Chief Pilot, Part 135/91 (Citation XLS/CE-525) — Uvalde, TX

✈️ About the Opportunity

The Chief Pilot provides strategic and day-to-day leadership of all flight operations for a company operating under an Air Carrier Certificate. This role blends hands-on flying with department leadership—owning operational control functions (as authorized by the Director of Operations), training and standardization, FAA compliance, and the Safety Management System (SMS). You will collaborate closely with Operations, Maintenance, Safety, and Executive leadership to deliver safe, reliable, and professional service.

🧭 What You’ll Lead

• Organize, staff, supervise, and direct all company flight operations across Part 135 and Part 91 activity.
• Fly regularly as a line pilot and serve as PIC on assigned scheduled and/or charter flights.
• Exercise limited operational-control authority under the Air Carrier Certificate when authorized by the Director of Operations.
• Manage functions affecting operational control, flight safety, fleet and crew standardization, and personnel development.
• Promote professionalism, accountability, and operational excellence across the flight department.

🧰 Training, Standardization & Compliance

• Organize, administer, and oversee all pilot training: initial, recurrent, upgrade, differences, and special-emphasis programs.
• Maintain qualification, certification, and training records; monitor proficiency and operational performance.
• Ensure crew qualifications and currency; conduct or oversee line checks, standardization evaluations, and operational observations.
• Develop and maintain aircraft checklists and SOPs; enforce the GOM, Training Manuals, SOPs, and company policies.
• Standardize practices across aircraft types and crews; review and improve operational processes.
• Keep crews current on regulatory and procedural changes; maintain FAA and Ops Specs compliance.
• Prepare for FAA inspections, audits, and regulatory reviews; support WYVERN Wingman, IS-BAO, and ARGUS accreditation where applicable.
• Ensure timely completion of corrective actions and continuous-improvement initiatives.

🌟 Safety Leadership (SMS)

• Drive SMS participation, Just Culture, and proactive safety reporting across the department.
• Validate, investigate, and address reported risks and deficiencies; embed mitigations into procedures and training.
• Analyze safety reports, operational data, and trends; attend Safety Review Board meetings and safety committees.
• Distribute operational and safety information; communicate regulatory, procedural, and manual changes.

🤝 People, Communication & Stakeholder Relations

• Lead and mentor flight-department personnel; oversee welfare, performance, conduct, and professional development.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, evaluations, disciplinary actions, retention initiatives, and succession planning.
• Liaise with vendors, training providers, regulators, and relevant aviation organizations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Operations, Director of Maintenance, Safety Manager, schedulers, auditors, customers, and executive leadership.

🧑‍✈️ What You Bring

• Meet all FAA Chief Pilot qualifications under 14 CFR Part 119.
• Hold a valid, unrestricted ATP for the category of aircraft operated by the company.
• Hold a Citation XLS or CE-525 type rating with operational experience.
• Current FAA First-Class Medical Certificate.
• Qualified under the company’s approved training program to serve as PIC on at least one company aircraft.
• More than 7,500 hours total time and Aspen flying experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Company GOM, Training Manuals, SOPs; FAA Parts 91, 119, and 135; SMS; operational-control principles; and Crew Resource Management.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with operational systems; Jet Insight experience preferred.

Preferred: Previous FAA-approved Chief Pilot experience; experience with WYVERN Wingman, IS-BAO, and SMS; experience conducting pilot evaluations, line checks, and standardization programs; bachelor’s degree (aviation, business, management, or related); and CFI/CFII/MEI credentials.

🧰 Flying & Work Conditions

• Perform duties as a required flight crewmember and maintain FAA medical certification.
• Travel as needed; flexibility to respond to operational and safety matters outside normal business hours.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and climb aircraft stairs in airport and aviation environments.