasn't satisfied enough in being "just" a sports and leisure pilot. I wanted to try and see if I could become a professional pilot and after reading and gathering lots of information on the realities of aviation as a career, I thought I have to give it a shot and see how far I can get. I admit my main dream is to one day be an airline pilot flying a nice shiny jet or turboprop aircraft and gain a living from it, but before that I'm open to everything that's related to airplanes. I'd love to be involved in glider towing operations, skydive piloting, flight instructing and small charter operations.

After realizing what I want, I decided to apply for the professional pilot programme organised by SL Flight Training in my hometown, Helsinki. Reasons for this was that I had just moved and decided I wanted to commence training in my home country, leaving the possible adventures abroad to after I'd graduated. The next application period for Finland's cheapest government-sponsored flight school was nearly two years away and chances of getting in the first time are quite slim. Of the private flight schools in Finland, SL Flight Training has actual connections to airlines and also has the best employment statistics so it was the way to go for me. After a four-staged application process involving selection by application forms, aptitude testing and interviews by psychologists, flight school interviews and medical testing I received a phone call that I was applicable to commence training and that my course would start in the beginning of July in the same year.

So here I am now, on my way to become a professional pilot! :)

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