Chief Pilot

About the role

Jet Access is a family-owned, professionally operated private aviation company offering aircraft management, charter, maintenance, sales, flight training, FBO services, and charter brokerage. As the Chief Pilot, you will lead the pilot organization and own the standards to which Jet Access aircraft are operated, ensuring the health, standardization, development, and future capacity of the pilot group. This is an administrative and leadership role first, with limited support flying to sustain qualification and firsthand visibility into standardization.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and hold accountable the Assistant Chief Pilots, ensuring they carry genuine tactical leadership of assigned pilot groups and fleet segments.
• Own hiring, promotion, qualification, performance, and discipline outcomes for the pilot group, making final decisions on matters recommended by Assistant Chief Pilots.
• Ensure quarterly conversations are completed across the pilot group and act on concerns and trends surfaced through the Assistant Chief Pilot structure.
• Develop the leadership bench by identifying, preparing, and advancing future Assistant Chief Pilots, check airmen, and pilot instructors.
• Explain strategic decisions to Assistant Chief Pilots to teach judgment rather than managing the pilot population case by case.
• Own the health of the pilot organization, including standardization, communication, morale, utilization, rest, and quality of life.
• Set department-wide standardization policy and enforce the standards to which Jet Access aircraft are operated.
• Maintain type currency and personal credibility through a limited support flying schedule to observe standardization firsthand.
• Participate in the Event Review Committee and act on safety trends affecting the pilot group.
• Ensure every aircraft presents a standardized, correctly documented, and professionally maintained operating environment.
• Own required onboard manuals, checklist currency, EFB content, and aircraft presentation standards.
• Ensure pilot-facing operational information is accurate, current, and accessible without escalation.
• Maintain compliance with company policy, Federal Aviation Regulations, and manuals required under 14 CFR Part 135.
• Exercise operational control, including the authority to initiate, conduct, divert, or terminate a flight, and ensure crewmember records are compliant.
• Maintain a forward-looking view of staffing, training, PTO, qualification, fleet, and quality-of-life exposure.
• Anticipate and resolve staffing and qualification gaps before they constrain operations.
• Coordinate with Training and the Operational Control Center to align training demand, PTO, and utilization.
• Support recruiting, selection standards, and onboarding for incoming pilots, and partner with the Director of Operations on crew planning.
• Review structured weekly health reports from Assistant Chief Pilots and act on exceptions.
• Own the effectiveness of pilot-facing systems (EFB, ForeFlight, Avianis, MySky, Vocus, Web Manuals) and resolve adoption friction.
• Maintain a communication and reporting rhythm with the Director of Operations and senior leadership on crew performance, operational risk, and workforce trends.
• Complete special projects and initiatives to contribute to Jet Access’s continued growth and success.

Requirements

• ATP certificate with 5,000 hours total flying time and 3,000 hours total pilot-in-command time.
• Three years as pilot-in-command in Part 121 or Part 135 operations.
• Prior Chief Pilot or Director of Operations experience in a Part 135 operation.
• Experience leading a pilot group of twenty-five or more, with demonstrated ability to hold crew members accountable while supporting their development and retention.
• Type rating and currency in an aircraft on the Jet Access fleet, or the ability to obtain and maintain one, sufficient to serve as pilot-in-command and conduct pilot evaluations and line checks.
• Full working knowledge of aviation standards, 14 CFR Chapter 1, company Operations Specifications, maintenance and airworthiness requirements, and manuals required by 14 CFR 135.21.
• Must currently reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the greater Indianapolis, IN area.
• Must successfully pass a background check and pre-employment drug screening.
• Deep alignment with Jet Access core values is non-negotiable.
• This position is designated FAA Safety Sensitive and is subject to DOT and FAA random drug and alcohol testing throughout employment.

Qualifications

• On-site administrative and leadership role based in Fishers, IN; flight duty is limited and scheduled around leadership responsibilities.
• Must maintain an active FAA medical certificate and all currency requirements necessary to serve as pilot-in-command and conduct pilot evaluations.
• Physically able to perform flight duties, including boarding and operating company aircraft, extended periods at the controls, and sustained periods of concentrated attention.
• Occasional travel required to support crew development, standardization observation, operational needs, and client engagement.
• Valid state driver’s license required.

Skills

• Lead with a People First mentality, genuinely invested in the growth, performance, and wellbeing of pilots and team members.
• Communicate directly and clearly, adapting your approach across crew members, senior leadership, and client representatives without losing composure under pressure.
• Hold high standards without undermining others, offering feedback that is honest, actionable, and delivered with respect.
• Build trust by following through, staying visible, and modeling the conduct and professionalism expected from the crew.
• Lead with empathy and positivity, creating an environment where crew members feel seen, supported, and motivated.
• Demonstrated experience building or improving an operating system (dashboards, standards, playbooks, or leadership structure).
• Experience developing subordinate leaders into independent decision-makers and working from operational data and trends rather than anecdote.
• Experience with ARGUS, Wyvern, or IS-BAO audit preparation and compliance within a Part 135 environment.
• Familiarity with Avianis, ForeFlight Dispatch, Web Manuals, or comparable scheduling, dispatch, and manual management platforms.

Pay

Base salary of $175,000.00 – $225,000.00 (annualized), depending on experience, paid bi-weekly. This position is classified as FLSA Exempt. Relocation assistance is available for candidates relocating to the greater Indianapolis, IN area.

Benefits

• Generous benefits, competitive wages, paid vacation and holidays.
• Excellent training programs and discounted flight training.
• Compassionate, transparent leadership that empowers personal and professional growth.

Core Values

• Safety First: Above all else, we operate with the safety of our Team Members, clients, and guests as our top priority. No exceptions, no shortcuts.
• Do the Right Thing for the Long Term: We act ethically, think strategically, and make decisions built for the future. Our Team Members are empowered to choose the harder right over the easier wrong.
• Take Care of Each Other: When we take care of our people, our people take care of our clients and each other. We show up, listen first, and lift each other up.
• Relationships Matter: Our relationships with Team Members, clients, vendors, and the communities we serve are the foundation of our success. We keep our word and build trust one interaction at a time.
• Maintain Positivity: We celebrate wins, lift each other up, and bring optimism and solutions to every challenge. The energy we create together is a choice, and we choose well.