Head of Flight Operations & Pilot Training, UAE

What You’ll Do:

Archer is seeking an experienced Head of Flight Operations & Pilot Training to join our Support and Training Team in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Our team focuses on providing support for Archer Midnight Entry Into Service in the UAE in 2025.  This is a “greenfield” project that will draw on industry best practices to create support methods and processes tailored for the operation of air taxis in urban air mobility networks.

The Head of Flight Operations will report to the Director of Pilot Training- Archer Air and be part of a high-performing team which provides the technical field support for Archer products and services. In this role you are responsible for Flight Operations & pilot Training policies and procedures to ensure a safe and efficient airline operation and ensure coordination with corporate policy and procedures.  The Head of Flight Operations & pilot Training is responsible for compliance and conformance with regulatory and internal policies derived from GCAA and international standards.

Work Streams Include: 

Flight Operations:

• Serves as the primary point of contact for all UAE Flight Operations-related activities and communications.  Provides system-wide oversight of the air taxi operations.
• Establishes, communicates, and implements UAE safety objectives and goals, promoting a healthy and robust safety culture.
• Responsible for coordinating with company Maintenance, Flight, IOCC, and Station Operations to ensure all UAE flight activities comply with applicable policy and government regulations.
• Coordinate and facilitate daily operations meetings.
• Develop Flight Operations policies and procedures to ensure a safe and efficient airline operation and ensure coordination with pilot and technician training.  
• Supervise and coordinate the integration of UAE Flight Operations manuals and memos to comply with regulatory, safety, and operational changes. 
• Review Crewmember schedules and coordinate when necessary with Crew Services to ensure the legal and efficient scheduling of crewmembers.
• Track and analyze operational data to develop methods and procedures for operational improvement.
• Member of Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System (CASS) Board.
• Establishes and modifies the use of approved areas, routes, and UAE or other International airports.
• Assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Pilot (CP) in their absence.
• Networks interdepartmentally and with business partners to instill and promote a safe and efficient culture.
• Partners with global teams to ensure one seamless approach to flight operations

Pilot Training

• Support production and validation of aircraft systems, policies, and procedures in the Midnight Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM)
• Conduct safe, professional, and effective flight training for company pilots, customers, and other stakeholders for the Archer eVTOL aircraft.
• Acts as a SME (Subject Matter Expert) assisting in the development and delivery of comprehensive training programs, including classroom instruction, simulator training, and in-aircraft instruction by providing technical expertise on eVTOL aircraft systems, performance, and flight characteristics to trainees and other team members.
• Collaborates closely with OEM engineering and instructional design teams to develop and refine course materials, lesson plans, and instructional guides to ensure comprehensive training coverage
• Work with regulatory bodies and internal compliance teams to ensure training programs meet or exceed FAA or GCAA and other applicable international standards
• Must be knowledgeable in applicable FAA or GCAA regulations/publications, Company policies/procedures, and aircraft systems
• Continuously monitors and evaluates pilot performance, compliance, & competencies through assessment techniques, feedback sessions, and detailed performance reports to provide data-driven feedback to trainees, identify trends, and support continuous improvement in training practices.
• Ensures standardization through proper training and training resource utilization, identifies training gaps and suggests improvements to enhance Archer’s training programs and materials.
• Communicates and verifies compliance of Company philosophies, policies, and procedures to line pilots
• Must be able to travel 25% of the time 
• Maintain flight proficiency & Instructor/Evaluator (I/E) proficiency
• Acts as a mentor to junior pilots and provides guidance on career development, skill enhancement, and Archer’s operational culture
• Acts as a safety ambassador, promoting Archer’s safety culture in all training and flight activities. 
• Help to support Archer Air’s mission by providing high-quality, structured, and dynamic flight instruction to create a safe and proficient pilot community.

Compliance with Regulatory Requirements:

• Serves as the primary point of contact with local and foreign government authorities on regulatory requirements and operations specifications to ensure the highest level of safety and regulatory compliance.
• Interprets and applies Flight Operations regulations, and provides guidance and support to all employees / crewmembers performing such tasks.
• Drafts and upholds Flight Operations processes by which team members are expected to adhere 
• Monitors Operations and Training with regard to its effectiveness and compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
• Conducts internal audits and evaluations, analyzes data and generates reports to ensure compliance with expectations and standards.
• Maintains proper documentation and records related to Flight Operations and Pilot Training.

Flight Operations Budgets and Resources

• Provides leadership, strategic direction, and guidance regarding: budget, staffing, training, equipment, communications, and other resources to achieve departmental goals.

Typical Education & Experience:

Education/experience typically acquired through advanced education (e.g. Bachelor) and related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience, to include at least 5 years of management experience in Flight Operations and / or Pilot Training for a Major Airline, Charter Airline, or Helicopter Airline

What You Need:

• Hold an airline transport pilot certificate.
• Have at least 5 years supervisory or managerial experience in a position that exercised operational oversight.
• Have at least 3 years experience, within the past 6 years, as Pilot-in-Command (PIC). 
• Excellent communications skills with the ability to collaborate with multiple Archer Aviation and Archer Air training stakeholders, across departments and borders
• Be an optimistic, innovative, and results-driven problem solver

Legal and Work Eligibility Requirements

• Proven experience operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market
• Ability to work legally in the UAE.
• Familiarity with UAE labor laws and regulations is a plus.
• Compliance with any specific regulatory or industry requirements applicable to the role.

Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.