Charter Airlines - Amsterdam Airlines

[Tortuga]

Next week will be my first time on a charter flight. Our whole crew will be flying on Amsterdam Airlines from Douala, Cameroon to Amsterdam. I was having a look at their website and it seems to me they are very new and only have 1 or 2 aircraft. I have no experience with charter flights and the quality and safety so I am wondering if there is any difference or standards between this company and a big commercial one like Air France. I know this sounds stupid considering the recent tragedies with Air France. Are the pilots they employ just as good as the bigger airlines? I have never loved flying after some rough experiences (I'm sure we all have after flying long enough) and I am trying to convince myself it will be fine !!

 

[Simsy85]

I certainly don't fly long charters, but I do take charters more often than commercial flights.

I can only speak within Australia and that is that they have to meet the same standard etc. That being said, there is no doubt that the commercial piolts have more hours and are better paid.

Cheers

 

[N860CR]

No better way to piss off a charter pilot than annouce that they're not "commercial pilots"!

If you're on, say, a chartered 767, the pilot will have exactly the same qualifications as one flying a 767 on a scheduled service. And yes, they're still commercial pilots! The captain at least would have to be above a standard "commercial" pilot, holding an Air Transport pilots licence.