Beyond Hours and Type Ratings: Lee Thessing on What Really Decides a Contract Pilot Hire
When owners search for a contract pilot, the first filters are usually hours and type ratings. But according to Lee Thessing, founder of Pilot Standby, those credentials only get a pilot onto the list. What decides who actually gets the trip is something less quantifiable: trust and fit.
In a written interview, Thessing, a professional pilot with over 20 years of experience, shared what he has seen in contract pilot searches and what hiring advice online tends to leave out.
Recommendations and Fit Decide the Trip
Thessing said that when a contract pilot search he was part of came down to something other than hours and type rating, it often came down to recommendations from pilots who had flown with the candidate.
"Even airlines want to talk to other pilots who know you, just to get to know you better," he said. "They want to know whether this pilot makes good decisions and whether they will fit the company's culture. Hours and type ratings get a pilot on the list, but trust and fit usually decide who gets the trip."
For owners, that suggests reference checks with pilots who have actually shared a cockpit with the candidate can be as important as the resume. It also means a candidate who looks strong on paper may still lose out to someone with a trusted recommendation.
Location and Availability Are the Hidden Filters
When asked what keeps showing up for owners looking for a contract pilot that hiring advice online leaves out, Thessing pointed to logistics.
"Location and availability," he said. "Owners often find a pilot who looks perfect on paper, then learn the pilot lives three states away or can't make the dates."
That is why Pilot Standby lets owners search by region, state, or radius around an airport, and why pilots list their home airport and how far they are willing to travel. For owners, the practical takeaway is to confirm location and date availability early, before investing time in a candidate who cannot realistically make the trip.
Contract, Full Time, or a Third Option
Thessing also flagged a common timing mistake: owners deciding between a contract pilot and a full-time hire too quickly.
"Many owners hire full time before they know how much they'll fly, or keep using contract pilots long after a full-time hire would serve them better," he said. "It's worth looking honestly at the flying schedule first."
He added that some owners overlook a third option: a flight instructor who can train them or do a flight review in their own aircraft. For owners weighing staffing models, that means starting with an honest look at the actual flying schedule rather than defaulting to one model.
Practical Takeaways for Owners
- Check references with pilots who have flown with the candidate. Hours and type ratings get a pilot on the list, but trust and fit often decide the trip.
- Confirm location and availability early. A perfect-on-paper pilot who lives far away or cannot make the dates is not a practical option.
- Look at the flying schedule before choosing a staffing model. Hiring full time too early, or staying on contract too long, can both be costly.
- Consider a flight instructor for training or a flight review in your own aircraft as a third option.
For owners navigating contract pilot searches, Thessing's answers point to a process that starts with the schedule and logistics, then moves to trust and fit, rather than stopping at the logbook. More about Pilot Standby's search tools is available at pilotstandby.com.
For broader context on contract pilot hiring, see resources from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Business Aviation Association.