Charter Pilot

Charter Flying

It may be difficult to comprehend, but there are more than 120 airports in the New Zealand and over 41,500 in the world - only around 20% are serviced by some form of regular scheduled air services.  That leaves a large number from which non-scheduled, or charter, services can, or do, operate.  In some countries the charter sector is significant with aircraft being operated ranging from single piston engine four place aircraft through to large jet liners.  In Papua New Guinea there are over 550 airfields and most are serviced by a charter operation.

The Charter Pilot can find themself engaged in a wide range of activities or dedicated to just one.  The opportunities include Air Charter, Scenic Flights, survey and photographic missions, fire observation, law enforcement, bush flying, mail flights, overnight freight operations and Air Ambulance flying – to name a few.

From a career point of view, the tenure is generally secure and the financial benefits reasonable.
 

Aero Medical

You may hear it called “Flight For Life,” or “Air Ambulance. Broadly speaking, medical transport has two main objectives: emergency response to a life-threatening situation or conveyance of ill patients to distant or specialist treatment centres.  In New Zealand, the Air Ambulance industry is well established, flying to specialist hospitals such as Starship, the Auckland and Wellington Cardiac Units and the Burwood Hospital Burns and Spinal Units.

The air ambulance is able to bring patients from all over the country quickly and comfortably.

The life of an Aeromedical pilot is a varied and rewarding one with flying in all conditions and significant night flying.  It is also very well rewarded with most pilots in this sector earning excellent salaries.

Scenic flying

Take a journey to some of the nation’s most scenic spots and you can expect to find an air tour company nearby. Within New Zealand the notables include: Mount Cook, the West Coast Glaciers, Lake Taupo, the Rotorua Volcanic regions, Kaikoura Whale Watch and the Bay of Islands, to name a few.  All over the world there are a huge number of tourist hot spots from which Scenic Flight operations are conducted.  All depend on well trained and accomplished commercial charter pilots.

Generally the financial benefits are reasonable and the changing clientele is something most pilots enjoy.  Scenic flying is a great way to build experience, skill and a solid feel for the passenger/airline sector.

For most pilots their time in the charter sector is the most challenging and the most rewarding.

Programmes for aspiring Charter Pilots include: