Former IT consultant pilots new career with Gloucestershire aviation company

Published by

Nicky Godding

Pilot Mark Podbery has been appointed Senior First Officer with The Little Jet Company based at Gloucestershire Airport.

The 38 year-old father of two was an IT consultant with his own business when he learnt to fly in 2010. He gained a private pilot license and then qualified as a commercial pilot in 2016.

He was previously a pilot for Flybe operating the Embraer 175/195 and has also worked in the Business Aviation Sector flying a Beechcraft Hawker before joining The Little Jet Company.

Mark, who lives in Lechlade, enjoys meeting the clients. ‘I enjoy the social side of welcoming the passengers,’ he said. ‘I want to give them a safe and individual experience.

‘We offer a fantastic service and a personal touch. It is good to be able to offer that.’

The Little Jet Company provides privately owned jets for charter, management of aircraft and ground handling services. It was awarded an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) last year by the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK’s aviation regulator. Last summer the company had its busiest summer on record with increased demand as passengers opted to travel in their own social bubbles.

Director Barry Preece said: ‘Our full time flight crew has expanded each year since The Little Jet Company was formed which we are delighted with. Employing the correct flight crew within our sector in aviation is important as they are the on board, front of house service, representing The Little Jet Company and deal directly with the travelling clients. We are delighted to welcome Mark to the team and his knowledge within the airline and business aviation industry was the perfect combination for us.’

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.