The joint pilot pathway programme, established last year, offers Aurigny pilots the opportunity to progress and gain long-haul experience with Norse Atlantic UK.
Applications for the next group of eligible Aurigny first officers were being accepted throughout September, and Aurigny’s chief commercial officer Philip Saunders said there had been lots of interest and high-quality applications.
First officers Morgan Thomas and David Thomson were the first of the airline’s pilots to make the move to the transatlantic carrier partner last year – transitioning from the ATR72-600 to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Mr Thomas, who is continuing his training, said the transition between aircraft has been smooth.
‘The training and type rating itself has been well-structured, consistent, and delivered to a high standard,’ he said.
‘The main adjustment has been adapting to the change in pace. On short-haul operations with the ATR72, everything tends to happen very quickly, whereas on the B787 you generally have more time to manage tasks.
'The line trainers have all been very supportive and approachable. I expect to complete my line check within the next couple of months.’
He has already operated flights from Gatwick to New York, Orlando and Rome, with winter operations expected to include Cape Town, Bangkok and Phuket. Despite his move to long-haul flying, he said he still enjoyed spotting Aurigny aircraft at Gatwick.
‘It’s always great to see them in operation,’ he said.
Mr Thomson said the move had exceeded his expectations.
‘For anyone considering the move, I’d say there is really no need to be nervous about transitioning onto the Boeing 787 aircraft type,’ he said.
‘It’s an incredible aeroplane and a real pleasure to fly.’
He said the variety of destinations was one of the biggest draws to his new flight deck, with his upcoming roster taking him between Gatwick, New York and Rome.
‘There’s never a dull moment,’ he said.
‘Norse Atlantic UK now has four aircraft, creating exciting opportunities to operate to destinations outside the scheduled network and to gain experience flying to a wider variety of airports around the world. Overall, I genuinely could not be happier with the move.
‘It has been an excellent learning experience, and I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone at Aurigny looking to make the transition into long-haul operations.’
Aurigny chief operating officer Philip Smallwood said he was pleased the two pilots had settled so well into their new roles, and that the programme appeared to be progressing well.
‘We are delighted both with the numbers and quality of applications we have received from within Aurigny to run the Joint Pilot Pathway scheme again with Norse Atlantic next year, reflecting positively on how the partnership is already going from strength to strength,’ he said.
The programme also offers a second pathway for aspiring pilots through Leading Edge Aviation.
Successful cadets complete their training before joining Aurigny for at least two years, after which they can transition to Norse Atlantic UK.
Aurigny currently has six cadets on the programme, all recruited last year and at various stages of their training, and another six in waiting who will join the scheme next year.
Later this year it will select the next candidates to join up in 2028.