Chief Pilot for a one airplane 2 pilot operation

[tracearabians]

I have always had a problem with a one airplane , two pilot flight dept. where both pilots are equally qualified and one is a CHIEF PILOT. Why not just have co- captians? If there are more than one airplane and three or more pilots, great! Let one be Chief! Even if all are equally qualified! Let the one who has the biggest ego be CHIEF! LOL But the one airplane, two pilot ops, please give me a break! Just curious about everyones thoughts on this subject ! Not trying to step on anyones toes! Thanks

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I have always had a problem with a one airplane , two pilot flight dept. where both pilots are equally qualified and one is a CHIEF PILOT. Why not just have co- captians? If there are more than one airplane and three or more pilots, great! Let one be Chief! Even if all are equally qualified! Let the one who has the biggest ego be CHIEF! LOL But the one airplane, two pilot ops, please give me a break! Just curious about everyones thoughts on this subject ! Not trying to step on anyones toes! Thanks

glance through any issue of pro pilot letter section

notice the titles:

Chief Pilot (um..maybe 2 pilots total)

Aviation Manager (same scenario, of a Navajo)

Director of Aviation (director?)

SENIOR Captain (does that mean f'n OLD?)

Training Captain (aren't all captains?)

Director of Training (oh, he makes the calls to FlightSafety)

Co-Captain - thats a favorite...its like "playing" captain - you went to school and got a PIC type rating but cant be trusted worth a $hit, so we will call you "Co Captain" as to not offend you with "Dip$hit" or "F/O"

not many "Pilots" anymore.

Aviation breeds entitlement I suppose. Some are legit positions, like in larger outfits with defined positions, responsibilites, and PAY (ding!) to go along with the titles.

but sad to say, many are not...so a nice self appointed title and business card makes one feel good possibly?

:erm:

signed,

A Pilot.

 

[HMR]

We recently got rid of the "Chief Pilot" title.

We've been instructed to start using Supreme Aircraft Commander, instead. I've also asked that my title be changed from Gear Monkey to Conan the Sky Warrior.

 

[CapnVegetto]

I don't give two tenths of a flying rat's patoot what you call me, as long as you pay me correctly for my responsibilities. I suppose I could live with "Supreme f*ck nugget" if there was a pay raise involved.

 

[SheGaveMeClap]

We recently got rid of the "Chief Pilot" title.

We've been instructed to start using Supreme Aircraft Commander, instead. I've also asked that my title be changed from Gear Monkey to Conan the Sky Warrior.

Does that mean you are the Lead SAC and the Second SAC? That's nuts.

 

[GoingHot]

I have always had a problem with a one airplane , two pilot flight dept. where both pilots are equally qualified and one is a CHIEF PILOT. Why not just have co- captians?

There should ALWAYS be ONE person in charge, one decision maker. When you have two or more in charge, no one is in charge, and bad Chit happens when no one is in charge. You can call him Chief Pilot or Grand Exalted Airway God, but put someone in charge of the operation. Also, please pay him more than the other guy.

 

[Say Again Over]

In the airline world, co-captains works out fine, IMO the single or two aircraft copaorate flight department is much more complicated, someone needs to be responsible, with that responsibility should be more money, "no buck, no Buck Rogers"

 

[majortool]

I know in my two pilot, one airplane dept. the Chief Pilot had the title because he did more than just fly the airplane. And he was paid more money.

 

[f-5]

Chief Pilot posotion is a joke....most of the air heads forget that they are part of the aviation faternity, not the corporate world. They want to participate in all that makes the Corp. the Corp. , not the duties of aviation.

 

[Tonala2k]

What title should I ask for?

I'm negotiating a fulltime position for a one plane/ one pilot opp. I'll be the do all guy. Schedule Maintenance, empty the potty, etc.. Should I just ask for King of Aviation? What will the majors want to see? God maybe? Chief of Staff! Head of the Head.

 

[JumpCaptain]

I'm pretty sure that for the 135 ops. spec. it's required that the company have a chief pilot listed.

 

[h25b]

I don't care what size the operation, the poor ba$tard that is in charge is doing all the BS I hear most people that are on this board complaining that they don't want to have anything to do with. In a good operation, that guy (or gal to be PC) is at the airport every single day making sure all the other pilots don't have to do "office duty" ...

In my case I think of myself as "El Guapo" ... Yes, it's just a very small outfit but I can tell you the amount of crap to get done is just as large, at least if things are getting done correctly.

Here's my list of duties...

1. Scheduling all maintenance.
-This requires that you be telepathic because there's no way to be sure when the boss needs the airplane but you can be sure that he wants it when he wants it, period...
2. Paperwork.
-Between making sure that all of the post maintenance stuff is in order, doing the constant research on what's coming next and what it will cost, checking on charts, updating crew times, tracking MSP, tracking CAMP, ... Well, you get the picture.
3. Dealing with the people downtown...
-They don't understand so it's always a case of educating them without pi$$ing them off while trying to get another $1,000,000.00 out of them for next year so we all keep getting a paycheck.
4. Aircraft cleaning.
- I pay people to do this outside of just tidy work.
- We wipe struts. Don't get me started...
5. Redoing what other people are supposed to be doing but can't seem to do properly/completely. These people are usually the same ones that ask why they don't get more responsibility and the corresponding more money...

 

[Flyerjosh]

I am a pilot for a 1 aircraft/2 pilot operation. I have the title of "Pilot", and the other guy has the title of Chief Pilot. We both fly from the left seat (switch legs). He's paid more and has more time with the company.

I fly the plane, and do some basic housekeeping/cleaning. I also take care of FBO arrangements and catering orders.

He takes care of everything else. (Budget, aircraft docs/paperwork, trip scheduling, interaction with management, maintenance, training arrangements, bills/expense reports, etc).

I spend about 2-3 hours a week at the airport cleaning things up after/before trips and don't have any office work. He spends one to two days in the office doing all of the admin stuff (while I sit at home on the couch).

Doesn't bother me one bit. I am going to request a title change though... I think that "Director of Aerodynamic Systems Management" is more appropriate than just plain old "Pilot".

 

[Gulfstream 200]

- We wipe struts. Don't get me started...

yikes!......a STRUT WIPER!

 

[Gumby]

yikes!......a STRUT WIPER!

C'mon G boy.....I can see you wiping someones strut!!! You best clean up you're ride, and put a shine on yer grill, and swing down the shore...75 down the beach today.....Time to go trolling for some NY big hair!!!imp:

 

[AA717driver]

"ALL HAIL THE SUPREME F#@K NUGGET!"

I proudly wear the title of "Line Pilot".


Although... I AM in aviation and I do determine the DIRECTION of the airplane (occasionally) so maybe, just maybe, I could be considered a 'Director of Aviation'. Hummmm.... :nuts: TC

 

[Lead Sled]

yikes!......a STRUT WIPER!

Funny, I never heard it called that before.

'Sled

 

[coloneldan]

I wasn't going to post on here anymore, but here I am again.

Trace, to respond to your original post, The chief pilot is the guy who deals with all the crap. Downtown, scheduling, maint, bills, etc.... You don't have to call him chief pilot, but that is what he really is. Where I'm at, that's basiclly how it works. We're more or less equals, until he wants to do something stupid, but you know about the crap I put up with.

Now for the fun part. When my "chief pilot" had our business cards printed up, he called and asked what I wanted on the card. I said, my name phone number, cell number, and personal e-mail address. When I got the cards, they had my name, the COMPANY phone number, my cell number, and the COMPANY e-mail address. Under my name it says, Senior Captain. The idiot made me look like one of those dorky pilots, not that I need any help. I got even with him though. On my company ID, under job title, I made them put Redneck Pilot. I refer to him as the Chief Airman Deluxe. I don't think he knows it's put down. :nuts:

 

[g159av8tor]

I'm pretty sure that for the 135 ops. spec. it's required that the company have a chief pilot listed.

That's true. They have operational control.

Tailwinds...

 

[h25b]

My point is that you can call anyone whatever they want. Doesn't matter unless your some ego maniac.