Chief Pilot – Part 135 Charter Operations

Pilot Assessments; Fishers (IN); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support to Indianapolis

Generous benefits

Paid vacation and holidays

Flight training discounts

Excellent training programs

Family-like leadership culture

Job summary

Jet Access seeks a senior aviation leader to own the pilot organization’s health, safety and standards while ensuring Part 135 compliance. You’ll guide strategic leadership, standard operating procedures, and risk management with limited flying to maintain qualifications and firsthand standards visibility.

You’ll supervise ACPs, manage hiring and performance, develop future leaders, and drive adoption of ForeFlight, Avianis, MySky, and Web Manuals.

Qualifications

• 5,000+ hours total time required.
• 3,000+ hours PIC experience required.
• 3+ years PIC in Part 121 or 135 operations.
• Leadership experience as Chief Pilot or Director of Operations preferred.
• Willingness to relocate to Indianapolis area.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to Assistant Chief Pilots and hold them accountable.
• Own hiring, promotion, qualification, and performance outcomes for the pilot group.
• Develop future leaders: ACPs, check airmen and instructors.
• Champion pilot-organization health, morale, utilization, rest, and safety trends.
• Maintain standardized operating environments and up-to-date manuals.

Skills

5,000+ hours total time

3,000+ hours PIC

3+ years PIC in Part 121/135

Leadership experience

Relocation ready

Education

ATP (Unrestricted)

Tools

ForeFlight Dispatch

Avianis

Web Manuals

MySky

Vocus

Job description

Your Mission

Own the health, performance, and future capacity of the pilot organization. You’ll drive safety, standardization, utilization, and morale—while ensuring rock-solid Part 135 compliance and effective operational control. Flying will be limited and focused on maintaining qualification and firsthand visibility into standards, not supplementing crew shortages.

What You’ll Lead

• Provide strategic leadership to Assistant Chief Pilots; hold them accountable for tactical leadership across assigned pilot groups and fleet segments.
• Own hiring, promotion, qualification, performance, and discipline outcomes for the pilot group; ensure quarterly conversations are completed and acted upon.
• Develop future leaders: Assistant Chief Pilots, check airmen, and pilot instructors.
• Champion pilot-organization health—communication, morale, utilization, rest, quality of life, operating standards, type currency, and safety-trend action via the Event Review Committee.
• Maintain standardized, documented operating environments: current manuals and checklists, accurate EFB content, and reliable access to pilot information.
• Coordinate closely with Training and the Operational Control Center on staffing, training, PTO, qualifications, fleet plans, and 30/60/90/180-day exposure views.
• Support recruiting, selection, onboarding, crew planning, and organizational development; act on weekly Assistant Chief Pilot health reports.
• Drive adoption and effective use of ForeFlight, Avianis, MySky, Vocus, and Web Manuals; remove recurring pilot-facing friction.
• Report crew performance, operational risk, and workforce trends to senior leadership; execute special projects and participate in Level 10 and EOS rhythms.
• Remain available when our 24/7 charter operation requires responsive leadership.

Compliance & Operational Control

• Exercise authorized operational control with the authority to initiate, conduct, divert, or terminate flights.
• Ensure complete, compliant flight/duty/rest records and adherence to company policy, Federal Aviation Regulations, Operations Specifications, and maintenance/airworthiness requirements.
• Own the standards and content for aircraft documentation, checklists, EFB, and Part 135 manuals, including the manual required by 14 CFR 135.21.

What You Bring

• License: ATP (Unrestricted).
• Experience: 5,000+ hours total time; 3,000+ hours PIC; 3+ years PIC in Part 121 or Part 135 operations.
• Leadership: Prior Chief Pilot or Director of Operations experience in Part 135; proven leadership of 25+ pilots with accountability, development, and retention outcomes.
• Type & Currency: Type rating and currency on a Jet Access fleet aircraft (or ability to obtain/maintain) sufficient for PIC duties, pilot evaluations, and line checks.
• Regulatory Mastery: Full working knowledge of aviation standards and safe operating practices, 14 CFR Chapter 1, Ops Specs, maintenance/airworthiness requirements, and applicable manuals.
• Systems & Audits: Familiar with Avianis, ForeFlight Dispatch, Web Manuals (or comparable); experience with ARGUS, Wyvern, or IS-BAO audit prep in Part 135.
• Operating System Builder: Track record developing subordinate leaders, leveraging operational data and trends, and working within EOS or similar frameworks; multi-type/varied-fleet experience is a plus.
• Location: Reside in or relocate to the greater Indianapolis area; relocation assistance available.
• Readiness: Pass background check and pre-employment drug screening; maintain active FAA medical and required currency; physically able to perform flight duties; occasional travel; valid state driver’s license.
• Safety Sensitive: Subject to DOT/FAA random drug and alcohol testing throughout employment.

Tools & Systems

• ForeFlight (including Dispatch)
• Avianis
• Web Manuals
• MySky
• Vocus
• Company EFB standards and checklist management

Why You’ll Love Jet Access

• Competitive base salary: $175,000–$225,000, paid bi-weekly (FLSA Exempt).
• Relocation support to the Indianapolis area.
• Generous benefits, paid vacation and holidays.
• Excellent training programs and discounted flight training.
• A tight-knit, family environment with compassionate, transparent leadership that empowers personal and business growth.