Leasing company mass repo question

[Self Loading Freight]

Hi, y'all...

I was reading an article about aircraft leasing companies, and how they can put the willies up carriers who are in danger of default by swooping in and taking back entire fleets -- I think SwissAir (or was it CrossAir?) was a recent recipient of this tactic.

Which is all jolly dramatic. But... where does the leasing company get the pilots? Presumably since there aren't any pax involved they don't need to have a current ATPL, but I can't quite imagine where such a large number of qualified flyers can be found at short notice.

R

[niknak]

Usually the leasing company will employ freelance pilots to do the job, (that's if none of it's own staff are also pilots who are qualified to do the task). However, it's not unknown for the repossessing company to offer pilots of the airline they are repossessing the planes from, a cash sum to do the 'one - off job'.