A fresh new airline looking to take flight from Bermuda is currently seeking qualified pilots and first officers. Upstart airline Coral Jet has submitted an application to the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority for an air operator’s certificate in advance of a planned 2022 launch.

New venture

The startup plans to commence in the second quarter of 2022 out of the Atlantic island's L.F. Wade International Airport. The only airport of the Bermuda Islands serves the capital of Hamilton, and potential routes are expected to be announced following the issuance of the aircraft operating certificate (AOC).

Coral Jet has already begun its search for staff who are willing to be based in Bermuda. The Royal Gazette reports that the airline is currently looking for Captains and First Officers for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. The positions are offered as full-time roles for currently certified flight crew.

"We are looking for a few select individuals with time on the Airbus A320 family of aircraft to help us launch what will become Bermudas home based airline operating to Canada, United States, and the Caribbean carrying both passengers and cargo." The airline has advertised.

Bermuda
Applicants are required to be currently qualified in A320 aircraft. Photo: Peter Burka via Flickr

Qualified crew members are encouraged to apply, and applicants are encouraged to have an 'adventurous spirit and the willingness to experienced "so much more" in Bermuda. Hopefully, giving us a little sneak peek into the branding and mantra of the new airline.

Requirements for the new roles.

Applicants for Capitan positions are required to be rated to fly the A320 type of airplane and hold a valid flight medical certificate. Additionally, applicants must have 5,000 hours of total flying experience, 1,000 of which must have been on a commercial airline, and 500 hours of flying experience in command.

First officers have slightly fewer requirements with only 2500 hours of total flying experience, 1000 hours of which must have been on the same type of aircraft. All applicants, however, must still be proficient in English and be willing to relocate to Bermuda.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.

Preference is given to candidates with backgrounds in training and ETOPS, an acronym that stands for “Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards.” The system was designed in the 1980s to ensure the safety of crew and passengers flying in twin-engine planes on transatlantic and other routes without immediate access to a diversion airport.

New-airlines-Malaysia-MYAirline-SKS-Airways-Getty
Preference is given to candidates with ETOPS and training backgrounds. Photo: Getty Images

The first ETOPS certification rating was given to Trans World Airlines in 1985 to fly their twin-engine 767 transatlantic from Boston to Paris. The certification allowed the twin-engine aircraft to fly no more than 120 minutes flying time away from the nearest airport suitable for an emergency landing.

Potential routes for Coral Jet.

Canada-based aerospace company Flyht, who recently signed a large contract with the airline, said Coral Jet would serve North America and had plans to increase its fleet. A spokesman for Duke Aviation Holding Company, a significant shareholder in Coral Jet’s parent company, however, declined to give details on when the airline would start operations, saying instead:

“Management focus right now is on obtaining the AOC from the BCAA. We think it would be most appropriate to talk once that milestone has been reached.”

Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport is currently one of several that offers US Customs and Immigration preclearance, making the US a highly likely destination. The preclearance process enables US-bound passengers to clear Customs in Bermuda, therefore arriving in the US from Bermuda as a domestic flight.