Originally Posted by
Mike Flynn
Questions must also be raised over parachute aircraft operations in the UK.
Ibbotson was clearly getting material benefits from his parachute flying in acquiring flying hours.
Not necessarily monetary. As I have written before, at our parachute club, quite some years ago, the pilots were not only unpaid, there was a queue of applicants, because they wanted not the money, but the hours. I remember banter about how WE might even charge THEM ! One of them drove a considerable mileage to and fro each weekend for the opportunity.
And of course, there are then carriers, mainstream AOC holders, that will not consider a junior FO applicant unless they have x hours in their logbook. However else do they (and the CAA) think such costly experience could be gained ?
Was Ibbotson ever considering applying to a mainstream operation ?