As job listings go, it looks pretty innocuous. But a recent advertisement for a co-pilot is actually likely to be for the US government’s secret airline.
The job for First Officer is currently being advertised on Aecom, an engineering firm that is also responsible for operating Janet Airlines. Janet is the unofficial name of the classified airline that serves the United States Air Force. The airline even has its own terminal at Las Vegas airport and is believed to be used to transport cargo and passengers from Area 51 and other classified areas.
As you might expect, the minimum requirements are strenuous. The successful applicant will need at least three thousand hours of flying experience, with a thousand of those hours as a pilot in command and a thousand in an aircraft powered by turbines. Tellingly, you will also need to “qualify for and maintain a TS government security clearance and associated work location access.”
The advert states you’ll be required to carry both passengers and cargo, meaning there may be plenty of opportunities to learn more about the mysterious Area 51 (but, of course, you’ll be expected to keep the secrets). Some media outlets have said this is the first time the airline has posted a job advert but, in fact, Lonely Planet reported in January this year that they were also looking for flight attendants.
The secrecy surrounding the activities taking place in Area 51 have long made it a focal point for conspiracy theorists and the surrounding region is a bonafide tourist destination for UFO enthusiasts. If you’d like to apply for the job and be one of the few to gain access to the “secret” base, applications are now open.