Could you briefly tell us about yourself and where you are in your pilot training right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m Tuomas Hagman, 27 years old. I\u2019m essentially a career changer, with a background in the Finnish Defence Forces and the golf industry. My pilot training is now in the final stretch, with about a year and a half of studies behind me.<\/em><\/p>\n How did you first become interested in flying, and when did a career as a pilot become a real dream for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Becoming a pilot wasn\u2019t a traditional childhood dream for me; my interest developed in adulthood. At the time, I was serving as a peacekeeper in Lebanon, and helicopter operations were a big part of my job. That experience sparked my interest in aviation.<\/em><\/p>\n Originally, I was planning to go into helicopters, but after looking into the job prospects in the field, I chose the airline pilot path instead. From there, after a few twists and turns, I ended up at Aeropole.<\/em><\/p>\n What made you choose Aeropole for your airline pilot training?<\/strong><\/p>\n I looked into several different options, and my most important criteria were being able to study alongside work and having the training take place in Finland. Aeropole met both. I also had a few acquaintances who had trained at Aeropole before me.<\/em><\/p>\n Aeropole\u2019s modern fleet also influenced my decision. I haven\u2019t regretted my choice for a single day.<\/em><\/p>\n How did you prepare for the entrance exams, and what surprised you the most?<\/strong><\/p>\n I prepared by reviewing upper secondary school maths and physics, since it had been a while since I\u2019d studied them. I also familiarised myself with the aviation industry, as I had no previous experience of it.<\/em><\/p>\n I went into the exams with an open mind and was positively surprised by how efficient and smooth the selection process was on the school\u2019s side. I had to wait a little for my medical certificate, but the school\u2019s part of the process moved quickly.<\/em><\/p>\n What is studying at Aeropole like in practice? How much independent work does it require, and how have you found it?<\/strong><\/p>\n Studying alongside work requires self-discipline, motivation and good time management. The flight training itself is very efficient. Of course, winter in Finland always limits things somewhat, but that\u2019s a good time to focus on theory studies or simulator training.<\/em><\/p>\n My studies have progressed according to plan the whole time, and there have never been any issues on the school\u2019s side. The theory studies are largely self-directed, so self-discipline and time management are key.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ve never found the theory studies overwhelming, but it\u2019s certainly a nice feeling to have them behind me.<\/em><\/p>\n What has been the most interesting part of the theory classes so far, and what has stuck with you in particular?<\/strong><\/p>\n If I had to pick one subject from the theory classes, it would be meteorology. Overall, though, the most interesting parts have been the Ground School periods, the in-person teaching weeks. Independent study suits me really well, but the classroom sessions have allowed me to deepen my knowledge and ask the instructors questions in a different way. Combining theory with practice has been especially interesting, as many of the instructors also work for airlines at the same time.<\/em><\/p>\n The breaks between lessons have been great too. They\u2019re a good opportunity to exchange ideas and ask for tips about working life ahead.<\/em><\/p>\n What was your first solo flight like? Do you remember what you were thinking or feeling at the moment you realised you were alone in the aircraft?<\/strong><\/p>\n That feeling is really hard to describe. It was simply an amazing experience, and at the same time a little surreal: suddenly I was all alone in the aircraft!<\/em><\/p>\n I think I had about 20 hours of actual flight instruction with an instructor before my first solo. It was really great to hear my flight instructor say I was ready to go solo. It also boosted my confidence in what I was doing.<\/em><\/p>\n Looking back, it does feel a bit absurd that all of a sudden I was up there flying completely on my own!<\/em><\/p>\n What advice would you give to someone who dreams of becoming a pilot but is still unsure whether to apply?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think it\u2019s worth learning about the industry and exploring different training options. Most importantly, though, don\u2019t spend too long waiting for that famous \u201cright moment\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ve sometimes felt that I could have applied sooner myself. So be brave and take the leap into aviation.<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s a growing industry, and there\u2019s always room for people who put in the work, so just get your foot in the door!<\/em><\/p>\n If you could design your own dream flight route, where would you fly first?<\/strong><\/p>\n This was probably the hardest question of them all, but a couple of things came to mind right away. If I had completely free rein, I\u2019d love to try bush flying in New Zealand. It would also be amazing to land a passenger aircraft at Gibraltar Airport someday. It\u2019s a really impressive and interesting airfield.<\/em><\/p>\n Is there anything else you\u2019d like to share about pilot training, your own journey towards a pilot career, or anything else?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019d like to encourage everyone interested in the field. You need to be properly motivated, and studying in this field requires a certain level of discipline. On the other hand, the sense of achievement is absolutely fantastic.<\/em><\/p>\n Is there a better feeling than nailing a challenging crosswind landing or completing a demanding instrument flight? I doubt you get to experience that kind of achievement in many other schools.<\/em><\/p>\n So far, my experience has been really positive. This is simply a cool job \u2013 it\u2019s definitely a career worth pursuing!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tuomas Hagman Could you briefly tell us about yourself and where you are in your pilot training right now? I\u2019m Tuomas Hagman, 27 years old. I\u2019m essentially a career changer, with a background in the Finnish Defence Forces and the golf industry. My pilot training is now in the final stretch, with about a year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":31662,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"portfolio_entries":[175],"class_list":["post-31660","portfolio","type-portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","portfolio_entries-testimonials-da"],"yoast_head":"\n