Aurigny is looking to improve its career pathway for potential pilots wanting to earn their stripes, and progress to larger planes and routes.
Guernsey’s airline has teamed up with Norse Atlantic UK, a British airline that flies mainly from London Gatwick using Boeing 787 Dreamliners. It is a fully integrated subsidiary of Norse Atlantic Airways, a Norwegian low-cost, long haul carrier.
This gives Aurigny’s First Officers a direct route to becoming long-haul pilots with Norse Atlantic UK, said the local airline.
For Pilots this means they can start on smaller ATR turboprops flying from Guernsey to the UK and Europe, and, with some experience, potentially move up to fly Norse Atlantic’s large Boeing 787 Dreamliners from the UK to North America, South Africa, and Thailand.
Aurigny says this offers a clear, fast-track career progression, which will in turn help it attract and retain top talent by offering a more appealing long-term career.
Norse Atlantic UK says it will help it ensure a steady supply of well-trained First Officers from a trusted partner.
For Guernsey, it’s intended to help strengthen the island’s position in the aviation sector while building a sustainable pool of local flying talent.
Aurigny sees this as a win-win for the island’s connectivity and the professional development of residents.
Philip Smallwood, Chief Operating Officer at Aurigny, commented: “I am thrilled to be part of developing this exciting career pathway for Aurigny First Officers as well as future cadet entry pilots who are initially joining Aurigny and contribute to a vital service for our island community.
Mr Smallwood continued: “As they continue to build their flying skills and gain the necessary experience, they will have the opportunity to progress to flying one of the world’s newest and most iconic jet aircraft. Ultimately, this makes Aurigny a more appealing long-term career choice for aspiring aviators.”
David Thomas, the SVP Operations and Accountable Manager at Norse Atlantic UK, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Aurigny to offer aspiring pilots an exciting pathway into the flight deck of our Boeing 787 Dreamliners through this program. At Norse Atlantic we are excited about creating real opportunities for talent to further develop aviation and our company.
He continued: “Aurigny is the perfect partner given its high standards of training and experience of short haul operations along with its frequent services to our base at London Gatwick.”
Aurigny’s newest partner recently made the news in the wrong way however, for its role in illegally importing a puppy from the USA to the UK, without the necessary vaccinations.
According to the West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards service, a Norse flight from Florida to Gatwick was carrying a pup that was under 11 weeks old, had not received a rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment, or a valid GB health certificate, which are all mandatory requirements under UK law.
Norse Atlantic UK Ltd was issued a Fixed Penalty Notice in March this year for the illegal import. The airline failed to respond or make the payment, until a court subsequently imposed a fine of £2,875, along with additional costs of £1,567, bringing the total penalty to £4,442.
The puppy had been intercepted by staff at the Animal Reception Centre at Gatwick due to non-compliance with the Pet Travel Scheme and was placed into quarantine, with the passenger denied onward travel.