Page 27 - AA 2018_09

So you are really focusing on expanding by through, and you find yourself that. But if you are happy to go on a Rhys McClintock is the chief
the sound of it? pushing to try to find out if they love random spontaneous adventure at pilot at Navair Jet Services.
Yes, absolutely and I know pilots the flying, or if they love the image, two in the morning, then it’s a great
always want to fly something bigger or the layovers or what it really is. It job. It’s the opposite of RPT.
and faster too. Expanding the is really important to have
business in this growing market that sussed. How would you sum up the culture that you
means we can provide a longer- It’s also funny when pilots don’t are tying to create at Navair?
term career path and even better know their aircraft (the one that they The way I want the culture to be, is
progression into bigger aircraft. are currently flying). I may have never that you are in it for the love of flying.
Currently all of our aircraft are single flown a Piper Cherokee, but I can tell if That it’s not just a job. You fly because
crew, and the best thing about Navair a pilot doesn’t know the numbers when it is what you are compelled to do. It
is you can get straight into a jet; they stumble or are not quite sure about is hard to put into words.
command from day one, you cannot their own aircraft.
do that in many places. Just to finish off, I would be interested to
Are you looking for pilots now? know what sort of pilot do you want to fly
Tell us about some unexpected or interest- Yes, we are always looking for with?
ing things that happened to you? pilots who fit our culture. The way I want my pilots to be really friendly.
Everyone expects the high profile the industry is now there is lots of To be excited about being there, and
clients (I am allowed to mention that movement. to engage with me and the people
we have flown Bill Gates) and that’s at the back, our passengers. They
always fun; but the things that I Is there a defined career path for pilots who should be interested in what they (the
have found the most unexpected and fit your flying environment? passengers) are doing, in where they
enjoyable are the people that may Yes, it’s a pretty well-defined path are going, and their back stories.
not be high profile, but have really and it is fast. With the aircraft we’ve In a corporate environment that
interesting back stories. I have ended got, new pilots start single pilot in makes it interesting, and a pilot
up in the property development world the King Air, then onto the Citation needs to be able to relate. That’s the
myself, because one of my passengers Mustang (also single pilot) so it’s difference. Our clients want somebody
became a friend on a charter – now a clear quick career path. We are who is interested in what they are
we’re doing joint ventures together. talking a couple of years on each type. doing. It is very rare that they will
say “I don’t want to tell you what I am
What advice would you give to pilots who Pilots can have misconceptions about doing or why”, they want you to be
are considering GA or Corporate flying, how corporate flying and lets face it, there must part of their team.
do you think they should go about it? be down sides, how do you manage those
The most important thing for a pilot down sides? Thanks Rhys. The key things I
deciding on his/her career path is to You are always going to get pilots who took away from our chat are: know
think about, ‘why you are flying?’. If say corporate pilots are always on your ‘why’, know your aircraft and
you haven’t thought about why you are call, or there is no schedule. You are be interested and interesting. You
there or what you are doing, then you flying on someone else’s schedule, so will experience fast progression and
are never going to set a proper goal. you need to be able to handle that. If diverse flying but you need to enjoy
Knowing your “why” is the most you need structure, or have to be home the random nature of bookings. I
important thing. So many young on a particular day; then it may think a few more pilots might now
pilots come into an interview not be the right career for you. I am think that corporate flying is perfect
situation having not thought things always upfront with our pilots about for them.
SEPTEMBER 2018 27