Challenger 300 - Lead Pilot

All Aviation Jobs; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with employer match

Company paid Health Insurance

Flight benefits

Per diem pay

Job summary

Advanced Air, LLC in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Lead Pilot (Challenger 300) to operate as PIC on a Part 135 program, leading a two-person crew and coordinating with maintenance and flight teams.

This role requires high‑level decision making, multitasking, and readiness, including safety oversight and adherence to FAR 91.3.

Relocation to Hawthorne/Greater LA area is required; candidate must meet flight minimums and certifications.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates preferred.
• Digital dexterity for aircraft preflight and post-flight.
• ATP certificate and Challenger 300 PIC type rating required.

Responsibilities

• Lead Pilot for Challenger 300, PIC on a 2-pilot account.
• Schedule owner flights, coordinate maintenance and crew training.
• Ensure aircraft readiness, safety, and regulatory compliance per FAR 91.3.
• Oversee flight briefs, documentation, and routing with Chief Pilot/DO.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Crew management

Education

CFI, CFII, MEI Certificates

Job description

Who We Are

Advanced Air, LLC is an innovative, service-oriented aviation company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. We were founded in 2005 by our President, Levi Stockton, as an FAA approved, Part 135, On-Demand Air Carrier focused on superlative aircraft management and on demand charter.

Description

Today, Advanced Air has more than 30 aircraft, operated in both scheduled and on-demand service, and a diversified portfolio of flying services in turboprop aircraft, business jets and regional passenger jets. Serving communities throughout the United States, Advanced Air has a deep commitment to operational excellence and metered, sustainable growth.

Our successful growth is driven by our adherence to our core values, safety, security, teamwork, and reliability. We are in this business for the long run and take a disciplined, thoughtful approach to growth opportunities.

About The Role And About You

The Challenger 300 Lead Pilot position is based out of Hawthorne, CA (HHR). This is a 2-pilot account supported by a dedicated Maintenance Technician, flying under Part 135 (P135). This position requires a strong ability to multi-task, make high-level complex decisions, all while completing a variety of aviation-related tasks. This position will lead a team of 2 crew members and support Advanced Air’s management of the aircraft. The Lead Pilot will operate the aircraft as Pilot in Command (PIC) and report to Advanced Air’s Chief Pilot and, in his absence, the Director of Operations.

This is not a commutable position – applicants must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Hawthorne/Greater Los Angeles area. If you are excited about aviation, looking to grow, and have all the required flight minimums and certifications, this may be the position for you!

What You Will Do

Serve as the Lead Pilot and work with Advanced Air’s VIP and Flight teams to facilitate and schedule owner flights, aircraft maintenance and flight crew training including:

• Employee is required to attend to the aircraft at the management’s direction for non-flight matters, including but not limited to vendor meetings, accepting deliveries, supervising service providers, or preparing the aircraft for upcoming trips.

Work With Advanced Air And The Assigned Crew Including

• Manage the assigned crew’s schedule and vacation requests and ensure they are available to handle owner-related tasks, from operating the aircraft to errands and aircraft servicing requests, including but not limited to picking up or delivering items (such as new dishes, amenities, catering, or personal effects) to or from the aircraft.

Maintain The Aircraft In a Readiness State Including

• Responsible for ensuring the aircraft is owner‑ready at all times, including but not limited to stocking, cleanliness, and organization of the interior and galley, verifying that all amenities, supplies, and consumables (food, candy, medicine, beverages, etc.) are present and unexpired.
• Responsible for ensuring all passenger‑facing electronics (e.g., iPads (updating movies each trip), iPod for music, AirShow, Wi‑Fi, entertainment systems) are maintained and fully operational prior to each flight.
• Assist with non‑flight and ground duties as needed to support aircraft readiness and owner service, including helping with stocking, loading, unloading, and other aircraft‑related logistics.

Oversee, in conjunction with Advanced Air, aircraft cleaning and stocking including

• Responsible for managing and arranging all onboard laundry and dry cleaning, including removal and drop‑off/pick‑up of linens, towels, crew and owner uniforms, and other washable items, as required.
• Maintain an accurate and up‑to‑date inventory of all galley items, linens, bedding, and other supplies, restocking as needed and communicating with the owner or owner’s representative for special requests.
• Maintain Part 135 pilot qualification on the assigned aircraft.
• Be able to pass a Preemployment DOT Drug test and be subject to random Drug Screening.
• Oversee aircraft expenses and ensure they are maintained within budget.
• Lead production of SOPs, Checklists, LOA approvals, and other Challenger 300 items as instructed by the Chief Pilot and DO.
• Retain the final authority for the safe operation of the aircraft (FAR 91.3)
• Maintain responsibility for the security of the aircraft during its operation.
• Ensure that the assigned aircraft is airworthy by completing a preflight inspection per the AFM and verifying that all required documents are on board the aircraft.
• Review all flight briefs regarding the purpose of the flight, weather, operating procedures, notes and any special instructions, plans and flight assignments.
• Comply with all Federal Aviation regulations, company operations manual, operations specifications, standard operating procedures, and company policies and procedures.
• Update flight and duty records, determine eligibility for the next flight assignment, and ensure any aircraft maintenance discrepancies are reported and in accordance with Company Policies and Procedures
• Proactively participate in and promote safety management systems by identifying, reporting, and mitigating hazards and quality issues; providing timely input to management and applying systems processes to address quality and safety issues.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. The employee understands that, in addition to the duties listed, they may be assigned any other task reasonably related to the operation, presentation, service, and readiness of the aircraft, both in flight and on the ground, as directed by the owner or their representative.

Requirements

What We Are Looking For:

• High school diploma or GED
• CFI, CFII, and MEI Certificates preferred, but not required.
• Digital dexterity for aircraft preflight and post‑flight.
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)
• Challenger 300 PIC Type Rating
• 3,000 hours Total Time.
• 1,000 PIC Turbine
• High‑level working knowledge of FAR Part 91, 61 and AIM Part Sections 4 & 5
• Ability to work in confined spaces and to manipulate, push, pull, and lift heavy objects in excess of 150 lbs.
• Ability to climb onto and off of an airplane wing as part of the preflight, post‑flight, or during an over‑wing emergency exit.
• Ability to execute flights of up to 4.5 hours up to a total flight time of 10 hours per day during a 14‑hour duty period.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What You Can Expect

Industry standard compensation. Support from Advanced Air’s management team to succeed in the role. Employees shall devote their full working time and attention exclusively to the account and may not operate, fly, or provide services for any other aircraft or employer without the express written permission of the Chief Pilot or Director of Operations.

Why You Should Work With Us

We can tell you all about how great we are, but you probably want to know what is in it for you, so we have compiled a list of our standout benefits:

• 401(k) plan with dollar‑for‑dollar employer match up to 4%
• 100% Company Paid Health Insurance including Medical, Dental, Vision and $15,000 in life insurance for yourself.
• KCM for your personal travel
• $3.12 Domestic, $4.16 International Per diem pay for all hours associated with Flight Duty
• Easy to use Flight/Travel Benefits; current contracts include Delta, Alaska, and Southwest

Fyi

We believe a diversity of perspectives and experiences is what makes a strong team. The stronger our team, the closer we are to our mission. So come join us! We are looking for people of all genders, races, ethnicities, orientations, abilities, and disabilities to come sit at our tables and fly our planes.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently stooping, climbing, bending, kneeling, lifting (minimum 50 lbs.) and operating machinery with repetitive motions.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment includes working outdoors and in all weather conditions. May incur exposure to constant or intermittent sounds of a pitch or level significant enough to cause marked distraction or possible hearing loss while performing operations on the airfield ramp. Exposure to fumes, dust, loud noise, and/or outdoor weather conditions.

Selection Guidelines

Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interviews and reference checks; job-related tests may be required. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.