CEO is a pilot ??

[bafanguy]

What is the feeling among corp pilots about the situation where the company CEO is also a pilot and does some of the flying...good, bad, depends on the guy ?

As someone with no first-hand experience, it would seem the case could be made both for and against it. Just curious.

 

[banned username 2]

I would tend to think most Boards of Directors would not allow it... If it is a privately held company than there is a possibility this could occur (CEO as crew member)...

Our CEO did some Private Pilot training many years ago, never got his certificate but has some knowledge... It works out well because we can explain things to him a little more in-depth if something occurs (WX delay, maint issue, etc)...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

What is the feeling among corp pilots about the situation where the company CEO is also a pilot and does some of the flying...good, bad, depends on the guy ?

As someone with no first-hand experience, it would seem the case could be made both for and against it. Just curious.

I couldnt imagine this in a public company, but a small, new rich, young ego maniac billionaire.....you bet...

I have had the unfortunate luck to have worked 2 places where owners did this.

One was in a turboprop and the other a midsize jet.

Both jobs seemed like they would be OK, even fun, going into it but quickly turned into the horrid nightmare 99% of owner/pilot babysit jobs are. Both were impressive pilots on paper - civ/mil, type ratings, etc...and both made it clear that you, the PIC, would always have the final say. ...YEAH RIGHT.

I vowed I would never, ever do it again...like 100% leave aviation before doing it again.

If the owner wants to fly let him go fly something he is capable of during his free time -- by himself...not play pilot onbaord his pricy toy.


(I know....tell us how you REALLY feel...)

 

[2000flyer]

Sony corp's CEO is a typed pilot aboard their Falcons. Tom Watson Sr. (IBM founder) was typed in the LR55, though flew his own, not the company planes.

Our CEO is typed, proficient, current and qualified. Attends regular recurrents as well as other courses of topic. He is in no way an "ego maniac." He realizes he has professionals working for him. He regularly and readily swaps seats, wanting to be proficient from both sides of the cockpit. He knows his limits. If the weather is poor, he'll gladly give up his seat to one of us. If he knows he'll have a packed business day, he won't attempt to include flying the aircraft. Many times we'll carry two pilot's onboard for that reason alone.

Maybe he's the exception, not the rule. That said however, I'd have no problem putting my family aboard with him in the front.

I also agree with Falcon Capt. With his knowledge of aviation, it's easy to discuss topics with him and no one will question a go/no-go situation.

 

[CapnVegetto]

I have an uncle that has a babysitter job in a Kingair 90. His boss likes to fly the plane and be the last one off when it's nice because he thinks it makes him look important, etc....but if they're shooting an ILS down to minimums at night in a crosswind, he doesn't want anything to do with it. I would think that most of time, the two most dangerous words in aviation are 'owner-pilot'. I can't even count how many rich guys have bought too much airplane for themselves, flew them into the ground, and killed themselves and a bunch of other people....and then of course their family sues the training facility, the plane maker, etc....as if it were their fault. Why else are insurance rates so high and requirements so high nowadays?

What I'm really dreading is when these new little 'mini' jets finally come out. How many rich a$$hole Baron owners do you think will sell their Baron, buy an Eclipse, and fly it into the ground? I'm dreading how much worse insurance is going to get in the coming years with these new little mini jets coming out.

 

[xrated]

What is the feeling among corp pilots about the situation where the company CEO is also a pilot and does some of the flying...good, bad, depends on the guy ?

Thats an easy question to answer....it depends on the guy.

 

[semperfido]

with the right situation i wouldn't mind a bit-- me /him, 100-150 hrs a yr with no weekends or holidays and me getting 200k a yr

 

[2000flyer]

with the right situation i wouldn't mind a bit-- me /him, 100-150 hrs a yr with no weekends or holidays and me getting 200k a yr

You forgot the million-five pension at 50

 

[h25b]

What is the feeling among corp pilots about the situation where the company CEO is also a pilot and does some of the flying...good, bad, depends on the guy ?

Thats an easy question to answer....it depends on the guy.

I agree, our boss is a pretty well seasoned King-Air pilot that was wise enough to realize he wasn't ready for jets. In our case it makes explaining why we can't go somewhere or why it's taking forever to get to someplace alot easier. He's also already been broken in to the idea that airplanes cost a bunch of money to operate. In our case it's actually to our benefit, but I could see where it would be a pain in some cases...

 

[Low and Fast]

The CEO of the feature Flight Department in this months PRO PILOT flies a number of the legs that he is on. Talks about it in the article.

 

[GVFlyer]

I've flown with four Gulfstream owner/operators. All are competent GV captains, three have over 10,000 jet hours, two have Northrop F-5's for their "other aircraft." The question you have to ask yourself is, "Would I like to make an occasional take-off or landing?"

GV








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