The flight crew is one of the most integral aspects of any aviation business; especially when selling luxury flights, having experienced crew members is a must. Of course, it isn’t always easy to find the right people for the job, so here are a few things you must know when it’s time to crew your aircraft.
1. There are companies that will do it for you.
If for example, your company purchases a jet from Bombardier and need to crew it immediately, Bombardier can arrange for a flight crew until you’ve selected people to hire permanently. They also offer flight crew training services – a great way to ensure that your crew would have the proper knowledge and training for work in your specific aircraft. There are also agencies dedicated entirely to aviation staffing. This might be ideal for your company, as the different requirements for flight crew members may be too difficult to manage on your own.
2. You’ll need flight attendants with VIP cabin crew experience.
The job of a flight attendant in private jets can be very different from that in commercial airlines. There is a greater focus on foodservice and hospitality apart from safety (after all, there aren’t long queues of people to direct safely to their seats, but there are guests with very specific demands that have to be met). In many cases, those with VIP cabin crew qualifications will have worked for two years or more in first class.
3. You’ll need someone who is amenable to the unpredictable schedule.
The flights of charter companies aren’t nearly as routine as airlines, so this has to be a consideration when choosing your crew. You will need people who are ready and willing to go for urgent, unscheduled trips, and to stay at a destination for a day or longer in order to wait for the return flight if the client requires it.
4. There are cultural aspects you need to pay attention to.
When selecting your flight attendants, consider your most popular flights as well as your client demographic. If you find that you most often fly to and from a particular country, then it might be a good idea to find someone who speaks that country’s language as well as English.
The type of clients may also be influenced by where your business is based; you might most often find yourself working with showbiz celebrities, businessmen, or politicians. Choose the personality of your flight attendants accordingly: will you need to make sure the flight attendant doesn’t get flustered around celebrities, or someone with a formal demeanor for your more reserved clients? Be thorough in your selection process, as the right flight attendants can determine whether your clients choose to fly with you again.