FLIGHT PATH QUICK FACTS
Michele Viviani
Kopter Group AG, Wetzikon, Switzerland CURRENT JOB
I hold an EASA maintenance license and am currently
employed as an experimental
technician on Leonardo’s Kopter AW09 project. My job is to keep the helicopter airworthy by carrying out scheduled
maintenance and correcting any defects that are found.
FIRST AVIATION JOB
My first aviation job was at a flight school where I was hired as a maintenance assistant/ helper. I worked on the R22, R44, and Cessna 172.
FAVORITE HELICOPTER
For its characteristics, its longevity, and its ability to operate in many sectors, my
favorite helicopter is the H125, although the most beautiful shape of all remains that of the AW109.
How did you decide helicopter aviation was the career for you? My grandfather was an airplane designer for [Italian aircraft manufacturer] Caproni; a friend of my mom was a former military pilot; and my [first] name was also the name of a dear family friend who did the same job as I do. Let’s say helicopters were my destiny! I’ve always been fascinated by this vehicle!
WATCH
AW09 Flight Tests In Switzerland
What are your career goals? I’ve attained a good position in my career. I can boast of having worked in all sectors of the helicopter world, and I’m happy about the diversity of training that experience has afforded me. That said, I’d like to become a maintenance manager or a project manager. I’d also like to become an instructor. Now, I’m a helicopter mechanic with an
EASA AML [aircraft maintenance license] for Categories B1.3 (helicopter turbine engine) and B1.4 (helicopter piston engine). Soon, I’ll also become licensed for B1.2 (airplane piston engine) and B2 (avionics). And I’m taking
58 ROTOR JUNE 2022
lessons to obtain my PPL(H) [private pilot license for helicopters]. Additionally, I run my own company,
Heliair.it, part time in Italy. We offer tourist flights, helitaxis, and aerial work. I also keep an Instagram page, @helitechnician, where I dis- play my maintenance work and some of the helicopters I’ve worked on.
What advice would you give someone pursuing your career path? My advice is to ask someone in the aviation industry to help you choose the best path based on their experience. Often, I’ve found, the road to training can be unnecessarily com- plicated. Talking with a professional in the industry, someone who’s been down the path already, can help you determine the right approach to take.
Tell us about your first experience with helicopters. I was 5 years old when I saw a company pro- moting tourist helicopter flights. I remember
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