Finnish flight school invests millions in new training aircraft

Finland’s Aviation College in Pori is replacing its aging Cessna fleet with ten new Italian-made Tecnam aircraft by the end of the year, an investment worth €6–7 million, Yle reports.

Rehtori Ari Tolonen said the modern glass-cockpit planes will expand training options and ease the transition to multi-engine aircraft midway through the program.

Demand for the program remains high. Two years ago, 1,600 applied for 90 spots. Elisabeth Stadius, now a first-year student, gained admission on her second attempt after passing aptitude tests, psychological evaluations, interviews, and medical exams.

Students emphasize that the profession demands more than a love of flying. Stress resilience, teamwork, technical interest, and spatial awareness are critical, according to Stadius and fellow student Mika Vaheri. Vaheri, who has logged roughly 70 flight hours, noted that the work involves far more than “turning on the autopilot and drinking coffee.”

The school will open a new application round in August.