Originally Posted by bcrosier

I was thinking the same thing myself. If he wants to play pilot that's fine, but he needs to recognize he's just playing and hire a real pilot to do the "dirty work" and keep him safe. I've known several owners who did just this with good results (though it can be a frustrating job for the hired pilot who seldom flies).

I've never done it in a VLJ, but I having flown with a few of them in everything from Bonanzas to light jets. As was said previously, typically they could fly the aircraft VMC in uncongested airspace, but when things got busy (particularly IMC) they were quickly task saturated.

I have nothing against owner pilots, but I'm deeply concerned that too many of the VLJ buyers aren't going to step up and attain/maintain the level proficiency necessary to safely operate in the flight levels and congested terminal airspace in a jet (for their safety and mine).

Given the entry price of most VLJ's, the stereotypical profile of the businessman owner/pilot, and the availability of pilots, I really don't understand why there isn't more of a push for the purchasers to just hire a pilot to do the work they don't want to and keep them out of trouble.