Expert Opinion
AINsight: Does Size Really Matter?
To help retain business aviation pilots, it might be time to decouple aircraft size with compensation and then pay enough to keep pilots from jumping ship.
James from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
James from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As an aviation recruiter, I’m often asked about compensation levels for pilots. A typical question is, “What do I have to pay for a mid-cabin pilot?” And I’ll respond with, “How long do you want this pilot to work for you?” 

Traditionally, pilots have always been paid by the size of the aircraft—the heavier the iron, the more the compensation. And, conversely, the smaller the airplane, the smaller the pay.

Sheryl Barden
AIN Contributor
About the author

Sheryl Barden, CAM, is CEO of Aviation Personnel International, the longest-running recruiting and HR consulting firm dedicated to business aviation. A recognized thought leader on workforce and leadership issues, she is an NBAA CAM Fellow, past member of NBAA’s board of directors and advisory council, and recipient of NBAA’s John P. “Jack” Doswell Award for lifetime achievement and service to business aviation.

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