More pilot negativity!

[CaptainSpaz]

I liked Igor's post under "Pilot negativity" so much that I think it deserves a new thread. If you didnt see his, heres the link: http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=88701&page=3

Now here my offering, variations on this happen more than I can believe sometimes:

2245 P.M. The cellphone rings.

Sales: Hello Joe Pilot, I have a trip for you - however you better start getting your pajamas on while I tell you. Ok, Ready?

Pilot: Uhhhh... OK?

Sales: Ok, you have a 0400 takeoff out of home base with passengers going to TEB, then 1300 out of TEB going to PHL, then departing there at 1700 and returning them to base with the passengers.

Pilot: Ummmm....

Sales: Look Joe, I have another call holding - whats the problem?

Pilot: Well, to begin with I don't think this trip you are talking about can be completed within the duty day. Also, isn't it a little late to be calling for a trip that someone is going to have to get up at 0200 for. And regardless of all that, I am fairly certain I can't do the trip at all.

Sales: Why is that?

Pilot: Because I am already on another trip... In fact, I am in the airplane with the engines running right now!

Sales: (silence)

Pilot: Oh, and don't try to call John Doe for that trip.

Sales: Why, he was next on my list!

Pilot: Because he is sitting right next to me.

Sales: Ok, I will call you back...

Pilot: Uhhhh... Ok?

<click>

 

[Igor]

I'm glad you liked it thanks. It came from a week of frustration. this site is better than a shrink.

 

[CaptainSpaz]

Better than a shrink, true enough.

Anyone else want to add their own fictional conversation?

 

[macpilot]

True Story, I'm in an FBO waiting for pax to go back home, its 2200 with a 1 hour flight ahead of us and no telling when they will show up. I get a phone call...

Dispatch: Hello, we have a trip for you tomorow, 0600 departure.

Me: Im still on a trip and will not get home untill after midnight. I will not get 10 hrs.

Dispatch: Thats ok, its a 91 trip.

Me: I will get 4 hrs. of sleep at the most, and thats if the passengers show up now.

Dispatch: I dont understand, its a 91 trip tomorow, so were legal.

Me: Just because its 91 does not mean its safe, would you put your kids in the back of an airplane with pilots who are not fit to fly.

Dispatch: But its 91

 

[pkunzip66]

You know I would give an example I got just lastnight but it is basically along the samelines as the others. I work for a 135 operator and they honestly don't give a damn how long I fly, if I got enough rest, etc etc. It sure would be nice that if I am on these long flights, when I get to my destination that the office girls at home base would set up a hotel, shuttle, etc so I don't have to worry about it and try to become a bargain shopper so I don't get bitched out by the boss because all I found was a $90 hotel instead of the $45 hell hole he expects me to get.

The boss's expect the pilots to be trying to get all these cost savings. ie, cheapest fuel around, self-serve pump if you can, cheapest hotel, minimal expense on food, etc. But yet when you do all these things, you don't get anymore money because you saved them $$. I totally understand trying to save every penny but when I have been flying 8+ hours and layingover all over the place, I am not in the mood to spend another hour or two trying to call around all around the city for the best bargain. I wanna get to my hotel and get to sleep so I am not dragging my ass the next morning.

The one thing that I have learned about many 135 operators is that they are alway willing to take and take but hardly ever give back anything in return.

 

[landlover]

You know I would give an example I got just lastnight but it is basically along the samelines as the others. I work for a 135 operator and they honestly don't give a dang how long I fly, if I got enough rest, etc etc. It sure would be nice that if I am on these long flights, when I get to my destination that the office girls at home base would set up a hotel, shuttle, etc so I don't have to worry about it and try to become a bargain shopper so I don't get bitched out by the boss because all I found was a $90 hotel instead of the $45 hell hole he expects me to get.

The boss's expect the pilots to be trying to get all these cost savings. ie, cheapest fuel around, self-serve pump if you can, cheapest hotel, minimal expense on food, etc. But yet when you do all these things, you don't get anymore money because you saved them $$. I totally understand trying to save every penny but when I have been flying 8+ hours and layingover all over the place, I am not in the mood to spend another hour or two trying to call around all around the city for the best bargain. I wanna get to my hotel and get to sleep so I am not dragging my ass the next morning.

The one thing that I have learned about many 135 operators is that they are alway willing to take and take but hardly ever give back anything in return.

i find myself in a similar situation often. you should have the fbo people making the calls for you. it reduces some of the stress. also when you are 135, the pilot is the boss. you say when you go into rest(ie once checked into the hotel). Also you should just stay at the most convientent hotel, if the cheapskate boss doesnt like it tell him to hire someone to make the arrangements. self serve pump??? ohh goodness i hope he loves you stinking of gas on the 4 hour ride home.