B747 Pilot Recruitment Case Study: ASL Belgium

In 2020, the aviation industry faced two major disruptions: the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK's post-Brexit transition period. While passenger travel declined sharply, global air cargo demand surged, driven by the urgent transport of PPE and increased e-commerce activity during lockdown. Recruiting experienced B747 pilots became particularly challenging due to the aircraft's specialist widebody requirements and the limited pool of qualified flight crew. In response to rising cargo volumes and operational pressure, ASL launched an accelerated B747 pilot recruitment programme to maintain continuity at its Belgian base. AeroProfessional is an aviation recruitment consultancy with an established network of cargo and long-haul flight crew. The team supports airlines in securing qualified candidates during periods of market volatility, including regulatory and cross-border disruption such as Covid and Brexit.

The pandemic disrupted numerous airlines, leading to significant operational challenges and widespread layoffs of pilots and other aviation personnel. AeroProfessional swiftly responded by collaborating with two major airlines to assist pilots facing redundancy, facilitating their transfer to ASL and ensuring they could continue their careers without interruption. In addition to assisting pilots affected by airline layoffs, AeroProfessional engaged with BALPA to identify and support more pilots seeking new job opportunities, ensuring that pilots with the appropriate qualifications and Type-Ratings were matched with positions at ASL. With Covid-19 restricting travel and movement, AeroProfessional managed to arrange transport for chosen candidates to attend interviews and simulator sessions in Belgium, while complying with lockdown regulations. All pilots followed a thorough assessment preparation that AeroProfessional organised. The UK's departure from the EU posed a risk to the validity of UK pilot licences in Europe. To mitigate risk, AeroProfessional collaborated closely with ASL and the pilots to convert their UK licences to EASA ones, and liaised with the appropriate Belgian authority to resolve work permit and visa issues.