Business Jet Jobs
 

Evening all.

I was wondering what sort of requirements Business Jet operators make in terms of experience when they recruit. Having done a search, it seems to be a case of if you have the right attitude and personailty, then hours are not necessarily too important. But many of the posts I have read were pre 11/9, so is this still the case?

I only recently gained my CPL/IR, and so have only the bare 250 hours, am I being unrealistic? Unfortunately, I am somewhat lacking in the contacts department too, and I hear that this is rather important. I've already contacted some operators, but with no success.

However, Business Jet flying is something that I'd love to get into, and I'd be willing to work anywhere, flying anything, to get involved.

I'd be grateful for any advice you can give me, even if it's telling me to "sod off and get some hours!!"

Cheers,
Billy M

You're right, the best advice is to "sod off and get some hours".

While your out getting those hours ENJOY THEM. They are also an opportunity to make the contacts you will need later to get the bizjet job.

It is great when you get there. Even better if you can hold on to a bizjet job for a while. (Aircraft owners can be difficult and often go broke.)

Enjoy.

Thanks for your replies. Yes, I do have an up-to-date CV, and all the Biz Jet operators I could find have received a copy, but as you both say it's hours and contacts I am lacking!!!!

Am I right in assuming that the smaller operators would be a better bet than the larger ones for someone in my position, and if so where could I find a reasonably comprehensive list of them? As I say I have contacted some, but by no means all of them.

Right, I'm off to try and buy some Biz Jet pilots and operators a drink!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for posting, I appreciate the help.

Phoning...?
 

Difficult one this recruiting lark...

Being on the receiving end of the phone calls, it's difficult for me to say that that will be the most profitable response. When we're full, we're full so the phone calls are wasting everyone's time.

Like Flatspin says, contacts are the key - the old adage is repeated on this forum time and time again "not what you know, but who you know".

The last five or six pilots we're taken on are all know to our current pilots, that way at least we know that they get on with the people they're flying with - get out and about and pester people, but nicely! Call in on operators, actually into their offices. There's always someone hanging around who'll speak to you. Even if they're not helpful in getting you a job offer, you never know when in the future you might see some of them again.

Good luck.

If you don't mind going abroad, it might be worth looking at Botswana. I am not sure what the situation is like there now but I know quite a few people who went out there. They all had a blast and built hours quite quickly.

Good Luck !

Billy M, again if you don't mind trying out of the country then try Execujet S.A.They are always looking for guys out there.Good luck.

Hours are the bottom line but not the only line

after seeing various standards from various hour/experience

pilots ,Iam starting to wonder what hours count for(at lower end of the

the spectrum anyway) good luck, and have a try at some jobs and let the

employer decide if you have what it takes, hours,attitude,ect

Thanks again for the responses, much appreciated.

More D-P & chinny - Yes, I have thought about going to Africa. And I'm beginning to look at it more and more seriously at the moment as the chances of a job here in the UK are not looking too good, though not for the want of trying!! I'm thinking of maybe going down there to knock on a few doors when I have enough money to go there and spend a bit of time doing so. From the people I've spoken to about it, it seems this is the only way you're likely to get a job down there.

Daifly - Thanks for your advice. As you say, I don't want to annoy people, so it's a balancing act trying to decide how much to pester people before I become a pain.

drexel - I'm obviously in a position hours-wise that I hope others see things as you do and take a punt on a low hours pilot!! Fingers crossed.

Thanks again.

CPL or ATPL?
 

Hi there,

I am a PPL holder and wish to fly for either an air taxi service or business aviation company. What is required- a CPL/IR or ATPL/IR? Is it only in the airlines where an ATPL is required to get to the left hand seat?

Thank you very much in advance,

Tri

Although you do not need to hold an ATPL to be the Captain of an aircraft, you will find it very difficult to get a position as a Captain on a two-crew aircraft without one.

The main reason? Insurance.

Things post 11-9 have gone from bad to worse on the insurance side and stipulating that the Captain must be an ATPL is one way of keeping the costs down. In many cases most operators make it a rule that Captains must hold an ATPL (it's in our Ops Manual).

On smaller aircraft, piston twin operations for example, this isn't as strictly enforced. In many cases by the time you have the experience for Captaincy you'll be up towards the +1,500 mark anyway.

As always though... there are exceptions to every rule!

I have an ATPL, a command on Hawkers, 3,000 hours, live in the London area and haven't worked in the industry for years.

I was made redundant in the last recession (1993) and left the industry (though I remain current,keep the IR going, get the Class I medical and fly about 150 hours a year on MEPs.)

Every so often I go back on the market to see what's available and spend an awful lot of time traipsing around the large number of operators in the SE of England.

They always say "yes, you're just what we would be looking for if we were looking, but we're not, so we'll keep your CV on file." and I hear nothing more.

Sorry to be a misery, but that's what it's like.
:(