Ground Handling at Widerøe led to pilot at Norwegian
Olav Strøm (29) is currently working as a pilot at Norwegian, and got the job through working at Ground Handling in Widerøe.
- Before finishing flight school, I had already secured a job at Widerøe. I had always been curious about the handling job, and it also gave me the opportunity to work with airplanes while searching for an airline job. I started working at Widerøe in Bergen in March 2023, one month after finishing my pilot education.
What Olav loved about working for Widerøe was the people. A strong community to make things work together.
- No matter how busy things got, we always found a way to make it work—and had fun along the way. Whether it was handling tight turnarounds or dealing with challenging weather, the teamwork and energy made every day interesting.
- Before finishing flight school, I had already secured a job at Widerøe. I had always been curious about the handling job, and it also gave me the opportunity to work with airplanes while searching for an airline job. I started working at Widerøe in Bergen in March 2022, and finished my pilot education in February 2023.
What Olav loved about working for Widerøe was the people. A strong community to make things work together.
- No matter how busy things got, we always found a way to make it work—and had fun along the way. Whether it was handling tight turnarounds or dealing with challenging weather, the teamwork and energy made every day interesting.
Moving to flight deck
Fact: In Norwegian there is an opportunity for all employees to get a job as a pilot if they have the license through “Move to flight deck”. It is an initiative where employees in different roles can get a type rating from Norwegian and get a job as a First Officer. Since the acquisition of Widerøe, the employees at that company has also gotten the opportunity. Employees applying to Move to Flight deck have to go through a normal assessment day, the same one as external applicants. This is how Olav came across the possibility.
- One day in September 2024, I opened our internal website in Widerøe and saw that Norwegian had open First Officer positions. I applied immediately without hesitation. I got an invitation to an assessment day the following week. My dream was always to work for a norwegian airline and this was my chance.
Moving to flight deck
Fact: In Norwegian there is an opportunity for all employees to get a job as a pilot if they have the license through “Move to flight deck”. It is an initiative where employees in different roles can get a type rating from Norwegian and get a job as a First Officer. Since the acquisition of Widerøe, the employees at that company has also gotten the opportunity. Employees applying to Move to Flight deck have to go through a normal assessment day, the same one as external applicants. This is how Olav came across the possibility.
- One day in September 2024, I opened our internal website in Widerøe and saw that Norwegian had open First Officer positions. I applied immediately without hesitation. I got an invitation to an assessment day the following week. My dream was always to work for a norwegian airline and this was my chance.
A shared purpose in Norwegian
Olav loves that working for Norwegian means working for a company that is not afraid to challenge the established.
- There’s a real sense of pride in working for an airline that does things differently and focuses on delivering a great experience. And honestly, working above the clouds is just as magical as I always imagined.
When asking Olav to describe the work environment in Norwegian, he has the following to say:
- So far, only good things! The work environment at Norwegian is really positive, with a great team spirit. Everyone is professional but also down-to-earth, and there’s a strong sense of working together towards common goals. It’s a company that values quality and effort, and you can really feel that in the way people approach their work. Overall, a great place to be!
A shared purpose in Norwegian
Olav loves that working for Norwegian means working for a company that is not afraid to challenge the established.
- There’s a real sense of pride in working for an airline that does things differently and focuses on delivering a great experience. And honestly, working above the clouds is just as magical as I always imagined.
When asking Olav to describe the work environment in Norwegian, he has the following to say:
- So far, only good things! The work environment at Norwegian is really positive, with a great team spirit. Everyone is professional but also down-to-earth, and there’s a strong sense of working together towards common goals. It’s a company that values quality and effort, and you can really feel that in the way people approach their work. Overall, a great place to be!
The importance when choosing a school
If you are interested in a career as a pilot, Olav has some tips for you. He highlights the importance of doing research into the schools that offer pilot licenses.
- My best tip for future aviators is that choosing the right flight school is crucial. Finding a serious and well-established school with high-quality training, experienced instructors, and strong ties to airlines can give you a significant advantage. In particular, attending a school that has agreements or partnerships with the airline you aspire to work for can greatly improve your chances of a smooth transition into the industry. Also - If becoming a pilot is your dream, there’s no better company to do it with than Norwegian. I would not hesitate to apply for Norwegian!
The importance when choosing a school
If you are interested in a career as a pilot, Olav has some tips for you. He highlights the importance of doing research into the schools that offer pilot licenses.
- My best tip for future aviators is that choosing the right flight school is crucial. Finding a serious and well-established school with high-quality training, experienced instructors, and strong ties to airlines can give you a significant advantage. In particular, attending a school that has agreements or partnerships with the airline you aspire to work for can greatly improve your chances of a smooth transition into the industry. Also - If becoming a pilot is your dream, there’s no better company to do it with than Norwegian. I would not hesitate to apply for Norwegian!