Becoming a pilot requires little other than a child-like curiosity and passion. Then comes the realization that taking curiosity and passion to the next level is expensive. As NICHOLAS AIR reviews, becoming a pilot also requires dedication and a lot of time. Time. Practice. Mentorship. Time.
Earning a private and then commercial license, perhaps a CFI/CFII, and then logging time as an instructor, surveyor, air ambulance, or cargo driver is all very respectable. These choices are stepping stones on a path to honing a pilot’s craft. There are no shortcuts in aviation. Becoming a great aviator requires studying performance parameters, weather, learning the ins and outs of different facets of aviation, and logging time: multi-engine, turbine, instrument, PIC, and SIC time. Once they have put in the work, pilots look for their first big opportunity, their first type-rating, and their first jet job.
The jump to professional jet pilot is a big one. It comes with the added responsibility of working as a crew, flying multiple legs in a day, and accomplishing the mission of transporting souls safely from one destination to another in a time frame that can only be described as a modern marvel. Some pilots think they’ve made it when they’ve landed a job as a pilot on a king air, a lear, maybe a hawker. Yet, there’s another benchmark that requires effort greater than a jump – to earn the title of “NICHOLAS AIR pilot” is a coveted accomplishment.
Founded on the principles of elite customer service and corporate stewardship, the men and women of the NICHOLAS AIR flight line possess a set of skills rarely seen in private aviation. NICHOLAS AIR pilots are more than the best aviators, operating the cleanest and newest equipment, the safest in the industry. The roles and responsibilities of being a NICHOLAS AIR pilot require a firm grasp of standards that were established by Founder and CEO Nicholas Correnti when he first started out as a corporate pilot as a teenager. Experiences as a young pilot and entrepreneur, interacting with other pilots and customers, formed the foundation of what is now the most successful and largest privately-owned jet company in the country.
Essential to the successful recipe that embodies NICHOLAS AIR is Mr. Correnti’s experience, and it’s this experience that gave him the ability to choose the right pilots. According to the Chief Pilot, a long-tenured Captain for the Mississippi-based company, “A NICHOLAS AIR pilot must be dedicated to their craft and have impeccable decision-making skills. There is a lot that happens in the day-to-day of the operation, so compartmentalizing the tasks at hand, managing your time, and providing a great in-flight experience are paramount.”
Another NICHOLAS AIR Captain and Fleet Chief, whose aviation career started within the NICHOLAS AIR Operations team, agrees:
“You have to have discipline and choose to do the right thing when no one is looking. A NICHOLAS AIR pilot understands that it is not just the company putting their trust in you, but also our Members and their guests, who are relying on you to get them from Point A to Point B as safely as possible, but to do it with kindness throughout. A great pilot here innately has the desire to make those around them happy and is focused on that goal.”
Across the NICHOLAS AIR flight line are shining examples of pilots who commit themselves daily to the company’s standards and service culture, regardless of their aviation background. There is no ‘one size fits all’ quality that makes a great NICHOLAS AIR Captain. Some spend time at Regional Airlines, some in a corporate setting, and others come to NICHOLAS AIR with international experience. An astute pilot who wants to earn their NICHOLAS AIR Captain stripes knows that being successful at NICHOLAS AIR requires a different set of skills than what airlines might require: “In our business, you are customer facing every day. Everything about your day has to be professional, has to be friendly and social, and has to be done with the highest level of integrity.”
Since 1997, the template has not changed. The NICHOLAS AIR flight line comprises only the best combination of excellent airmanship and world-class customer service. Each NICHOLAS AIR pilot has made the decision to dedicate themselves carefully to their craft, having a thorough knowledge of their aircraft, the regulations, the company expectations, and ownership of their profession. The Chief Pilot for NICHOLAS AIR wisely states that “The commitment one has for the achievements of their career should be the same dedication they have for the success of NICHOLAS AIR.”
About NICHOLAS AIR
NICHOLAS AIR is a top-tier private aviation company delivering exceptional customer service and innovative, customizable options for private air travel. For over 25 years, NICHOLAS AIR has prioritized safety, continuous improvement, and client satisfaction. As it serves its valued clients and pursues responsible growth, the company stays committed to its foundation of hard work and dedication to the smallest details. That’s the NICHOLAS AIR difference.
