Skyservice requirements higher than most

[propstojets]

Good afternoon all,

Over the past 2 years I have been looking at corporate pilot job ads, and I can't help but notice that every single Skyservice ads usually require 2-3x the experience level of most other operators. It's not rare to see them require 5000-6000 hours for challenger captain jobs, when other operators like Chartright only ask for 2500-3000. Same goes for FO requirements, not rare to see 3500 TT required with 1000 PIC for large jet FO, which are higher requiremens than many corporate jet captain job ads out there. Does this mean that Skyservice is harder to get into, and therefore offers much better working conditions? Where do they find these candidates if not? What am I missing?

[rippey]

They’ll hire with less, particularly if you have internal references. I work for Skyservice and I was just joking with someone that I am only about 4-5 years away from meeting the hiring minimums for the job I’ve had for almost a decade. Ie if you are short on the total time but have years of jet PIC experience I am sure you’d be considered. Let’s face it, corporate is not a big time builder, so if you get in with say 2000 hrs and you fly 250 hrs a year, 10 years later you’ll have lots of great experience, but less than 5000 hrs in your logbook.
In terms of working conditions, skyservice, like Chartright and a few other management companies have taken some steps to improve QOL to help with pilot retention, but at the end of the day it all comes down to the aircraft/owner you work for - days off, vacation and certainly pay all vary - even across the same type. Edited to add: The good news is, is that all of the above are becoming increasingly more negotiable.

[propstojets]

Thanks Rippey, I appreciate you taking the time to answer, it’s nice to hear it from someone at Skyservice.