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Fly Tradewind
TRADEWIND AVIATION IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THE BEST PILOTS IN THE INDUSTRY—and facilitating career growth through Tradewind and beyond. Following is a quick description of the typical career path of a pilot at Tradewind, as well as what you can expect while working with us.
For any questions regarding pilot recruiting, please contact our team at recruitment@flytradewind.com.
Explore the requirements and benefits of your new pilot career!
Ready for takeoff? Line up your opportunities with Tradewind Aviation.
Upcoming Recruitment Events
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| No upcoming events – check back soon! |
Pilot Requirements
– High School Diploma or GED
– Aviation Related College Degree preferred, but not required
– Successful completion of a Part 61 or 141 Flight Training Program
– Valid unrestricted driver’s license
– Valid unrestricted passport
– FAA First Class Medical
– FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL)
– FAA Instrument Rating
– FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
– 1,000+ hours total time
– 500+ hours cross country (point to point)
– 75+ hours instrument
– 80+ hours night
– Current IFR knowledge and experience
– Previous customer service experience
– 800 hours total time preferred
– 75 hours night preferred
– CFI, CFII preferred
– Current IFR knowledge and experience
– Previous customer service experience
– 600 hours total time – United Aviate Program
– 500 hours total time – United Aviate Academy
– 300 hours total time – United Aviate Academy with Recommendation from Academy Leadership
– 600 hours total time – JetBlue Gateways
– Able to work and travel within and outside the United States and assigned territories freely
– Hold a non-conditional, non-expired green card and be legally authorized to work in the United States
– Hold a valid unrestricted foreign passport with appropriate visas
United Aviate
Tradewind is proud to be a partner of United Aviate, United’s industry-leading pilot career development program which offers pilots a secure career path to the flight deck as a United First Officer.
As an Aviate-participating Part 135 operator, candidates who are employed by or have accepted an offer with Tradewind can apply to the Aviate program and upon acceptance, receive a conditional job offer as a United First Officer.
Through this partnership, aspiring United pilots will receive experience at the highest standards of training in the industry while flying Tradewind’s private and scheduled operations throughout North America and the Caribbean in our fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
JetBlue Gateways
Tradewind is proud to be a JetBlue Gateways partner, helping qualified pilots gain valuable hands-on experience at Tradewind as they progress their career toward a pilot position at a major carrier.
JetBlue Gateways are industry-leading programs designed to encourage the next generation of aviation professionals; helping those with the passion and aptitude find the path that’s right for them. Individuals accepted into JetBlue Gateways are offered a conditional position as a JetBlue First Officer based on successful completion of their program and all necessary requirements including meeting specific flying requirements while at Tradewind.
As a Gateways partner, Tradewind gains access to this pipeline of highly-qualified pilots, bringing in new hires to develop at Tradewind and opening up opportunities for existing qualified Tradewind pilots to advance to the next stage of their careers.
Projected Career Path
Locations
Tradewind Aviation is a growing Part 135 commuter & on-demand operator with four bases offering private charter and scheduled service throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.
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Fly Tradewind
– Training consisting of one month of a combination of in-class lectures, online modules, and in-aircraft training with full salary at the start of training.
– FAA APPROVED PILOT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (PDP): Tradewind Aviation’s Ops Specs have been approved to allow First Officers to log all hours while flying for Tradewind regardless of Part 91 or Part 135 flying.
– Captain upgrade opportunities are based on merit, capability, and Part 135 minimums as low as 1,200 hours + 100 hours night — No Delays!
– Schedules differ with base location, but you can expect to be scheduled 4 days per week
– Schedules released up to 30 days in advance
– Guaranteed 13 days off a month, any less would be paid as a Volunteer day
– VOLUNTEER DAYS: On off days, you may volunteer for additional pay and hours
– Crews will complete tours in the Caribbean during the winter months and the Northeast during the summer months
– Tradewind strives to provide our team with a superior work environment on all levels. We offer competitive pay scales with established yearly increases and bonuses.
– Most pilots earn well above starting salary
– First Officer Starting Salary: $50,000 a year
– Captain Starting Salary: $70,000 a year
– Volunteer Pay: Captain – $1,000, First Officer – $450 per day
– Per Diem: $3.21 Domestic and International per duty hour
– Overnight Pay: $20 Domestic, $35 International
– Flight Duty Pay: All legs flown over leg 6 is an additional $125 per leg
– For a full list of Team Member Benefits, please visit: flytradewind.com/careers
– Position-Specific Benefits:
– Company-paid uniforms
– Cockpit Access Security System – CASS
– Known Crewmember (KCM)
Diversity
At Tradewind, we believe that every single flight is an opportunity to create an exceptional client experience with our people, planes, and personal service. Our unique approach to flying is less harrowing than flying commercial and more intimate than flying private. It is flying personal. And it is what we strive for every day.
Flying personal starts from within. Tradewind is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace that recognizes and celebrates diversity in all forms, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and more. The diverse perspectives and experiences of our team members are what give meaning to our “fly personal” philosophy and enable us to deliver exceptional service.