Charter Firm Dangles $80K in Bonuses for New Pilots

Baltimore-based air charter operator GrandView Aviation is offering a five-year retention package worth up to $80,000 to attract “highly qualified” flight crews to fly its fleet of Embraer Phenom 300s at Martin State Airport (MTN). “We're offering this retention plan to attract the best and brightest pilots to our operation," said GrandView chief marketing officer Jessica Naor.

According to the Wyvern Wingman operator, new hires who already have a Phenom 300 type rating will get a $10,000 signing bonus; those without the type rating will get a $5,000 signing bonus. At the end of year one, pilots will receive another $5,000, and they'll get an additional $5,000 at the end of year two. The five-year retention bonus program is worth up to $60,000, with captains accruing $1,000 per month and first officers $500 per month, which can be withdrawn at the end of year five.

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GrandView, which opened a second base last month in Austin, Texas, also said it covers 100 percent of employee health and dental premiums and has a 401K company match. The charter firm has three Phenoms and two Bell 430s based at MTN, and one Phenom in Austin. It will soon add a Bell 407 at MTN, and it has plans to increase its Phenom 300 fleet, Naor told BJT sister publication Aviation International News.