08 September 2010
First Officers – could airlines learn from the private jet sector?
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has stated that First Officers could be replaced by trained Flight Attendants. Whilst this is probably just another PR stunt for Ryanair, could this work in practice for commercial airlines?
In the private jet sector, Captains and First Officers are a flexible bunch! Often more like butlers than pilots. Meeting passengers at the front of the airport, carrying bags, preparing the cabin, serving drinks and food during the flight etc. So if this can be achieved, whilst not compromising safety, in the private jet sector, why could it not be achieved in the airlines?
Related content
01 July 2020
10 rules of private jet-iquette
Our industry has introduced a number of COVID-safe processes. Private jet charter aircraft are undergoing even greater disinfection between flights; there are distancing protocols between crew and passengers; and using the clean and quiet private terminals (FBOs) already means no queues…
15 October 2012
NetJets Pilot Redundancies in France & Belgium
Over the weekend I heard from many of my colleagues from my days as a pilot at NetJets. Responding to lower demand for fractional jet charter and jet cards, NetJets Europe is reducing its pilot…
26 June 2012
Pilots and job satisfaction
We all measure job satisfaction both in financial terms and in how much we enjoy our jobs. And while most pilots venture into the world of aviation out of a long held passion for flying,…