Corporate Pilots

M

Mtns2Skies

Final Approach
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
5,622
Display Name
Display name:
Mtns2Skies
Of course I'm speaking in generalities, but why is it the majority of corporate pilots feel the need to treat everyone around them like garbage? I was used to it from being a ramp rat, but was surprised hearing it in the air. I think I'm going to rival @denverpilot in post length soon.

-------------------------------------------------------------

It was a rare event, the Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL or fort-love) pattern was completely empty on this past Thursday and Wx was beautiful. Winds were 200@6 (Runways 15/33) and I was coming in to land to pick up a friend. So I'm in the pattern for 15 and I hear a Citation announce taxi to 33, but that was no biggie. I saw him and gauged I'd be down well before he had taxied to the runway. I line up on final (making all of my radio calls) and the citation says "Noco Traffic Citation IMMEDIATELY departing 33 Noco". I can still see where he is... at least a minute from making it to the runway, I guess he felt the need to rush me? Anyway I'm still not phased by this, I land exit the runway just as he gets to the taxiway to line up perpendicularly to the runway. I key up the mic and say "just FYI, there was quite a bit of waterfowl near the approach of 15" They respond with "What altitude did you notice them?" I say "maybe 100 feet".

I don't think I've ever heard a scoff this enunciated before and he says "*scoff* We'll be WELL above that by midfield", like I wasted his time by speaking to him. I didn't respond but was just thinking *yeah because birds stay stationary at all times.*

---------------------------------------------------------------

Anyway this stirred up a whole bunch of ramp rat instances I thought I'd share from years ago. I'm not sure why but a majority of corporate pilots are just terrible, there of course are exceptions, sometimes some companies are worse and some it just depends on the specific pilot. GA pilots by contrast are majority nice to us, and of course there are some bad apples and some people that are just having a bad day, but overall nice.

----------------------------------------------------------------
We did a quick turn with lav on a Netjets (QS) Gulfstream IV, The flight attendant hands me a $10 and asks me to break it so I run inside to our CSR (very quickly, but the other line guy was still pumping fuel). I grabbed a $5 and five $1's thinking maybe we're getting a $5 tip which isn't great but it'll do. I make it back to the plane, give her the bills. She reaches into her pocked and gave me her loose change. I'm not sure I've ever been so insulted in my life before, literally giving me nothing would have been better than those 0.63.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Another netjet pilot saw someone taking pictures of planes outside the fence. He runs (which is hilarious because this guy was like 300lbs of all fat) up to him screaming "YOU CANT TAKE PICTURES OF THIS AIRCRAFT" "THIS IS A PRIVATE N#" "WHERE'S YOUR AIRPORT BADGE". Even though the guy was outside the fence and N#'s are pretty darn public. The guy meekly left.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I've had to change the honeypot on a citation where walking through the cabin was seriously difficult by the PILES of empty alcohol bottles. I can't believe how trashed this jet was, it looked like a hoarder's house... but with empty bottles of hard liquor.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Once again netjets crew (anyone noticing a trend?) parked the plane outside the previous night and it had snowed pretty heavily early in the morning and the engine cover blew off and filled the engine with snow. The wings had also iced up. Next crew comes in and assumes that the engine cover came off from sabotage, not the prior incompetent crew, and DEMANDS to see the footage. We IMMEDIATELY tow his plane into the hangar. Of course he didn't come in early to account for any of this so once he was satisfied that there wasn't sabotage, he comes into the hangar and demands that we scrape down the ice on the wings and watches us use snowbrooms, of course not lending a hand. This was my last day and I was pretty fed up with these POS pilots, so I got it good enough and left.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That's not to say GA pilots can't be bad too, fueling up a based Cirrus (I know right?) He's requested fuel to the tabs and he's watching me fuel which is no biggie, but he's leaning on the wing. I fuel it up to the tab, he releases pressure from the wing and looks down (of course now the wing has raised, but he doesn't realize this) and goes off the rails "DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TABS TO YOU?! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?" At that point I do think I was about to.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, just a small inkling of my 8 months I did as a line guy 4 years ago... Yeah there's bad line guys out there but cut them some slack, working in the service field sucks, and people treat you like crap.
 
It is always amusing to hear them on the radio in Europe or China using their trucker/cowboy slang or attempting to give a coherent position report when oceanic.
 
NetJets pilots can't be lumped in with other corporate pilots...they're their own clASS of pilots.
 
Don't let it bother you. Sometimes you just gotta be thick skinned. Keep on smilin'! Don't say anything mean back. Best not to say anything at all.
 
Sorry to hear about your experiences. I’m still good buddies with several of the Signature and Atlantic rampers I worked with back in my corporate days - one of them will be at my wedding next year.

But yeah, every segment of professional aviation, be it corporate, airline, or whatever, has its share of d-bags. And as you noticed, guys (and I say guys because I’ve *never* seen a female pilot do this) with egos driven by the equipment they fly is are particularly bad.
 
MauleSkinner said:
NetJets pilots can't be lumped in with other corporate pilots...they're their own clASS of pilots.
Click to expand...
This is SO true. There really is a whole separate level of douchebaggery with NJ pilots.

I once saw a NetJets plane pull up to the ramp at Sedona and park with the tail directly facing the restaurant windows. Then after eating, they fired right up and filled the restaurant with the lovely smell of kerosene.
 
kayoh190 said:
Sorry to hear about your experiences. I’m still good buddies with several of the Signature and Atlantic rampers I worked with back in my corporate days - one of them will be at my wedding next year.

But yeah, every segment of professional aviation, be it corporate, airline, or whatever, has its share of d-bags. And as you noticed, guys (and I say guys because I’ve *never* seen a female pilot do this) that have egos driven by the equipment they fly is are particularly bad.
Click to expand...
It’s FAR less, but I have seen some crappy ego driven behavior from females. XoJet has some issues.
 
Pilawt said:
Like anything else, there are the professionals; and there are those who make it look like "Air Uber" ...
Click to expand...
This is very true. It’s really a mixed bag. Unfortunately, I fear it is only going to get worse though as more and more people who once said ‘I’ll never go to the airlines’ go 121. We’re going to be seeing more and more of the quality of the TEB Lear crew in the 135 world.
 
Fearless Tower said:
It’s FAR less, but I have seen some crappy ego driven behavior from females. XoJet has some issues.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it makes sense that they’d have a couple too. I guess I’ve just been fortunate to never have to witness it!
 
I wonder if it’s because some of those pilots deal with arrogant “VIP” passengers and so feel the need to be jerks (or don’t even notice that they’re acting assish themselves).
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
I wonder if it’s because some of those pilots deal with arrogant “VIP” passengers and so feel the need to be jerks (or don’t even notice that they’re acting assish themselves).
Click to expand...
It could be they are just miserable at work and don’t realize how much of a prick they are being. Some are just pricks and get no sympathy.
 
I was in a Tecnam P-92 turning final and a corporate taxi driver in a Citation come on: DXR tower Citation XXXX 4 miles, straight in. Clear the pattern so I can land.
DXR: Citation XXXX, you are number 2 behind the light sport.
XXXX: (dripping attitude and snark) Do you have any idea how much it costs to fly this thing so low and so slow?
DXR: Sucks to be you. Go around.

I was laughing so hard, I almost had to go around myself.
 
Shepherd said:
I was in a Tecnam P-92 turning final and a corporate taxi driver in a Citation come on: DXR tower Citation XXXX 4 miles, straight in. Clear the pattern so I can land.
DXR: Citation XXXX, you are number 2 behind the light sport.
XXXX: (dripping attitude and snark) Do you have any idea how much it costs to fly this thing so low and so slow?
DXR: Sucks to be you. Go around.

I was laughing so hard, I almost had to go around myself.
Click to expand...

He really told Tower to clear the pattern???
 
kayoh190 said:
But yeah, every segment of professional aviation, be it corporate, airline, or whatever every profession, has its share of d-bags.
Click to expand...
The one thing I noticed about some pilots from NetJets, is that when there was more than one of them sitting in the pilot lounge, the conversation would turn to bashing management, or quizzing us about what we got paid and our "contract", which we didn't have.
 
Last edited:
I think the common denominator is that they are all pilots. I've worked around the ramp since I was 14 (shooting ground squirrels with a .22 was my first airport job) and I got to say, pilots in all corners of aviation tend to forget other people exist in the world besides themselves.
 
Juneau (PAJN) is a small class D airport. I must say in the 20+ years I've been flying out of Juneau, there are only a hand full of times other pilots showed an arrogant attitude to me.

About 3 weeks ago, part 135 Caravan driver said on CTAF to me "hurry up dude turn crosswind". First flight after annual and I was climbing slowly, I did turn crosswind at runway end. I almost called the chief pilot to talk to him about how unprofessional this pilot was. Decided it was not worth my time.

737 was a few miles out and he wanted to depart before the 737 turned final.
 
Perhaps some of this is because the netjets guys are treated worse than a maid by their pax, and even though it's wrong, it rolls down on over to the people like line folks, who they think are below them, I'm sure there's some fancy psychological term for that.
 
James331 said:
Perhaps some of this is because the netjets guys are treated worse than a maid by their pax, and even though it's wrong, it rolls down on over to the people like line folks, who they think are below them, I'm sure there's some fancy psychological term for that.
Click to expand...

Chain of Command.jpeg
 
AKBill said:
Juneau (PAJN) is a small class D airport. I must say in the 20+ years I've been flying out of Juneau, there are only a hand full of times other pilots showed an arrogant attitude to me.

About 3 weeks ago, part 135 Caravan driver said on CTAF to me "hurry up dude turn crosswind". First flight after annual and I was climbing slowly, I did turn crosswind at runway end. I almost called the chief pilot to talk to him about how unprofessional this pilot was. Decided it was not worth my time.

737 was a few miles out and he wanted to depart before the 737 turned final.
Click to expand...

This wasn't at GST by any chance..??

I was turning final for the runway, 11 if I remember, and the 737 made one call, announcing back taxi runway 11. I repeated my call that I am on final for the runway but he still pulled right out in front of me. I asked him if my radio was working. No reply. I asked him if he was aware that he pulled out in front of landing traffic. This time a reply.... Sorry, I did not hear that traffic. I asked if he checked final before taking the runway. No reply. I made the announcement that I was going around due to the jet taking the runway in front of landing traffic. I just used the crossing runway, 20 I think it is. No problem but I did feel these guys just had no awareness that another plane would dare use the airport while they are there.
 
Zeldman said:
This wasn't at GST by any chance..??

I was turning final for the runway, 11 if I remember, and the 737 made one call, announcing back taxi runway 11. I repeated my call that I am on final for the runway but he still pulled right out in front of me. I asked him if my radio was working. No reply. I asked him if he was aware that he pulled out in front of landing traffic. This time a reply.... Sorry, I did not hear that traffic. I asked if he checked final before taking the runway. No reply. I made the announcement that I was going around due to the jet taking the runway in front of landing traffic. I just used the crossing runway, 20 I think it is. No problem but I did feel these guys just had no awareness that another plane would dare use the airport while they are there.
Click to expand...

I didn’t know they were using 737’s for jump planes these days.
 
Fearless Tower said:
This is SO true. There really is a whole separate level of douchebaggery with NJ pilots.

I once saw a NetJets plane pull up to the ramp at Sedona and park with the tail directly facing the restaurant windows. Then after eating, they fired right up and filled the restaurant with the lovely smell of kerosene.
Click to expand...
Can they do that at my house? I love the smell of jet exhaust lol
 
People tend to get bitter when they spent all that time and money, the hopes and dreams of flying the blue skies, getting all the girls wherever they go. And end up as an Uber driver in the sky.
 
Zeldman said:
This wasn't at GST by any chance..??
Click to expand...
No, and that was what surprised me it was (PAJN). Hot shot 135 driver I guess.

Zeldman said:
It is a scheduled flight in the summer.
Click to expand...
Took that flight one time. My wives boss gave us a whale watching tour and a night at the lodge in (PAGS) or GST for a wedding gift. AK Airlines GST to Juneau, I was laughing. Good trip.
 
Shepherd said:
I was in a Tecnam P-92 turning final and a corporate taxi driver in a Citation come on: DXR tower Citation XXXX 4 miles, straight in. Clear the pattern so I can land.
DXR: Citation XXXX, you are number 2 behind the light sport.
XXXX: (dripping attitude and snark) Do you have any idea how much it costs to fly this thing so low and so slow?
DXR: Sucks to be you. Go around.

I was laughing so hard, I almost had to go around myself.
Click to expand...
"Citation XXXX...you're a Citation. All you EVER do is go slow!"

:D

(With 1000 hours in Citations, I can vouch for that.)
 
There are plenty of GA pilots that do rude and dumb things too, but feel free to focus on one slice of the pie. I was a line guy for 10+ years and dick-head-ness was evenly spread across the spectrum. I've also been a "corporate" pilot for about 12 years, and I've seen plenty of dumb things done, and may have even done a few dumb things myself.
 
Man... I’ve often thought that being a NetJets pilot might be fun someday... but I’d hate to turn into one of those a-holes.
 
dans2992 said:
Man... I’ve often thought that being a NetJets pilot might be fun someday... but I’d hate to turn into one of those a-holes.
Click to expand...

Considering their upgrade time is 12+ years and it takes 5+ years to clear 6 figures, you're much better off somewhere else.
 
I’m not a fan of human beings in general. Lots of egotistical a holes out there that deserve a nice knuckle sandwich to the face :)

Reminds me of the dunes....or Lake Havasu
 
Let me let you in on a little secret - "corporate pilots" know that they are nothing but glorified chauffeurs and yes, they alot of times are treated as such by the passengers (bosses) that they fly around and have to be at their beck and call. They are away from home, don't really make alot of money, and have to put up with miserable hours and miserable (sometimes) bosses / passengers.

I have been on many of these "corporate" flights and cringe at how I see them treated sometimes.

I love to fly, and I also love to hunt and fish. I darn sure would not want to make my living doing any of them. Well, maybe fishing. But definitely NOT flying.
 
I think I am very lucky, the (I'm thinking of mainly two) airports I frequent have a healthy mix of flivvers, bizjets - and both have schools with regular traffic in the pattern. I cannot recall an experience where any pilot was arrogant or in a hurry. From what I've seen, the bizjets have all been considerate of the needs and limitations of the slower traffic; and the light a/c readily extend downwind or otherwise give way, to let the fast movers in and out. I am positive that part of the training at both school includes how to accommodate.... and even be cordial - from how the students handle it. One also has a skydive school and they are very active, the pilots are very communicative and clear about their intentions. The other has glider ops on a less used crossing runway; they are awesome.
I think the big difference in this is attitude; we all enjoy helping each other.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top