Fractional Pilot Furlough Ranks Begin To Decrease

As they start to see growing demand, fractional aircraft providers are beginning to recall furloughed pilots to fill cockpit vacancies. Yesterday, Cleveland-based Flight Options announced it is recalling eight furloughed pilots to fill open seats in its Citation X fleet. “We are extremely pleased to be able to announce the recall. [Those pilots’] return to our team reflects our confidence in the company’s continued growth, as well as the strong partnership we have forged with our pilots,” said Flight Options CEO Michael Silvestro. “Our recall of these experienced pilots comes as we expand our fleet and increase capacity for our fractional ownership, membership and jet card programs.” While the company–which currently employs 311 pilots–still has 203 pilots on furlough, Silvestro told AIN, “We are continuing to work creatively and diligently every day toward bringing all of our furloughed pilots back to Flight Options as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, CitationAir today confirmed that it recalled 14 more furloughed pilots in January. At press time, the Greenwich, Conn.-based fractional company did not provide AIN with either the number of pilots remaining on furlough or the number currently employed.