INTERVIEW
EXECUTIVE
TRAVELLER
8
9
Business Aviation - a pilot’s perspective
Rebecca Pace interviews Captain Dag Spanoghe and finds out what is like to be in the driving
seat of a business jet.
How long have you been flying business jets?
one would expect from the captain. Some
business travellers will expect a short and to
the point greeting on stepping on board whilst
others passengers may very well enjoy catching
up a bit.
Just about eight years.
What was the first business aircraft you flew?
Your partner for
domestic and commercial furniture
Your partner for
domestic and commercial furniture
How do expectations and demands of a
business jet passenger affect the cockpit
crew?
The first business jet I flew was the Hawker HS125, a great plane indeed and very forgiving
which was a bonus when compared to other
aircraft where you need to be more focused and
precise.
They can affect us quite dramatically. From
delayed departures to early shows. These are
the two scenarios that affect the cockpit crew the
most who would have to cope with coordinating
the revision of flight plan to accommodating
such eventualities. Most of the other issues get
dealt with directly by our flight attendants who
have huge job to do and sometimes very little
time on their hands.
What aircraft do you fly today?
I am currently flying the Gulfstream IV, a bigger
aircraft which can carry more passengers, faster
and capable of reaching broader distances
without the need for stopping over and refuelling.
What can you tell us about business aviation
in general? What are the main differences
between business aviation and commercial
airliner business jet piloting?
c. fino + sons ltd fino Buildings, notabile road, mriehel BKr 3000, malta, t: +356 2549 3000 e: [email protected]
facebook.com/FinoGroup
c. fino + sons ltd fino Buildings, notabile road, mriehel BKr 3000, malta, t: +356 2549 3000 e: [email protected]
facebook.com/FinoGroup
I enjoy the more personalised service we provide
in business aviation. The irregular schedule can
be difficult but very satisfying at the same time.
We never know our schedule in advance and
this is what attracts me to this kind of flying. We
cater to the needs of our passengers in a more
all round way from knowing how the VIP likes
his coffee to the brand of tissues he prefers in
the bathroom. We tend to be more involved in
all aspects of the flight. This sometimes also
means we have Ѽ