The General Manager (FTOM) is responsible for overseeing and aligning Flight Training, Operations, and Maintenance (Fleet Support) functions across Skyborne Airline Academy, ensuring operational excellence and regulatory compliance. The role is expected to include Accountable Manager responsibilities for the UK CAA, EASA, and GCAA and reports to the CEO.
Providing both strategic and operational leadership, the General Manager (FTOM) leads the managers responsible for Fleet Support, Operations and Flight Training, ensuring strong cross-functional collaboration, effective resource management and the safe, efficient and customer-focused delivery of training activities.
This position will be accountable for ensuring aircraft availability, operational effectiveness and training excellence are aligned with business priorities, customer commitments and regulatory obligations. They will lead the promotion of a strong safety culture and a continuous improvement mindset, fostering the highest standards of compliance, quality and operational performance throughout the organisation.
This is a full-time, onsite role based at Gloucestershire Airport, working 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The role also involves travel between our Gloucester and Bournemouth Airport locations to support operational requirements and collaboration across the business.
Responsibilities
- Lead the flight training, operations and maintenance functions in the UK to ensure Skyborne operates safely, efficiently and in full compliance with applicable UK, EASA and GCAA regulatory and organisational requirements.
- Provide strategic oversight of aircraft availability, flight training delivery, operational performance, and customer service standards to achieve business objectives.
- Ensure effective coordination between maintenance planning, operational scheduling, and training delivery to maximise aircraft utilisation, minimise downtime, and optimise training output.
- Establish, implement, and monitor operational standards, policies, procedures, and key performance indicators across flight training, operations, and maintenance functions.
- Ensure all training, operational, and maintenance documentation, records, manuals, and courseware remain accurate, current, compliant, and fit for purpose.
- Champion a proactive safety culture throughout the Academy, working closely with the Head of Safety and Head of Compliance to embed safety, quality, compliance, and human factors principles into all activities and decision-making processes.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to align operational capabilities, fleet capacity, and training standards with strategic objectives, growth plans, and commercial commitments.
- Oversee workforce, fleet, and facility resource planning, ensuring the effective allocation of personnel, aircraft, maintenance resources, and infrastructure to support operational requirements.
- Support internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and compliance reviews, ensuring timely and effective closure of actions arising within areas of responsibility.
- Represent the Academy in interactions with regulatory authorities, industry organisations, customers, and external partners on matters relating to flight training, operational performance, and fleet support.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 2 years’ airline and ATO experience (essential).
- Previous airline, operational, and management experience (essential).
- Current or prior experience as SFI/SFE or TRI/TRE (essential).
- Senior management experience in airline, ATO or military (desirable).
- Strong knowledge of UK and US aviation regulatory requirements applicable to flight training, flight operations, safety management, and airworthiness support functions.
- Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, with the ability to effectively coordinate training, operational, safety, and technical functions.
- Demonstrated success in driving operational performance, regulatory compliance, quality standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- High level of commercial awareness, balancing safety, compliance, customer service, operational effectiveness, and business objectives.
- Ability to interpret aviation regulations, policies, and operational performance data, translating them into practical actions, clear expectations, and measurable outcome.
Benefits
- Salary of £140,000 - £150,000 per annum (DOE).
- 25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays.
- Additional annual leave purchase scheme.
- Enhanced sick pay.
- 5% employer pension contribution.
- Private health insurance with discounted family plans.
- Life assurance scheme of 3x your annual salary.
- Discounted gym membership.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Free mortgage advice.
- Free on-site parking.
- Rewards and recognition scheme.
- Access to state-of-the-art training facilities and resources.
- Free barista style coffee.
If you have any questions or would be looking to arrange an informal chat with a member of the recruitment team, please contact us at [email protected].
We are Skyborne, an industry-leading aviation training academy with a mission to Build Better Pilots. As a growing business, we’ve invested in state-of-the-art training facilities in both the UK and U.S., as well as cutting-edge resources to deliver the very best in airline-focussed pilot training. We are proud to operate three state-of-the-art training facilities. Alongside our UK head office at Gloucestershire Airport, we operate from two major training locations - Vero Beach, Florida, and Bournemouth International Airport in the UK. Every role at Skyborne plays a vital role in guiding our trainees from the classroom to the flight deck, with our graduates going on to fly for leading airlines.
We set ourselves the highest standards and believe that work should be both satisfying and fun. At the core of Skyborne is a culture shaped by our values and pillars:
Creativity
We champion creativity in everything we do. We think differently and we aren’t afraid to ask questions. Innovation drives us forward and we’re always looking for smarter, more effective ways to improve how we operate.
Humanity
We foster a supportive, team-focussed environment where our staff and students feel empowered, valued and heard. We respect every individual and believe that recognition, inclusion and collaboration are essential.
Quality
Safety, expertise and professionalism are at the heart of what we do here at Skyborne. Trusted by our students and airline partners alike, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and we don’t settle for anything less.
We’re a people-first company and a motivated, passionate team who take pride in giving our trainees the strongest start to their aviation careers.
Our carefully selected team of professionals are committed to shaping the next generation of pilots. We partner with an extensive list of major global airlines, including British Airways, SkyWest, DHL, Jet2.com and easyJet. Whether aviation has always been on your radar or you’re discovering it for the first time, we’d love to hear from you!
