Question for Virgin Atlantic Pilots

[aviationluver]

Any word on how pilots will be selected to fly Virgin Galactic? Just curious.

[Plectron]

And will it have the idiotic whining about having to compete with other airlines written on the side?

[RoyHudd]

Could be most junior first. (Youngest, daftest, bravest, least to lose, etc....)

Or alternatively "Pay For" rocket type-ratings and training may be order of the day. Knowing RB, the greed option is likelier. Roll-up, £250,000 to start with!

[K.Whyjelly]

Ex FJ experience seems to be a requirement.......................


Three Virgin Atlantic pilots have already been handpicked on the basis of their experience and skills. Steve Johnson, currently a training Captain with Virgin Atlantic and an ex-Red Arrows pilot, will become the chief astronaut pilot for Virgin Galactic, having overall responsibility for the pilot astronaut workforce.

Alistair Hoy, also a Virgin Atlantic training captain and an ex-Red Arrows pilot, will be the chief training astronaut, responsible for training all of Virgin Galactic's astronaut pilots.

Captain David MacKay, currently a line captain with Virgin Atlantic, will be Virgin Atlantic's test pilot and is already working with manufacturer Scaled Composites in the development process of SpaceShipTwo.

The pilots will receive nine months of aerobatic, fast jet and executive aircraft for zero gravity flights training. They will then spend the next nine months flying the mothership and participating in Mission Control work - the last nine months will be spent flying Virgin Galactic Spaceships into space. Once they have completed their 27 month secondment they will return to Virgin Atlantic as qualified pilot astronauts.