Emilia maintains Hornets

Aircraft maintenance NCO Emilia Hietanen works at the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s repair division at Karelia Air Wing in Siilinjärvi.

She works with Hornet fighters, which must be maintained periodically based on their flight hours. Their maintenance includes washing each aircraft, opening its hatches, replacing equipment, conducting system tests, and making hydraulic runs that move the aircraft’s control surfaces and landing gear. This maintenance process can last from a week to a couple of months.

Professional skills, nimble fingers, and the right attitude

Even though the squadron is comprised of highly skilled individuals, they rarely do things all on their own, as the work primarily focuses on teamwork.

– When you work in a team, you learn different techniques and working methods, especially from more experienced technicians.

Her work requires patience, logical thinking, English skills, a sense of humour, a collaborative approach, a team spirit, and the right attitude. One must also be in good physical shape, as the job requires working in difficult positions. And having nimble fingers is a bonus, as a smaller hand is easier to fit into tighter spaces.

According to Hietanen, the best part of the job is the work itself and her great work community. Working in aircraft maintenance offers many opportunities for career development and specialising in different tasks. “I can use 2 hours of my work week on physical exercise, and I also receive exercise benefit vouchers.

– And I also get the opportunity to hop on board a Hornet or Hawk every now and then. There’s never a day when I’m not excited to go to work!”