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Jet Access

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Chief Pilot – Part 135 Charter Operations

✈️ Lead our Flight Deck as Chief Pilot

Jet Access, a family-owned private aviation and charter operator, is searching for an accomplished Chief Pilot to elevate standards, culture, and safety across our growing Part 135 operation. You’ll be the steward of pilot excellence—setting the bar for standardization, compliance, and leadership—while partnering closely with the Director of Operations and our Assistant Chief Pilots.

Company: Jet Access
Location: Fishers, IN (primary on-site base) with hybrid/travel as needed
Reports to: Director of Operations
Compensation: $175,000–$225,000 base (FLSA Exempt), paid bi-weekly; experience-dependent
Relocation: Assistance available to the greater Indianapolis area
Schedule: Primarily on-site leadership; limited flying to maintain currency; responsive to 24/7 charter operations

🧭 Your Mission

Own the health, performance, and future capacity of the pilot organization. You’ll drive safety, standardization, utilization, and morale—while ensuring rock-solid Part 135 compliance and effective operational control. Flying will be limited and focused on maintaining qualification and firsthand visibility into standards, not supplementing crew shortages.

🧰 What You’ll Lead

  • Provide strategic leadership to Assistant Chief Pilots; hold them accountable for tactical leadership across assigned pilot groups and fleet segments.
  • Own hiring, promotion, qualification, performance, and discipline outcomes for the pilot group; ensure quarterly conversations are completed and acted upon.
  • Develop future leaders: Assistant Chief Pilots, check airmen, and pilot instructors.
  • Champion pilot-organization health—communication, morale, utilization, rest, quality of life, operating standards, type currency, and safety-trend action via the Event Review Committee.
  • Maintain standardized, documented operating environments: current manuals and checklists, accurate EFB content, and reliable access to pilot information.
  • Coordinate closely with Training and the Operational Control Center on staffing, training, PTO, qualifications, fleet plans, and 30/60/90/180-day exposure views.
  • Support recruiting, selection, onboarding, crew planning, and organizational development; act on weekly Assistant Chief Pilot health reports.
  • Drive adoption and effective use of ForeFlight, Avianis, MySky, Vocus, and Web Manuals; remove recurring pilot-facing friction.
  • Report crew performance, operational risk, and workforce trends to senior leadership; execute special projects and participate in Level 10 and EOS rhythms.
  • Remain available when our 24/7 charter operation requires responsive leadership.

📏 Compliance & Operational Control

  • Exercise authorized operational control with the authority to initiate, conduct, divert, or terminate flights.
  • Ensure complete, compliant flight/duty/rest records and adherence to company policy, Federal Aviation Regulations, Operations Specifications, and maintenance/airworthiness requirements.
  • Own the standards and content for aircraft documentation, checklists, EFB, and Part 135 manuals, including the manual required by 14 CFR 135.21.

🧠 What You Bring

  • License: ATP (Unrestricted).
  • Experience: 5,000+ hours total time; 3,000+ hours PIC; 3+ years PIC in Part 121 or Part 135 operations.
  • Leadership: Prior Chief Pilot or Director of Operations experience in Part 135; proven leadership of 25+ pilots with accountability, development, and retention outcomes.
  • Type & Currency: Type rating and currency on a Jet Access fleet aircraft (or ability to obtain/maintain) sufficient for PIC duties, pilot evaluations, and line checks.
  • Regulatory Mastery: Full working knowledge of aviation standards and safe operating practices, 14 CFR Chapter 1, Ops Specs, maintenance/airworthiness requirements, and applicable manuals.
  • Systems & Audits: Familiar with Avianis, ForeFlight Dispatch, Web Manuals (or comparable); experience with ARGUS, Wyvern, or IS-BAO audit prep in Part 135.
  • Operating System Builder: Track record developing subordinate leaders, leveraging operational data and trends, and working within EOS or similar frameworks; multi-type/varied-fleet experience is a plus.
  • Location: Reside in or relocate to the greater Indianapolis area; relocation assistance available.
  • Readiness: Pass background check and pre-employment drug screening; maintain active FAA medical and required currency; physically able to perform flight duties; occasional travel; valid state driver’s license.
  • Safety Sensitive: Subject to DOT/FAA random drug and alcohol testing throughout employment.

🛠️ Tools & Systems

  • ForeFlight (including Dispatch)
  • Avianis
  • Web Manuals
  • MySky
  • Vocus
  • Company EFB standards and checklist management

🌟 Why You’ll Love Jet Access

  • Competitive base salary: $175,000–$225,000, paid bi-weekly (FLSA Exempt).
  • Relocation support to the Indianapolis area.
  • Generous benefits, paid vacation and holidays.
  • Excellent training programs and discounted flight training.
  • A tight-knit, family environment with compassionate, transparent leadership that empowers personal and business growth.
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