Coptersafety names new training, quality and safety execs

Coptersafety named Juha Ahtola as head of Quality and Safety and Mikko Kallio as head of Training and Development. Both Ahtola and Kallio will report to Mikko Dahlman, CEO, Coptersafety. Ahtola will succeed Timo Honkavaara, who was promoted to Chief Operating Officer focusing on Coptersafety’s rapid growth.

Ahtola will be responsible for all matters relating to the company’s safe operations, such as leading Coptersafety’s Safety Management System. Ahtola has a long background in flight Quality and Safety operations with Finnair. He served as a Technical Systems Instructor, CRM (crew resource management) Instructor, Emergency and Safety Instructor, Flight Safety Manager for the ATR-72 aircraft fleet and in his most recent position as an Airbus Captain, he instructed Airbus pilots in simulators. Ahtola has also consulted with FinnHEMS, ensuring Safety and Quality of helicopter emergency medical services operations in Finland.

Ahtola has a master’s degree in Air Safety Management from London City University.

Kallio will be responsible for Coptersafety’s training organization, development projects and the company’s compliance with all EASA-FCL requirements. Kallio has worked as Coptersafety’s Head of Development and Test Pilot since May 2018.

Kallio brings 27 years of professional aviation experience. After graduating from the Finnish Air Force Academy in 1991, he served as a rotary-wing pilot and flight instructor in the Finnish Border Guard and as an airline pilot, safety, MCC (Multi Crew Coordination), ground and CRM instructor for Finnair. Kallio also worked for the Finnish Border Guard as an operational SAR helicopter pilot and test pilot.

Kallio graduated from Empire Test Pilots’ School with a Flight Test Diploma.