The subject of contract pilots always seems to come up with little warning, like five minutes after someone in the company books a trip in the middle of a regular pilot’s vacation or training. A department manager’s reaction to this kind of crisis ranges from a look of deep confusion to a smile because the solution is already in hand. The solution usually means finding a qualified pilot–now.
Contract piloting has evolved to fill this kind of immediate need for temporary help in the cockpit and is continuing to grow into a group of highly experienced professional aviators who can deliver on-demand pilot services. Fledgling flight departments use contract pilots to bring their own pilots up to speed on a new aircraft type, and even as new managers still trying to get a flight department organized. The full-time pilots receive the help they need to deliver the lift the company demands, at significantly lower cost than hiring another full-time pilot.
