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What It's Really Like Piloting Private Jets For The Rich And Famous
Flying privately owned aircraft gives pilots a unique lifestyle within the spectrum of aviation jobs. The set of challenges they face can be very different from those of flying airliners. Among the greatest challenges is passenger behavior. In a short period of time, pilots are all but guaranteed to experience some of the wildest interactions and witness some of the craziest behavior of their lives. (www.thedrive.com) Plus d'info...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I never flew 135, just 91, for a major corp and a couple of wealthy owners over the years. I never had any "problem children", but individual owners can be a bear to work for because they're demanding - especially when it comes to schedule.
One day I was planned for LGA to the owner's home airport in Michigan. Another crew was scheduled to fly the owner to St. Maarten the next day. But when the owner arrived at LGA he said, "It's snowing at home." I said, "Yes sir, it is". He said, "Screw it, let's go to St Maarten now." I replied, "Yes sir. I'll be right back." I hollered to a lineman to top off the fuel, ran inside and filed a bare bones flight plan to SXM and off we went.
We were there four days. Once there, the copilot, flight attendant, and I found a place to stay; then went into town and bought some casual clothes (we didn't wear uniforms, but business attire would have looked silly at the beach). I charged all the crew expenses to my personal AMEX Gold card that had no limit. And If we went somewhere that didn't take the gas cards we carried onboard, I also filled up the (large) jet on my card. The home office immediately paid my bill every month without question, and AMEX thought that I was a real high-roller.
The only real problem with the job was the schedule. One month I was gone on the road for 29 straight days, since the owner had houses in many cities. The pay was good, but I left after a year.
One day I was planned for LGA to the owner's home airport in Michigan. Another crew was scheduled to fly the owner to St. Maarten the next day. But when the owner arrived at LGA he said, "It's snowing at home." I said, "Yes sir, it is". He said, "Screw it, let's go to St Maarten now." I replied, "Yes sir. I'll be right back." I hollered to a lineman to top off the fuel, ran inside and filed a bare bones flight plan to SXM and off we went.
We were there four days. Once there, the copilot, flight attendant, and I found a place to stay; then went into town and bought some casual clothes (we didn't wear uniforms, but business attire would have looked silly at the beach). I charged all the crew expenses to my personal AMEX Gold card that had no limit. And If we went somewhere that didn't take the gas cards we carried onboard, I also filled up the (large) jet on my card. The home office immediately paid my bill every month without question, and AMEX thought that I was a real high-roller.
The only real problem with the job was the schedule. One month I was gone on the road for 29 straight days, since the owner had houses in many cities. The pay was good, but I left after a year.
Yes if I was <40 and single I would never have needed to go home and would not have cared about the schedule! But, that ship has sailed.....
After a long airline career I started flying for a family owned business on a small corporate jet, I guess I was lucky to find the right family because it’s been a lot of fun. At 78 years of age I am still doing it and don’t know when it will end. Am in good health and haven’t started drooling yett. I really do believe it’s been good for me to stay active.
Before every flight I say the pilot’s prayer.
Dear Lord, please let me die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather and not screaming and yelling like his passengers!
Dear Lord, please let me die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather and not screaming and yelling like his passengers!
Never have had the opportunity to fly private, but my late Mom did many years ago. She worked (as I did @ the time) in a major college D1 Athletic Department & was able to get a ride on a boosters plane that happened to be taking back a well respected former Head Coach. As she was going out to North Texas to visit relatives (they brought her back after a week visiting), she was lucky enough to hitch a ride out on the private jet. Said it was real nice.
After the game they boarded the aircraft with buckets of KFC and six packs of beer. They became rowdy and started to play grab ass with the stewardesses. She would go to the rear of the plane and call the captain to let him know what's going on with the pax. He would tell her to put on her oxygen mask. He would then alter the pressure and oxygen in the cabin...knock them all out then wake them five minutes before landing. Happened many times, win or lose. They never caught on.