Commercial pilot
Commercial pilots fly planes carrying passengers and cargo. Pilots work for airlines. The profession requires good health, logical reasoning, discretion and cooperation skills.
Airlines.
A commercial pilot must be proficient in the operation, control, navigation and radio communications of the types of aircraft they fly and be familiar with the type of aircraft and its equipment and systems. In addition to the automation of flight, pilots must also be familiar with and master the manual control of aircraft. Pilots must be familiar with the regulations relating to aviation and flying. They must be able to fly safely and smoothly according to schedules and economically to minimise fuel consumption and costs.
Being a pilot requires a balanced personality and good cooperation skills. The profession requires logical reasoning, the ability to cope with pressure, concentration, spatial awareness, precision and problem-solving skills. A commercial pilot must be able to make decisions independently and quickly, but still act with discretion. Even in surprising situations, they must remain calm and considerate.
Pilots are expected to have a good command of English, as radio communications with air traffic control are conducted in English and the teaching material is usually in English. The job requires continuous training.
Irregular working hours and time differences require adaptability. A commercial pilot should be in good mental and physical health.
Commercial pilot training lasts around two years and takes the form of a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) followed by a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), divided into single-engine and multi-engine phases. After the training, pilots will have a commercial pilot licence and an instrument and multi-engine rating.
Those who successfully complete the recruitment course can apply for further training with airlines. After the first officer course, they can apply for the first phase of aircraft type training, which is organised according to the recruitment needs of airlines.
A commercial pilot starts as a first officer, working alongside a captain, to gain experience for their future role of flight captain. To become a captain, you must have sufficient experience as a first officer as defined by the authority.
The entry requirements for professional pilot studies are an upper secondary school or a basic vocational qualification, a minimum height of 163 cm, good Finnish and English language skills, good health and integrity, which is checked by a security clearance from the Finnish Security Police.
To get a job as an airline pilot, you also need a commercial pilot licence. A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) entitles you to fly for commercial purposes in an aircraft. After obtaining a pilot's licence, you can apply for further training organised by the airline, which usually includes a first officer course, simulator training and a type rating course, which entitles you to fly a specific type of dual-pilot aircraft as first officer.
The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) differs from other licences in that it cannot be obtained after training alone. To obtain a licence, in addition to training you must have experience on dual-pilot aircraft and additional overall flying experience.
Median salary
7205 €/mo
The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.
Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries