Business Aviation Offers Former Airline Workers Valuable Opportunities

Those affected by the recent shutdown of a U.S. commercial airline and other potential changes and consolidations in the Part 121 segment may find new career opportunities in business aviation.

For example, Kazia Cooper moved last year from her job at a commercial airline to become a business aviation flight attendant. Former airline employees can bring strong safety training backgrounds and a solid foundation in crew resource management, often across multiple aircraft types, Cooper said.

“These professionals also bring a lot of experience with handling high-pressure situations, including medical and mechanical emergencies, as well as domestic and international operations,” she added. “These skills translate into the precision, adaptability and the elevated service expectations of business aviation.”

When longtime airline captain Keith Wolzinger moved to business aviation, he “was looking for something with flexibility, in the region where I wanted to be based and an environment where I’d be able to contribute and give back to the industry,” he said. “Having flown for over 50 years, I knew I had a lot of practical knowledge to bring to a flight department.”

However, the industry may not be the right fit for everyone. “Those who succeed in business aviation like to interact with people and find joy in problem-solving,” said Sheryl Barden, CAM Fellow and CEO of Aviation Personnel International. “There are just as many who thrive on the predictability found in the airlines. Life’s too short to be in an environment that may not suit you.”

“What you find in an airline environment are very dedicated swim lanes, as it were, dictated by your job description,” added Richard Scarbrough, a former aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) at a large commercial airline. “Personally, I found that to be very restrictive.

“I like being versatile and not doing the exact same job every single day,” he continued. “In a business aviation maintenance operation, you could be servicing a nitrogen bottle, changing a tire or helping remove and replace seats one day, and performing an engine swap the next.”

Wolzinger noted former airline employees may also find business aviation to be a much less volatile industry overall. “The boneyards out in the desert are filled with airliners,” he said. “They aren’t filled with business jets.”

Destination or Waypoint?

Business aviation managers seeking longtime hires may be apprehensive about bringing on workers who may eventually return to the Part 121 world.

“It can be difficult to decipher someone’s long-term intentions and candidates often tell you what they think you want to hear,” Barden said. “Ask potential hires what they valued most about working at the airline. If their answers don’t jive with what they’re likely to find in business aviation, that could be a sign they may only be interested in a short-term opportunity.”

Barden recalled a discussion she had recently with a director of aviation. “He said, ‘The deal killer for me in an interview is when a pilot comes in and asks what aircraft we fly, or how many hard days off they would have,’” she said. “’I want to hear, ‘What’s it like to be a part of this team?’”

A new hire also represents a sizable investment in training, adding to the importance of long-term retention. “Someone may just not want to commit to ‘x’ number of years at a Part 91 or 135 operation,” Wolzinger said. “Their goal may be to return to the airlines within two years.

“That said, people coming from the 121 world are quick to pick up on policies, procedures, learning new airplanes and going through the training process, because they’re used to the rigor of airline service,” he added. “That level of discipline translates very well to business aviation.”

Some pilots, flight attendants and AMTs shift between jobs in business and commercial aviation due to a variety of factors, including financial goals and lifestyle preferences. Cooper recommends joining professional networks to seek guidance and advice from others following similar career trajectories.

“This is a relationship-driven industry,” Cooper added. “Focus on building meaningful professional relationships and gaining experience within the industry whenever possible. Open communication about career goals is valuable, including the understanding that some professionals may transition back to airline roles.”

Scarbrough recommended that both sides be honest and upfront about their intentions. “If you’re scrambling a bit after losing your job in the airlines, admit that you’re looking for a way to feed your family,” he said. “And if you’re interviewing that candidate, think about what they could still bring to your operation.”

Even a short-term hire may prove beneficial to a flight operation seeking to fill open maintenance and flight crew slots, Scarbrough added. “There are also lots of people who’ve left the airlines, moved over to a job in business aviation and realized, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so much better! How could I ever go back?'”