Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome back to the blog; it’s VistaJet First Officer Andrew Mallon here.
If you missed my previous posts, you can catch up here:
It’s been a while since my last entry. Since then, I’ve completed the type rating and base training with VistaJet and have moved on to completing the line training. This period has been dedicated to adjusting to life on a high-performance jet.
The line training was an enjoyable but undeniably a highly challenging experience. The line training consists of a predetermined minimum number of sectors flown with a line training captain, followed by a final line check before being released on the line. At the outset, it felt like diving into the deep end, navigating through a full roster of flights to various European destinations, both commercial and private. While international route flying was entirely new to me, my experience with AFTA, including instructing and operating out of an international airport, had provided valuable preparation.
My line training went well, thanks to some very friendly and supportive captains who helped along the way. In total I completed 20 sectors flying all over Europe, experiencing the thrill of international flight followed by the final line check, which consisted of two sectors, one as pilot flying and one as pilot monitoring, with some theoretical questions along the way.
Life as a business jet pilot presents a stark contrast to commercial airline operations. In addition to flying the aircraft, responsibilities include cabin cleaning and organisation between passenger flights, managing onboard provisions, loading passenger catering and luggage, and attending to passengers’ needs during the flight. The flight schedule can change frequently during duty, often revealing destinations just a day prior. This dynamic role offers a refreshing departure from the repetitive sector flying typical of commercial airlines.
The overall lifestyle is different to what I was used to before but quickly becomes very manageable, especially when you spend your 36 hours off in beautiful European cities such as Vienna, with time to explore.
Our rotations typically involve travelling to the aircraft’s base, staying with it throughout the rotation, and overnighting in hotels at each destination before returning home at the rotation’s end. Though our rotations span 17 days, the prospect of traveling across Europe and potentially the world, with potential progression to larger fleets like the Challenger or Global, while visiting not only international airports but also small remote airfields that may not be reachable to the airliners. It brings a lot of experience points and opportunities to enjoy the areas, especially during the time off duty. And with 13 days off after each rotation, we have a lot of time off every month to enjoy our personal lives at home too.
My experience with VistaJet has been incredibly fulfilling. I would wholeheartedly recommend considering a career with VistaJet to anyone aspiring to aviation, as it offers a unique perspective and diverse opportunities.
Dive into the world of AFTA and VistaJet’s mentored pilot training program and explore the diverse tracks available. Join us for an exclusive webinar on Wednesday, March 13th at 5:30pm (GMT).