pilotoivat

Pilotoivat is a Finnish verb form that functions as the third-person plural present tense of the verb pilotoida. It translates roughly as “they pilot” or “they are piloting” in English. The form is used when referring to multiple subjects actively performing the act of piloting or conducting a pilot operation at the present time.

The verb pilotoida has two broad senses. In aviation or transportation contexts, it can mean to operate a vehicle as a pilot. More commonly in technology, business, and research contexts, it refers to running a pilot or pilot study—a preliminary implementation of a project, service, or product to evaluate feasibility, performance, and acceptance before broader rollout. In both senses, pilotoida describes an initial, controlled activity designed to inform future decisions.

Related words include pilotti (pilot, the person) and pilotointi (pilot testing or pilot project). The term is a loanword from English pilot, adapted with the Finnish -oida suffix to form a standard verb. Finnish verb forms using -oida are typically regular in their conjugation, with pilotoivat providing a clear example of the present plural form.

Usage notes: In written and spoken Finnish, pilotoida is common in technical, corporate, and research discourse. Context usually clarifies whether the activity is flight-related or a pilot test. As with many loaned verbs, it is useful to pair it with concrete objects or situations (for example, prototyyppiä, palvelua) to convey the exact sense of piloting being discussed.