Lack of qualified pilots a concern for operators
“I am stunned by the salary demands of some minimally qualified pilots,” Scott Swain, chief pilot for KBH Corp.

“I am stunned by the salary demands of some minimally qualified pilots,” Scott Swain, chief pilot for KBH Corp. in Clarksdale, Miss., told AIN. “I’m familiar with what the salary surveys say for copilots, but they include experienced people in the averages. In addition, we’re in a rural area with a significantly lower cost of living than the major cities.” KBH, a manufacturer of farm machinery, operates a Westwind with a full-time captain and copilot.

Swain said finding qualified, desirable second-in-command candidates has become tough. “I’ve got some resumés on my desk right now but they’re pretty low time, as low as 1,000 hours total time. I wouldn’t have even considered them a few years ago. Today...well, we’re assessing if we can use them safely and practically.

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