When people think about aircraft management in the private jet industry they are often likely to focus primarily on the technical and mechanical aspects of keeping these exclusive aircraft flight worthy and ready for passengers at all times. However, some of the most important aspects of managing a private aircraft are the “experience” related service capabilities required to meet the expectations of traveling clientele. Owners of these aircraft often don’t know much about the business of flight at all so they need providers who can also locate, train and provide expert crew members who will be available at a moment’s notice to ensure safety, comfort and above all – a memorable experience for their guests.
While many apply, not everyone is right for this kind of job and it takes a management company with great recruitment skills to find the people who will deliver the kind of experience expected and enjoy themselves while doing it. CNN recently published an article titled “Confessions of a VIP private jet flight attendant”that sheds some light on this from the perspective of the crew members. You can read it here: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/private-jet-flight-attendant/index.html
What CNN discovers is that the needs, wants and desires of VIP passengers are wide and varied and it takes a special kind of person who has the flexibility, open mindedness and resourcefulness to deliver under any circumstances. We too have discovered the importance of recruiting the right kind of crew members who will excel in these circumstances and create memorable experiences for aircraft owners and their guests. Our own experience has taught us that while many will try, only a special few will receive the lucrative assignments that allow them to travel and serve in this elite industry.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t also point out that these kinds of standards and expectations don’t just apply to flight attendants. Pilots in the private jet industry also need to have a skillset that contributes to the overall passenger experience. Clearly the captain is in command of the flight but in our industry he or she must also be someone who is comfortable with client engagement, talking to people, listening and responding in a way that makes them comfortable. While their primary job is the safety of their passengers, an engaging personality plays a role in the overall customer experience. In an industry that struggles with pilot availability, it can be challenging at best which is why we developed a state-of-the-art pilot database of our own so that it automatically feeds us the right candidate pilots for the right assignments. Sort of a pilot/client match making service!
Overall, people make the difference in aircraft management so we recommend investing a lot of time and effort making sure you’ve got the right skills and personalities on the job when looking after those who own, operate or travel in the private jets you serve.