Chief Pilot for a one airplane 2 pilot operation

[h25b]

This is only two examples of the many times I was lied to about the demanding role of being Chief Pilot of a one airplane two pilot operation.

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I don't think anyone's on here trying to say it's some type of overwhelming workload. But if you think it's no more time consuming than just showing up, flying, and going home like most pilots like to do I've got big news for you. The other downfall is that if you're not in the office and you happen to be home during a normal day not flying it doesn't stop people (ie, the boss) from calling you with whatever happens to be on their mind. Lots of times I'll be at home with the wife and kids enjoying the day (with no thoughts of work on my mind) and the phone rings with the boss on the other end wanting to know about something. So then you have to drop everything, collect your thoughts back to "work mode" and try to put together a coherent response on the spot. The "other guy" gets to go home to the family when done flying and completely forget about anything work related. I don't think you appreciate how nice that is. For me, it never ends....

I'm not whining because I'm fairly compensated for the work I do but I think you're being a bit irrational by lumping all of the people like myself in to a category of egotistical, melodramatic, losers.

As for titles, you have to realize that someone has to be in charge and responsible for what goes on. You can call them whatever you personally feel comfortable with but it just so happens that there are industry recognized terms such as: Director of Aviation, Chief Pilot, Director of Maintenance, and Senior Captain to name a few. Also, the terms I just mentioned are commonly used in all of the industry recognized compensation studies. I know it probably doesn't make sense to you, but if your boss recognizes you as the "Chief Pilot" it makes it that much easier to point to those industry benchmarks and get the compensation package everyone deserves...

You should be thankful for a term such as Senior Captain, at most places I know they have created that title as a way of rewarding (via title AND compensation) a pilot that has been with the company for a period of time and will not (or doesn't) hold another higher paying position such as Chief Pilot, Director of Training, etc... In other words, it's just a way of justifying a better payscale for the guys that just want to come to work and fly.

 

[tracearabians]

Tell me where those jobs are that you just show up, fly and then go home ! Sounds like the CP at the job I just left.

I don't think anyone's on here trying to say it's some type of overwhelming workload. But if you think it's no more time consuming than just showing up, flying, and going home like most pilots like to do I've got big news for you. The other downfall is that if you're not in the office and you happen to be home during a normal day not flying it doesn't stop people (ie, the boss) from calling you with whatever happens to be on their mind. Lots of times I'll be at home with the wife and kids enjoying the day (with no thoughts of work on my mind) and the phone rings with the boss on the other end wanting to know about something. So then you have to drop everything, collect your thoughts back to "work mode" and try to put together a coherent response on the spot. The "other guy" gets to go home to the family when done flying and completely forget about anything work related. I don't think you appreciate how nice that is. For me, it never ends....

I'm not whining because I'm fairly compensated for the work I do but I think you're being a bit irrational by lumping all of the people like myself in to a category of egotistical, melodramatic, losers.

As for titles, you have to realize that someone has to be in charge and responsible for what goes on. You can call them whatever you personally feel comfortable with but it just so happens that there are industry recognized terms such as: Director of Aviation, Chief Pilot, Director of Maintenance, and Senior Captain to name a few. Also, the terms I just mentioned are commonly used in all of the industry recognized compensation studies. I know it probably doesn't make sense to you, but if your boss recognizes you as the "Chief Pilot" it makes it that much easier to point to those industry benchmarks and get the compensation package everyone deserves...

You should be thankful for a term such as Senior Captain, at most places I know they have created that title as a way of rewarding (via title AND compensation) a pilot that has been with the company for a period of time and will not (or doesn't) hold another higher paying position such as Chief Pilot, Director of Training, etc... In other words, it's just a way of justifying a better payscale for the guys that just want to come to work and fly.

 

[h25b]

Tell me where those jobs are that you just show up, fly and then go home ! Sounds like the CP at the job I just left.

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For starters, the other guy on our Lear and the last two corporations (Fortune 500) I flew for. I personally do all of the Jepps/Charts, FMS Updates, trip sheets, and flight logs so the other guy gets to just go home when we're done...

I can already tell the three paragraphs I typed was a far too rational explaination. Was there anything in my post that is factually or practically incorrect ? Or are you just hell bent on being pi$$ed off because you had a couple so-called "Chief Pilots" that were self-absorbed, idiots, that probably had all of that spare time because they were not doing their job poorly. ?

I'm just unable to figure out what point you are trying to make. I mean, I had a real weirdo for a Chief Pilot at a Fortune 500 4 aircraft operation.. Does that mean we should all conclude that all Fortune 500 large flight department CP's are weirdos ???

 

[G100driver]

I'm just unable to figure out what point you are trying to make. I mean, I had a real weirdo for a Chief Pilot at a Fortune 500 4 aircraft operation.. Does that mean we should all conclude that all Fortune 500 large flight department CP's are weirdos ???

Sounds logical to me

 

[tracearabians]

Original post was for a ONE aircraft TWO pilot operation! Both pilots equally qualified! Not four , six, twelve , but one. And the CHIEF was only one that would show up, fly, go home!

For starters, the other guy on our Lear and the last two corporations (Fortune 500) I flew for. I personally do all of the Jepps/Charts, FMS Updates, trip sheets, and flight logs so the other guy gets to just go home when we're done...

I can already tell the three paragraphs I typed was a far too rational explaination. Was there anything in my post that is factually or practically incorrect ? Or are you just hell bent on being pi$$ed off because you had a couple so-called "Chief Pilots" that were self-absorbed, idiots, that probably had all of that spare time because they were not doing their job poorly. ?

I'm just unable to figure out what point you are trying to make. I mean, I had a real weirdo for a Chief Pilot at a Fortune 500 4 aircraft operation.. Does that mean we should all conclude that all Fortune 500 large flight department CP's are weirdos ???

 

[PHX767]

Tell me where those jobs are that you just show up, fly and then go home !

I've got one of those jobs!

Before flying this trip I was at home for 17 days in a row. My wife was wondering if I am still employed. The direct deposit keeps showing up, so I could care less what they call me.

Trace, I decree you will be known as "Master of your Domain."

I ordered business cards because all the cool kids have them - I put down "Pirate" under title, but it came back "Pilot." I tried.

 

[stratman560]

I fly in a two-pilot on airplane type of setting where my superior is obviously, the chief pilot and I am the gear-puller, flap-operator, whatever you want to call me. We are both typed in the aircraft and I have no problem being the lesser of the two pilots. Job titles never meant much to me in our operation simply because there are only two of us on the Citation and I think we both view each other as equals. I take care of the Jepps, expense reports, contract fuel, Cescom, help with maintenance, online scheduling, stocking the aircraft, aircraft detailing (boot work, brite work, etc.). Sure, he gets paid the higher salary and some might say I am doing more than my share for the title (or lack thereof) that I hold but I was never asked to do it and I guess I view it more preparing for my future role as a possible chief pilot someday. Knowledge is power and gaining experience with the aircraft, whether it be smearing that ammonia smelling BF Goodrich crap all over those boots or updating the Cescom and preparing for a major phase inspection, or as I like to call it (VACATION) its all part of the corporate gig. Who knows, maybe someday Ill get to be the ego-maniacal, self-absorbed chief pilot...... Hmmm.... I wonder if they could get that all on a business card.

 

[cheyflyer]

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.

I think the term is "whipping Boy".....at least thats how I sometimes feel in our 1 plane, 1 pilot operation.

 

[CorpLearDriver]

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.

LOL! Personally I prefer the title of "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer."

 

[CorpLearDriver]

Original post was for a ONE aircraft TWO pilot operation! Both pilots equally qualified! Not four , six, twelve , but one. And the CHIEF was only one that would show up, fly, go home!

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Then I would say he wasn't doing the job he was being paid to do......Who took the heat though, when the airplane couldn't fly because something got missed in maintenance, or took care of aquiring your LOA's, permits, other special authorizations, dealing with the FAA, TSA, Customs, EuroControl, etc?

 

[tracearabians]

#1 The maintenance shop screwed up
#2 The FAA is slow and arrogant and move at their own pace
#3 This was total surprise to me
#4 The secretary didn't tell me

Then I would say he wasn't doing the job he was being paid to do......Who took the heat though, when the airplane couldn't fly because something got missed in maintenance, or took care of aquiring your LOA's, permits, other special authorizations, dealing with the FAA, TSA, Customs, EuroControl, etc?

 

[tracearabians]

Actually, I've always been used to" Hey You" !

LOL! Personally I prefer the title of "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer."

 

[Freight Dog]

How about Captain and the Switch Bitch?

 

[tracearabians]

Like IT !

How about Captain and the Switch Bitch?

 

[h25b]

Sounds logical to me

Boy I walked right in to that one....

This thread just proves that pilots are capable of whining about anything. (myself included)

Management at some outfit comes up with the title "Senior Captain" as a way to get guys that have been around awhile a little more cash to reward them for their longevity and within a few years the term is now thought of as demeaning or insulting... No one really cares about the title, but if someone can come up with a new one to justify handing out a little more cash I'm all for it.