Contour was founded in 1982 as Corporate Flight Management Inc. and is based in Smyrna, Tennessee. With more than 600 employees, Contour Aviation is among the 10 largest Part 135 charter operators in the U.S.  

In 2023, Contour completed more than 24,500 hours of flight operations and carried more than 350,000 passengers with its fleet.

Contour Aviation Mission Statement

“At Contour, our core values are at the heart of everything that we do and every decision we make. Constant throughout all of our lines of business is a commitment to integrity and safety.”

Contour Aviation in the News

SkyWest Acquires Stake in Contour Airlines, Bolsters Charter Presence
The regional operator is continuing its foray into the Part 135 charter market with a recent investment in Contour Airlines.

Contour Aviation Openings on FindaPilot.com

• First Officer for CRJ200 in Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Bombardier Captain in Smyrna, TN
• Embraer 135 Captain in Smyrna, TN

More Contour Aviation Resources:

• Career site 
• LinkedIn 
• Facebook 
• X (Twitter) 
• Instagram

More Help from FindaPilot.com

• Latest pilot job openings 
• Pilot directory 
• Sign-up page

The post Employer Profile: Contour Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Thrive Aviation Mission Statement

“Our company works to provide proactive services and personalized sophistication to every moment of our guests’ flight experience. The excellence of our work ensures that each customer receives more of what’s needed before they need it. More accessibility. Less interference. A reduction of risk and expansion of comfort. We ensure all elements of excellence.”

Thrive Aviation in the News

Thrive Aviation Expands Fleet With Munday Aviation’s Factory-Delivered Praetor 500
Thrive Aviation proudly announces the addition of the Praetor 500 to its managed charter fleet under aircraft owner Munday Aviation. 

Thrive Aviation Joins Southwest’s Pilot Pathways Program
The private aviation firm will give potential pilots a direct pathway to the right seat at Southwest Airlines.

Thrive Aviation Openings on FindaPilot.com

• First Officer in Henderson, NV
• Captain of Challenger 604 in Henderson, NV
• Captain of Cessna 680 (Sovereign+) in Henderson, NV
• Captain – Dassault 2000 (EXEASy) – Las Vegas, NV

More Thrive Aviation Resources:

• Career site 
• LinkedIn 
• Facebook 
• Instagram

More Help from FindaPilot.com

• Latest pilot job openings 
• Pilot directory 
• Sign-up page

The post Employer Profile: Thrive Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In 2024, Metro Aviation added fixed-wing aircraft to its fleet with the creation of Metro Gulf. Metro Aviation operates three MRO facilities in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Lafayette, Louisiana, and its headquarters in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Metro Aviation Mission Statement

“To provide the safest and highest quality aircraft operations, completions, and maintenance so that our customers can safely and effectively accomplish their mission profile, our employees can exercise their talents and maximize their potential, and the company can ensure its financial stability.”

Metro Aviation Openings on FindaPilot.com

• Helicopter Air Ambulance Pilot in Marysville, OH
• Helicopter Air Ambulance Pilot in Quitman, TX
• Helicopter Air Ambulance Pilot in Pomeroy, OH
• Helicopter Air Ambulance Pilot in Lake Charles, LA

More Metro Aviation Resources:

• Career site 
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter (X)
• Instagram

More Help from FindaPilot.com

• Latest pilot job openings 
• Pilot directory 
• Sign-up page

The post Employer Profile: Metro Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Founded in 2009, Solairus boasts 75-plus base locations, 330-plus private aircraft, and about 2,00 flight crew and support personnel. The company is headquartered in Petaluma, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Solairus Aviation Mission Statement

“We never settle for even very high levels of customer satisfaction and we’re always looking for better ways to do our business.” —Greg Petersen, chief operating officer

Solarius Aviation in the News

Solairus Aviation Announces Updates to Executive Leadership Team
Company appoints Brent Monroe as chief growth officer and promotes Bob Marinace to chief experience officer.

Solairus Aviation Announces Chad Davidson Business Aviation Leadership Scholarship Fund
The fund honors late aviator and Solairus team member Chad Davidson in support of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students.

Solairus Aviation Openings on FindaPilot.com

• Hawker 900XP Captain in Rockland, ME
• Gulfstream G650 Captain in Teterboro, NJ
• Gulfstream G550 Captain in Teterboro, NJ
• Challenger 650 Captain in Bedford, MA
• Gulfstream G500 Captain in Oxford, CT
• Gulfstream G650 Captain in Camarillo, CA

More Solairus Aviation Resources:

• Career site 
• LinkedIn 
• Facebook 
• X (Twitter) 
• Instagram 
• YouTube

The post Employer Profile: Solairus Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Kalitta’s call sign—”Connie”— is a nod to its founder, Conrad “Connie” Kalitta, who began the business as a car-part-carrying airline in 1967. The airline changed its name to American International Airways in 1984, when it began offering air freight, air ambulance, and charter operations.

In 1990, AIA flew hundreds of cargo missions for U.S. military operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf.

The company evolved and transformed into Kalitta Air in 2000. Today its fleet has more than 25 planes, consisting of Boeing 777 and B747-400 freighters.

Kalitta Air Mission Statement

According to its website: “Traveling the globe and delivering a quality product on time, anytime, anywhere.”

Kalitta Air in the News

Kalitta Charters II Says Goodbye to the Boeing 727
Michigan-based cargo operator Kalitta Charters II bid farewell to its final Boeing 727 freighter on April 5. The over-40-year-old aircraft, N729CK, completed a short flight from Willow Run Airport (KIPT) to Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (KOSC) in Michigan, marking the end of an era for the company.

Which U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Pilots?
Despite recent headlines, there are several career opportunities for aspiring aviators.

The Last 747, Queen of the Skies
The last 747 has rolled off Boeing’s production line, but the iconic jumbo jet still has plenty of history to make.

More Kalitta Resources:

• Career site 
• LinkedIn 
• Facebook 
• X (Twitter) 
• Instagram 
• YouTube

The post Employer Profile: Kalitta Air appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Clay Lacy Mission Statement

The company’s website lists the following values: Strive for excellence, thoughtfully improve, and do the right thing. 

Clay Lacy in the News

Clay Lacy Prepares to Open Waterbury-Oxford FBO Summer 2024
Clay Lacy Aviation’s newest FBO and hangar complex at Waterbury-Oxford Airport (KOXC), which serves New York City and the greater Northeast, is nearing completion and scheduled to open this summer. 

Clay Lacy Aviation, Overair Partner to Bring Air Taxis to Southern California
The FBO network and infrastructure developer will install vertiports and electric chargers and work toward an air taxi concept of operations.

A Life in Pursuit with Clay Lacy
In a long and storied career, Clay Lacy Aviation has notched extraordinary experiences in commercial and business aviation, the military, and air racing.

Clay Lacy Job Openings on FindaPilot.com

• Gulfstream 650 Captain in White Plains, NY
• Pilot Challenger 350 in Seattle, WA
• Gulfstream GIVSP Captain in Los Angeles, CA
• Global 6000 Captain in Van Nuys, CA
• Gulfstream G650 Captain in Los Angeles, CA
• Gulfstream G650 Captain in Van Nuys, CA

More Clay Lacy Resources:

• Clay Lacy career site
• Facebook
• X (Twitter)
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

The post Employer Profile: Clay Lacy Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Evandale, Ohio-based company plans to put them to work on supporting current aircraft engine programs and developing new technologies for future flight. “Hiring has already started,” according to GE.

Among the programs with openings for new engineers is the CFM International Revolution Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) airliner engine project as well as advanced military engine programs. GE said in a statement that most of the openings are expected to be in the U.S., with some global positions also available. Engineering disciplines GE is seeking among applicants include mechanical and thermal design, analysis, systems, controls and aerodynamics.

“We’re entering a new era of technology development focused on reducing emissions and new architectures, advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and supercomputing capabilities revolutionizing what is possible,” said Mohamed Ali, GE Aerospace vice president of engineering. “Now, as a stand-alone public company with innovation at the core of what we do, we look forward to welcoming more engineers to help us invent the future of flight.”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post GE Aerospace on the Hunt for Engineering Talent appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Before COVID-19 and for a bit afterward, there was a real shortage of qualified regional applicants—to the extent that many pilot groups saw raises of 100 percent or more. And there was a great deal of pressure to push new hires through training and onto the line.

I have friends who were simulator instructors and check airmen during that time, and they have stories of struggling applicants being afforded extra training sessions, multiple check ride attempts, and double or even triple the normal amount of initial operating experience (IOE) in an attempt to get them through.

• READ MORE: On the ‘Bax’ Foot: A Lifelong Writer Tackles the Spoken Word

But lately all the regional airlines have plenty of qualified first officers and even more qualified new-hire applicants—it’s qualified captains they are short on. It has become increasingly difficult to receive an interview at 15,00 hours. 

Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa Airlines’ longtime CEO, recently revealed that the company has more than 2,000 apparently qualified applications on file, all competing for a relative handful of new-hire slots. Thus, there’s no real pressure to hold new hires’ hands through training. In fact, the incentive goes the other way. The regionals need first officers who can pass captain upgrade training and IOE as soon as they’re legal to do so. It makes financial sense to winnow any that struggle as soon as possible. Brutal, but understandable.

One of the largest regionals has reportedly gone to a “two-and-through” policy. You are given one “freebie”—be that a check ride bust, training event repeat, or even extra preparatory sim session. The second one results in automatic training failure and termination. 

A friend was caught by this policy when his training partner, an older career changer, struggled and was offered “refresher” sessions before two check rides. My friend wanted to help his training partner and served as seat support for both sessions, only to have them counted against his own record, with summary termination the result. He now has an airline training failure as a permanent stain on his Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) file.

This should indicate how seriously you need to treat airline training. You are not particularly needed at the regional airlines now. Training is not a gimme, nobody will hold your hand, and if you do struggle, you cannot expect much sympathy or flexibility. Compared to primary and secondary instruction, most airline training is much less spoon fed—the onus is generally on you to study, show up with the answers, and shine in the sim.

• READ MORE: How Professional Pilots Can Survive Probationary Periods

If you suffer from check ride nerves, best find a way to calm them now. To be a professional pilot is to be a professional check ride taker. I would suggest that before even applying for the regional airlines right now, you should have total confidence in your ability to make it through a fast-paced, unforgiving training program.

That said, anyone can have a bad day. You might have shown up prepared, studied hard, done everything right—and still messed up. Maybe that got you rattled and affected your  performance, especially knowing that your job—your career, even—was on the line. I’ve never trained under that kind of pressure and can’t say for sure I’d handle it well. Perhaps you didn’t, and now you too have an airline training failure in your PRIA file.

What now?

First, you need to know that your life is not over and neither is your career. There are plenty of pilots working with a training failure somewhere in their past. Having this on your record is less concerning than being fired from a job for cause, aircraft accident, or FAA enforcement action, DUI/DWI, or losing your medical. You still have the same flight time and certifications that you had before the failure. I’ve never heard of the FAA suspending or revoking certificates, or even giving a 709 check ride, based on someone failing out of an airline training program. You can still make a living flying airplanes.

• READ MORE: Allure of International Flying Lies Across the Glittering Sea

The course of your career has changed, though. I’d argue that the “training/CFI/regional/major in five years” rocket ship career path was already becoming unrealistic as the pilot shortage wound down, but in any case, that gate is shut now. Its closing was always a possibility in this industry—perhaps even a probability. It slammed shut for every pilot of my generation when the Twin Towers fell on 9/11, and yet, as dark as things seemed for a while, many went on to have wonderful careers. My own career path took turns I never saw coming, and they led to some really interesting experiences and lifelong friends. I wouldn’t go back and change anything, even if I could.

In their current hiring mood, the airlines will likely not take a chance on you while your training failure is fresh. Your mission now is to build a record that puts your failure squarely in the past and shows that it was a one-off event. Take whatever time you need to get your head right, then jump right back into it. Get yourself into a position to pass a check ride as soon as possible.

If you’re going back to flight instructing, add that CFII or MEI rating. If you can land a Part 135 gig, better yet—it will require passing an approved training program and a 135.293 proficiency check, plus potentially a type ride depending on the aircraft. Most corporate gigs also involve a type ride. If nobody is calling just yet, a single-engine sea or glider rating can be added to a commercial certificate fairly cheaply. Just get back on that horse and pass a check ride.

• READ MORE: Financing the Pro Pilot Dream…Without Getting Scammed

I don’t normally advocate job hopping, and it can be a red flag to HR departments. But I will say that following a training program failure, you’ll need to go through two or three full training programs without incident to become competitive for a top-tier job. If you can do that with a single employer, fine. Move up to a different airframe as soon as you can. If you need to switch employers to pass another training program, do so after a decent interval.

No matter where you go, you’ll need to disclose the training failure on each application, and it will likely come up on every interview. Depending on how you handle it, this can become your biggest stumbling block or an unexpected asset. It is so important that you do not play the blame game. Regardless of what actually happened, you need to develop a credible explanation of why you weren’t ready, what you got wrong, what you learned from the experience, and how you are better equipped now to pass a tough training course.

Unfortunately, you’re in a poor position to judge whether your explanation is actually any good. This is where paying an interview prep company can be extremely valuable, especially if you’ve worked your way back to applying for a top-tier position. With some polishing and a solid post-failure history to support it, the tale of how your lowest moment turned you into a better person, and a better pilot, could just be the exact thing that eventually lands you that dream job.

The post After a Training Fail, What Comes Next? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Sometimes middle school teachers reach out to the local aviation community looking for pilots who would be willing to visit their class to do a short, age-appropriate presentation about flying.

You don’t have to be a fighter pilot or hold a type rating to do this—but you do have to be engaging. As this school year picks up again, FLYING reached out to educators across the country for tips for a successful outcome for a middle school talk. Although the teachers asked us not to use their names because their schools have specific guidelines about appearing on social media, they had a plethora of knowledge to share.

• READ MORE: Oklahoma Schools Celebrate Aviation-Focused STEM Curriculum

Step 1: Meet the teacher in advance and speak their language.

Before you say yes, ask the teacher what the class has been studying, and then determine how aviation can be applied to enhance their understanding of the topic. Often the teacher will offer a specific topic they would like you to discuss, like aerodynamics or weather, but many are open to suggestions. Your presentation needs to dovetail with what has already been taught.

“Keep in mind that most teachers are probably not pilots,” said Elizabeth Tennyson, chief operating officer for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which does extensive outreach work with STEM education that includes helping teachers develop a curriculum that is age-appropriate.

“Pilot guest speakers need to avoid the jargon and acronyms we use so often in aviation. Taking a moment to explain terms and providing a cheat sheet with acronyms or key concepts is helpful.”

One way to engage the teachers is to take them for a short flight in advance of the presentation. They may want to record the event and share the video with their class.

Step 2: Manage expectations.

On the day of the talk, give the teacher a short bio so they can introduce you to the class. Every teacher interviewed for this piece warned us that maturity runs the gamut at this age, so you need to expect short attention spans, lots of energy, students who are easily distracted and have low impulse control, and those who will crack jokes in an attempt to get attention. This can throw off the room, so be prepared. The teacher will probably have suggestions and methods for getting the class back on track.

Begin the talk with a short oral quiz—no more than three to five questions to establish the class interest level and determine its energy. Some examples: “Who here has flown in a small airplane?” “Can anyone tell me what the four forces of flight are?” “What generates lift?”

I am a big fan of the last question followed by a short demonstration of lift by blowing on a piece of paper (like you are blowing out candles on a birthday cake) and having the paper rise as your breath—the accelerated air molecules going over the paper not unlike the relative wind over an airfoil—creates lift.

Weather is a popular topic for presentation as it impacts everything—they have seen fog, rain, and ice (most likely), and you can share with them how weather forms and how pilots adapt to it.

Step 3: Present your talk.

Expect to talk for 10 to 15 minutes tops, and if you can, make it an illustrated lecture such as a PowerPoint or have props like sectionals, airfoils, models, or an E6-B flight computer to show and hold the students’ interest. 

“Don’t be afraid to use whatever tools you’ve got—pictures, simulations, simple experiments, or demonstrations and personal stories—to bring ideas to life,” said Tennyson. “Teachers are just like the rest of us—they learn better when they’re engaged—so make room for discussion and give-and-take rather than lecturing. 

Step 4: Do an activity.

Hands-on projects can be helpful for learning to take place, but they can also take a lot longer than anticipated, especially when the class is large. Keep it simple, teachers say, and always make sure you have cleared the activity with them, as some may not be appropriate. Several teachers warned us that making paper airplanes can lead to unplanned air-to-air combat.

Pro tip: It is often a good idea to have another pilot (or two depending on the size of the class) with you to assist in the project—for example, if you teach the class to use mechanical E6-Bs to answer time, speed, and distance questions as part of a VFR navigation log. I am particularly fond of this exercise, as I love the look on the kids’ faces when I unveil the giant E6-B and hand out a stack of the smaller ones for use. “If you hate story problems, you’ll love the E6-B,” I tell them, as when I was in middle school I thought story problems were cruel and unusual punishment. Having the directions for how to solve time, speed, and distance printed right on the instrument makes it so much easier.

Step 5: Answer questions.

The kids will have questions but also want to share their stories. Be prepared to tell them how to pursue specific careers in aviation, especially how much education they will need.

Step 6: Offer giveaways—maybe.

These can be tricky. Posters are cool, unless the student has housing insecurity. Balsa gliders or jacket fobs are often a better choice as they are portable. Often businesses have them as giveaways at trade shows. 

Step 7: What do you do after the presentation?

End the presentation by letting the kids know of age-appropriate aviation activities outside the school. For example, if there is a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association around, let the students know about Young Eagles flights, or perhaps there is an Aviation Explorer Scout program in your area. For all you know, one of those kids may be so inspired by your talk that in a few years you run into them at the airport (where they work) or maybe even see them on the NASA TV channel. It could happen.

The post Bring Aviation to Middle Schools appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The fiscal 2024 incentives include the Experienced Aviator Retention Incentive (EARI), formerly known as the Aviation Bonus, and the new Rated Officer Retention Demonstration bonus, the service announced Thursday. 

The Rated Officer Retention Demonstration program is a five-year trial mandated by Congress last year that aims to retain pilots in critical weapons systems. Only active-duty pilots of crewed aircraft with service commitments expiring in 2025 or 2026 are eligible, Air and Space Forces reported.

• READ MORE: United Zeroing In On Military Pilots as Air Force Tempts Them to Stay

“In today’s strategic environment, the requirement to preserve critical skills in our Air Force has never been more important,” Major General Adrian Spain, director of training and readiness, and deputy chief of staff for operations at Headquarters, Air Force, said in a statement. “Specifically, aviation-related skill sets, formed through the crucible of combat and daily execution of high-intensity operations, is the foundation necessary to continue to effectively deliver warfighting capability to the joint force and the American people. 

“Retaining these professional aviators’ experience and expertise within the total force is imperative in order to outpace future challenges that may emerge throughout the spectrum of conflict,” he added.

• READ MORE: Air Force Pilot-Training Numbers Come Up Short of Aspirations

The bonuses range from $15,000 to $50,000 per year for signed contracts extending their service from three to 12 years. Other non-monetary perks include assignment of choice, assignment declination or to remain in place.

Those eligible for EARI include rated officers in the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve. Eligibility for Rated Officer Retention Demonstration bonus program, however, is reserved for only rated officers in the Air Force.

• READ MORE: Air Force Boosts Pilot Retention Bonuses

Active-duty aviators who are eligible have until August 1, 2024 to apply for both programs, however, the service warns that the eligibility window could close early if the maximum number of contracts are met before that deadline.

Aviators seeking to review their eligibility and application instructions may do so here, the Air Force said.

The post Air Force Offers New Round of Aviator Retention Incentives appeared first on FLYING Magazine.