General Questions

What is Flying Company, and how does it work?

Flying Company is an professional pilot services marketplace and management platform that seamlessly connects Part 91 aircraft operators with contract pilots

Is Flying Company available internationally, or only in the U.S.?

We currently only support US-based aircraft (“N” registered) as well as pilots with an FAA certificate. If you are trying to create an international itinerary, please let us know and we will work with you to support it.

Is there a fee to join Flying Company as a Pilot or Operator?

Flying Company is free for Pilots and Operators to create accounts. There is a 10% service charge paid by the Operator when a pilot is hired. If a credit card is used their is an additional 2.9% service fee. However, if ACH bank payment is used, the fee is a flat $5. These charges are transparent and can be viewed by the Operator within each trip’s dashboard as well as on the automatically generated invoice.

For a more detailed explanation, check out our article - “Flying Company Service Fees”

How does Flying Company ensure the safety and qualification of Pilots on the platform?

Pilots who are registered on the Flying Company platform provide pilot services as independent contractors, not as an employee of the Operator or Flying Company Software, Inc. Therefore, Flying Company does not vet or review their profiles. The Operator is responsible for assessing and verifying pilot credentials are qualification before hiring.

What kind of trips can I post in order to hire a contract pilot for?

Contract pilots are typically only allowed to operate aircraft on Part 91 flights

How does Flying Company differ from other aviation services platforms?

Flying Company is a one-stop-shop that helps operators find, assess, manage, hire, and pay contract pilots. This provides value far beyond the current alternatives of facebook groups, directories, and job boards. Additionally, it is a fraction of the cost of staffing firms that typically charge 30-50% service fees.

Account Setup and Management

How do I switch between Operator and Pilot roles on my account?

On the right-side menu bar there is a button called “Switch Modes” that allows you to switch between being an Operator and a Pilot. However, if you are only an Operator, there is not need to ever create a Pilot account.

Can I use the same account for multiple aircraft?

Absolutely. Whether you manage one aircraft or dozens, you can create them all under the same account so that you can manage your contract pilot operations easily.

How do I reset my password?

Within the menu bar there is a section called “Password & Security.” This is where you can reset your password.

How do I update my contact information or profile details?

Clicking the Menu button on the upper right corner of the screen will bring up links to update your information

What happens if I want to delete my account?

For the time being, just email us at info@flyingcompany.com and we will be happy to delete it for you. In the future we will make this something a user can handle themselves.

Pilot-Specific Questions

How do I get matched with an Operator for a trip?

After you have made a pilot account you can place a quote on trips. Find trips to provide a quote for by navigating to the Menu > “Trips” > “New Trips”

Operators will have an opportunity to review and assess the pilots who create quotes in order to decide who to hire.

Can I set my availability for trips?

Not yet, but that is something we may build in the future. For the time being just keep your eye out for emails from Flying Company and you can provide a quote when something fits your schedule.

What documents do I need to upload to verify my qualifications?

You will be required to provide images of the front and back of your pilots certificate, medical certificate, type rating diploma, and differences training (if necessary) for the aircraft you are certifies in.

Is my experience and flight time visible to Operators?

Once you have placed a quote on a trip, your PHF will be available to the Operator who has created the trip.

Can anyone see what I charge for my day-rate?

Negative. The Operator who created the trip is the only one who will be able to see the day-rate that you charge per your quote.

Operator-Specific Questions

How do I post a trip for Pilots to quote on?

Click the “Create a Trip” button. At that point you will be asked to choose your aircraft, your Operator (whoever has operational control), and what crew type is needed (PIC Single Pilot, PIC Dual Pilot, SIC, or Full Crew). After that, you can create a detailed multi-leg and multi-day itinerary which will be sent to all the pilots on the platform who are qualified in your model of aircraft.

For a more detailed tutorial, check out this video - “How to Create a Trip on Flying Company”

Can I request a specific Pilot for a trip?

We are currently developing a new feature called “Preferred Pilot Alert.” This will give you the ability to maintain a list of your favorite contract pilots and send the trip to them first, before opening it to the community if needed. However, that feature is not live yet.

How do I evaluate Pilot quotes and choose the right one?

After a pilot has provided a quote on your trip you are able to see their certificates, ratings, type ratings, hours, quote, and even download a PHF for them. We believe that all of this information should provide you the tools needed to make an educated decision on who to hire. Additionally, we highly recommend reaching out to your insurance broker for their hiring input.

For a more detailed tutorial, check out this video - “How to Assess Pilots on Flying Company”

Can I cancel a trip after I’ve selected a Pilot?

Yes, you can still cancel the trip if it is no longer needed. However, if you have already hired a pilot, the one-day deposit that is paid upon hiring is non-refundable.

How does Flying Company ensure fair pricing for Operators?

Flying Company is a free-market where pilots are allowed to choose their own day-rate. Some pilots will change that rate depending on location, convenience, or level of responsibility. Other pilots will always use the same rate. Operators are welcome to review all quotes and choose accordingly.

How many quotes will I receive?

There is no guarantee as it depends heavily on trip location, trip dates, and lead-time. However, Operators are receiving on average 5 quotes per trip.

How do I communicate with Pilots?

We provide a chat function within the trip dashboard so that you can easily communicate with all pilots who provide a quote on your trip without needing to share personal cell phone numbers or email addresses. After you have hired a pilot, you will be able to see their contact information and we strongly suggest reaching out in order to acquaint yourself with each other.

Payments and Pricing

How does the payment process work for trips?

Payment processing is handled through Stripe.

Pre-Trip:
Once a pilot is hired, the Operator automatically pays them a non-refundable deposit for one (1) day of pilot services and one (1) day of per-diem ($100). Additionally, the Operator pays a 10% service fee to Flying Company as well as 2.9% for payment processing if using a credit card, or a flat $5 fee if using ACH bank payment.

Post-Trip:
After a trip has finished, the pilot will upload the expenses that they incurred along with receipts. The remaining balance of pilot services, travel days, expenses, and service fees will be paid by the Operator upon approving expenses.

Are there additional fees or service charges?

Yes. Flying Company charges a transparent 10% service fee and a 2.9% payment processing fee (credit card) or flat $5 fee (ACH bank payment). Please note that there is no cost to pilots.

For a more detailed explanation, check out our article - “Flying Company Service Fees”

What happens if there’s a dispute about payment or service quality?

Please contact info@flyingcompany.com or call (479) 222-0606 for assistance with any disputes should they arise.

How are pilot rates determined?

Pilots are able to set their own day rates and travel day rates. These rates are not monitored or guided in any way by Flying Company.

Technical Questions

Is Flying Company mobile-friendly, or do I need a desktop to use it?

Flying Company is a web-application that can be used on mobile, laptop, desktop, or tablet.

What browsers are supported by the Flying Company platform?

We generally recommend using Chrome browser for the best experience.

How do I troubleshot login issues?

Please contact info@flyingcompany.com for login assistance

What should I do if I encounter a bug or error on the website?

We would love for you to submit all bugs here. However, you are also welcome to email us at info@flyingcompany.com

Does Flying Company have an API for integrating with other systems?

We have the ability to integrate with other software platforms, but do not have any active integrations yet. If you are interested in an integration, please contact us or post on our feedback page.

Security and Privacy

How is payment information protected?

We use Stripe for secure payment processing.

What steps does Flying Company take to verify Pilot certifications?

All pilots must fill out a comprehensive Pilot History Form (PHF) as part of their pilot profile. Operators are strongly encouraged to download the PHF’s for each pilot who provide a quote for their trip, and forward them on to their insurance broker for review and hiring recommendations. Additionally, we provide a tool on each pilot profile that allows you to quickly link to the FAA Airmen Registry to verify each pilots information against the FAA database.

Can I hide my profile from other users?

When a pilot creates a quote for a specific trip, the only person who can see their pilot profile is the Operator who created the trip.

Does Flying Company share my personal information with third parties?

We do not share personal information with third parties. Each quarter we create contract pilot market reports that show graphs related to average hours, and location of contract pilots from our platform. But again, personal information is never shared.

Support and Feedback

Is there a way to provide feedback about a trip?

Pilots and Operators are asked to review each other after a trip is completed. This information will be used in the future to increase trust among both parties.

Is there a way to provide feedback about the platform?

Yes! We love feedback. Please submit your feedback here. Alternatively, you can send an email to info@flyingcompany.com

Can I request new features or improvement for the platform?

Absolutely, and we would love if you did. Please submit feature requests or enhancements here.

How quickly can I expect a response from support?

We try to get back to you as quickly as possible. However, if it’s very urgent please call us at (479) 222-0606.

Miscellaneous

Can I use Flying Company to book long-term or multi-leg trips?

Absolutely. When you create a trip on Flying Company you can create a multi-day and multi-leg itinerary. By providing a detailed itinerary it helps pilots create more relevant quotes for their services.

For more information, check out the following tutorial video: “How to Create a Trip on Flying Company”

Does Flying Company offer training or resources for new users?

We have a complete YouTube channel (@flyingcompany) with tutorials that help both Pilots and Operators get started on the platform.

Are there any referral programs or incentives for bringing new users to the platform?

Not yet, but we would love to do that. Please let us know if you have any suggestions by posting here!

Can Pilots and Operators leave reviews for each other?

Yes! We ask that both parties review each other after the trip. This will be used in the future to increase trust between both parties.