Career paths: Gustav Juslin – change of career to air navigation in exceptional times

Fintraffic’s Air Navigation Services Planning Manager and Technical Supervisor Gustav Juslin ensures that air traffic control equipment and systems work as they should. Once an IT engineer who had always dreamed of working at the airport, Juslin changed careers into air navigation just when the coronavirus crisis was at its worst and many air navigation tools were being updated. What does Gustav’s work involve in practice? What motivates him in technical air navigation work?

In his work, Gustav is responsible for the development of his team, the coordination of work tasks and the improvement of processes, training and instructions. He also participates in projects related to updating air navigation systems and carries out application development for different projects. The work involves versatile tasks but at its core, it is about ensuring that air navigation equipment and systems function safely now and in the future.

”As a services planning manager, my work is more focused on office work: I participate in meetings and take responsibility for maintenance tasks. I also occasionally take operative Technical Supervisor shifts during which I do a daily equipment check to ensure that each air navigation device works as it should. The operative shifts also include coordinating maintenance breaks with air traffic control and investigating equipment faults”, Gustav explains the practical content of his work.

Change of careers to air navigation amidst the coronavirus crisis

Gustav graduated from a University of Applied Sciences as an IT engineer. Before his job in Air Navigation Services, he worked in IT support designing fibre optic networks and in customer service in digital customer communications. However, he had always dreamed of working at the airport and decided to start realising this dream through technical air navigation.

”I changed fields in January 2020 when I left for a two-week ATSEP Basic training in Prague. ATSEP stands for air traffic safety electronics personnel. In that training, I got a broad idea of practical air navigation work and everything it involves. When our close-knit training group returned to Finland, the coronavirus difficulties began: lay-offs, transfer to remote work and very little air traffic. It was a shock to see how our busy office suddenly emptied”, Gustav recalls.

The world closed down, but Gustav's group needed to get to further training in Prague to start in their new positions. An exemption permit enabled participation in the training, and Gustav spent a month in Prague in summer 2020 to complete his studies.

”I failed the first exam, which made me feel uncertain and wonder if I had made the right career choice. However, I was able to re-take the exam the next week, and I passed the other tests better. In the closing speech, our teacher reminded us that everything is possible to achieve, and it really felt like it”, Gustav continues.

Creating the role of a Technical Supervisor

Technical Supervisors have an overview of the operation of air navigation equipment and systems. They know where possible faults in air navigation equipment are and prioritise repairs according to urgency. The work also includes coordinating maintenance, monitoring it and ensuring that the equipment works as expected before air traffic control is permitted to re-introduce it.

”Previously, our tasks were carried out by an ATSEP person on duty at the airport during office hours, and who was alerted to come to the airport from home on weekends and at night if necessary. Now Technical Supervisors work on site at Helsinki Airport 24/7, in close cooperation with air traffic control at different airports. The work involves a lot of coordination, calling and communication, but also physical equipment repairs. It has been great how much we have been able to influence what this role includes and the operating methods of our work”, Gustav thanks.

As the members of Gustav’s group were the first to take on the role of Technical Supervisor, he has had a unique opportunity to participate in shaping the new job description as part of air navigation. Gustav says that it was an interesting point in time to change careers: he came to air navigation when many pieces of equipment and systems were undergoing updates, which gave him front row seats to see how much work and time life cycle renewal takes.

Change from operative shift work to planning manager

Gustav worked as a Technical Supervisor in full-time operations for three and a half years. Although shift work took its toll, long periods of free time offered a chance to travel when the world reopened after the pandemic. However, Gustav decided to seize the opportunity when the position of planning manager opened in his team.

”Customer service has always been my passion and I like to help others. I was interested in becoming a planning manager because I wanted to be involved in developing and improving our operations from the perspective of both our own personnel and our customers. After all the long leaves, it took a while to get used to the change, but I have liked the routine and rhythm of daytime work”, Gustav says.