Almost two thirds of helicopter pilots and more than half of business jet pilots consider their flying to be 'very stimulating and varied'. So says a survey by air charter online booking company PrivateFly.com, which found that job satisfaction among these two groups runs well ahead of their commercial airline peers.

This should come as no surprise, as business aviation is by definition much more varied and unpredictable than flying the line. Pilots typically have to take on responsibilities far beyond simply flying the aircraft, and this makes the job more interesting and fulfilling.

So much so, in fact, that they are often prepared to accept employment with a lower financial package. The survey reveals that for pilots of similar age and experience the airlines pay more in basic salary, but also provide many more benefits. Just a quarter of business aviation pilots receive a company pension plan, while over half of airline pilots do. Only 12 per cent took advantage of a company share plan, compared with 22 per cent of airline pilots. In fact, over a third of those flying in business aviation said they receive no company benefits at all.

So at first glance air charter operators and corporate flight departments seem to have the best of both worlds, with contented air crews prepared to accept lower salaries.

But wait... the survey has a twist in the tail. It seems that airline pilots, with comparatively lower levels of operational control, were the most likely to want to save the company money.

Indeed business jet pilots were among the least likely of all working crew to choose commercial awareness as a top three quality. This is despite their greater spending and decision-making power, such as in deciding where to buy fuel.

This may indicate that business jet operators, whose margins are tightening in an increasingly competitive market, could be asking more of its pilots in terms of improving the bottom line.

Crews are certainly resourceful enough to make a difference, as witnessed by the travel tips provided to PrivateFly.com's survey, which included 'laying a wet swimming costume in a dry towel, rolling and twisting to get most of the water out', and 'take toilet paper!'

David Wright Editor