Information for Aircraft Owners
Hiring contract pilots involves more than verifying certificates and flight time.
Owners and managers are ultimately relying on judgment, discipline, and professionalism—often under time pressure and imperfect information. The Contract Pilots Association® exists to reduce that uncertainty.
CPA helps aircraft owners and managers better understand, evaluate, and engage professional contract pilots by promoting standards, transparency, and informed decision-making.
What Owners Gain Clearer Insight Into Pilot Quality – CPA helps distinguish between pilots who simply meet minimum requirements and those who operate with consistent preparation, sound judgment, and professional discipline.
Standards That Matter in Real Operations – CPA focuses on how contract pilots operate day-to-day: decision-making, risk management, communication, and respect for aircraft and owner expectations.
Professional Ethics & Accountability – CPA promotes a formal Code of Ethics emphasizing conservative decision-making, operational discipline, and professional conduct.
Credentialing That Supports Vetting – The Certified Contract Pilot (CCP) credential provides an additional data point when evaluating pilots and signals commitment to structured training and professional standards.
Better-Informed Owners – CPA educates owners and managers on contract pilot norms and best practices, reducing surprises and misunderstandings.
Why This Matters Most operational risk does not come from lack of technical skill. It comes from judgment, preparation, and decision-making under pressure.
CPA focuses on those factors—where safety, reliability, and reputation are most often decided.