Job Vacancies: Pilot-Astronauts

These jobs are probably not suitable for me since I am aging, unfit, overweight and have no pilots licence. But if you happen to have graduated from a test pilot school, have experience of jets travelling faster than mach one and are pretty fit then this could be for you. Oh, it helps if you have previous flying in space experience. That rather reduces the number who might apply to become pilots with Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson’s space airline venture.
Still it must be getting closer if the job ads are out now. There are three jobs and they would like the first one to start in June. Nothing about pay, working hours, perks and conditions of service. Nothing about holidays or whether you can go on standby for free flights into space yourself on your days off. But you are expected to deliver a spaceflight service which is “as safe and enjoyable as possible.” In addition “All Pilot-Astronauts will be ambassadors of the Virgin Galactic brand, ensuring the Customer-Astronauts experience the highest customer service standards.” So those of us rich enough (its $200,000 with a 10% deposit due on booking) or lucky enough to go won’t be passengers. We’ll be customer astronauts. Now that sounds a step above travelling on Ryanair to Alicante for the weekend.
Oh there’s another reason I can’t apply. You have to be a US citizen. No joy then for ex- Russian or ex-Chinese astronauts.