Request a call
At Omni Air Transport, your safety is our utmost priority. As a private charter operator for nearly 40 years, we know that safety requires thoughtful effort from our entire team – leadership, mechanics, ground crew, and especially our pilots.
When you fly with Omni Air Transport, you can fly with confidence knowing that two experienced and highly skilled pilots are at the controls. So, what does it take to be an Omni pilot? Let’s take a look.
Pilot Requirements
To work as a pilot, you must hold a Commercial Pilot certificate. Commercial pilots have more than 250 hours of total flight time and must log more than 100 flight hours as “Pilot in Command.” There are requirements for night and instrument flying as well as emergency training. Commercial Pilots undergo extensive ground-based training and testing on aircraft systems, weather, regulations, and more.
As you might expect, pilots spend years developing this level of knowledge and skill. The pilot often gains this level of knowledge and skill through flight schools, college, or military training.
Pilots Have Aircraft Specific Training
Pilots must also train on the specific aircraft they plan to operate. For pilots flying smaller piston aircraft, this often includes a minimum number of hours in the aircraft, emergency training, and classroom study. This type of training is suitable for skydiving or scenic flights in small aircraft. For more complex aircraft like turboprops (King Air 350i) or jet-powered aircraft, a “Type Rating” is required. Pilots typically undergo 2-6 weeks of training (depending on aircraft complexity) in the classroom and full-motion simulators to obtain a Type Rating in an airplane.
Classroom study includes a complete dissection of the aircraft and its systems, a thorough understanding of the limitations of the plane, and an in-depth analysis of its performance capabilities. Simulator instruction covers the subjects no one likes to talk about – engine fires, engine failures, blown tires during take-off, and steering malfunctions during landing. The entire event is capped by a check ride where an FAA examiner observes a simulated flight (with multiple malfunctions) from beginning to end to ensure the pilot can handle the aircraft safely.
If a charter flight experiences an abnormal event (up to and including an emergency), there is a high likelihood that the pilot has already practiced it in a simulator.
Every six months, pilots must undergo an abbreviated version of the Type Rating, where they are tested on their skills and knowledge of the aircraft (again, by an FAA representative).
The Ph.D. of Aviation
After obtaining a Commercial Pilot certificate, a pilot will begin working on their Airline Transport Pilot certificate. The ATP is considered the Ph.D. of aviation, and pilots must demonstrate above-average skills, experience, and judgment both in and out of the cockpit to obtain it. The flying tolerances are tighter, the subject matter more complex, and the knowledge required is extensive. It is a demanding and challenging test of the pilot’s skills and expertise.
Omni Pilots Have Additional Experience and Training
An Omni pilot’s experience goes well beyond the required training for a Commercial or ATP certificate. While our pilots typically hold an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and have a minimum of 2,500 hours total flight time with 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command (10x that of a Commercial Pilot), they undergo additional rigorous training and testing!
Our pilots receive additional training on flying in mountainous terrain, aircraft performance, and in-depth discussions on well-known aviation accidents (to ensure they don’t make the same mistakes). They spend nearly two weeks each year honing their aviation knowledge on which they are regularly tested. Each pilot regularly flies with our Check Airmen, who ensure the highest levels of safety are maintained at all times. Our pilots will tell you, the training never ends.
More Training
After all that is complete, we start the most important training of all, Customer Service. Each pilot undergoes annual customer service training where we discuss the finer points of providing for our valued clients. Pilots learn about catering and drink presentation, special requests, and even how to open and close doors properly. We teach them how to manage expectations and go above and beyond. In short, they learn the “Omni Way.”
It’s Not Just The Pilots
But it’s not just the pilots. As a Commercial Air Carrier, all Omni Air Transport flights have the additional support and resources available to ensure safe operations. We have an entire team of management personnel to oversee all aspects of the charter organization. This includes a Chief Pilot, Maintenance and Operations Manager, as well as other support positions. These roles establish a clear chain of command in the company and create checks and balances for critical decisions. This operational team ensures the pilots are well-rested, the aircraft is properly maintained, and everything conforms to the rules and regulations.
Omni Air Transport also has a flight-following system, which tracks the status of every flight and ensures operational control of our aircraft.
Omni Air Transport has a very robust Safety System that is part of our DNA. This system monitors all aspects of our operations and requires us to proactively notify the FAA of any safety issues well before they become a potential hazard.
A Culture of Safety In Everything We Do
Omni pilots, as well as the entire Omni Air Transport team, are committed to a culture of safety. Safety checks, corrections, and reporting are always encouraged. We support one another through two-way communication, trust, open conversation, and information sharing. In short, we have a “Just Culture.”
Our goal is to achieve and sustain a positive safety culture – built on high trust, constant alertness, and two-way communications where safety corrections and reporting are always encouraged. It is the core responsibility of every OAT team member to report and correct unsafe conditions. We provide the necessary tools to make superior safety decisions each day and encourage open conversation and information sharing. Furthermore, we recognize those who make significant contributions to our continued workplace safety.
Learn more about our safety accreditations and what they mean for your next flight.
Above all, we want to be known for our safety and remembered for our service.
Request a quote from Omni Air Transport or call (918) 836-3131 to make your reservation to fly with the professionals of Omni Air.
