Waves to train its own pilots
WITH its take-off for running inter-island services imminent, new air taxi service Waves has announced plans to launch its own local training academy to give islanders the chance to become commercial pilots.
The company is already employing pilots for local operations but said growing its own was also key.
‘As a Channel Islands company, we have already started building teams in both Guernsey and Jersey but we know that qualified pilots with the flying experience we are stipulating are not readily available in the islands,’ said chief operating officer Matt Bisson.
‘We’ve already recruited a number of pilots to move across to Guernsey ahead of our launch but that’s not enough for us. We want to continue investing in the islands by launching the Waves training academy.
‘This is something unique within the islands and offers students the chance to join an exciting and growing business and receive the highest level of training so that they can become commercial pilots and be an important part of Waves’ future expansion.’
It is hoped the first student intake will be next year.
‘Not everyone has the finances to fulfil their passion for flying and so we want to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming a commercial pilot with Waves,’ Mr Bisson said.
‘It’s possible they will never have been in a cockpit before or that they have done multiple flights, it doesn’t matter, they just need a passion and a commitment to helping Waves realise its ambitions of serving islanders.’
Guernsey-based Simon Crook, a senior training captain at Virgin Atlantic Airways, is Waves’ aviation adviser.
‘Airlines across the globe are all experiencing the problem of recruiting suitably qualified pilots to fly their aircraft,’ said Captain Crook, who started his flying career with long-defunct Guernsey Airlines.
‘Most forward-thinking airlines have addressed this by starting their internal pilot cadet programmes as the demand for pilots is set to increase dramatically over the next 10 years.
‘Waves have demonstrated again that they are a very forward-thinking and innovative airline prepared to set up their own academy.
‘We are already in contact with major training providers to ensure we recruit the right people and offer first class training to our future pilots. We will try and use as much on-island resources as we can, thereby supporting the local economy and providing an exciting and rewarding career for local people.’
More information on the academy will be released next year, but anyone interested in knowing more should email academy@flywaves.gg.
