What Is This????

[Gulfstream 200]

Dang Diesel.....you sound upset. Did you just get done wiping down the struts. Are you serious G200? you've never heard of FOs cleaning landing gear struts?

never once....and I have flown the rattiest charter/medevac kingairs, lears...etc...

WHY the hell would you wipe down struts? this is another stupid old wives club ritual of abused charter pilots or something? O-rings my ass. they will be fine until mx can clean them.

Is somebody out there stupid enough to think this saves strut seals? ya see, we have these guys called "Mechanics" who take care of the struts. They do complate pre and post flight inspections, no?

me thinks its abusive charter BS passed on to yet another generation.

I chose to just say NO to that $hit. You wipe em chief...I'll be holding down the recliner snoozing and dreaming of my next better job as this one awoke me at 0130 to jet a organ someplace....ya see... these "strut wipers" gave me a lot of motivation to move up and out. thanks guys!

"born into it"...diesel if you only knew!

 

[Blackjet]

Well son after realizing that you have 700 hours let me ask you this. How much are they paying you? 24K...maybe. Do you realize that a king air 200 or C90 doesnt require a copilot? at 700 hours that's all you really are my boy....a radio operator, checklist reader airplane housemaid. I know a couple of young kids that right seat in king airs and pilatus and well at 500 hours that's all that they are actually qualified to do....so dont feel too proud now.

I'm trying to figure out why it was necessary to post something so classless.

The kid has 700 hours. He is flying a KA. That's not too bad. Who of us had a full time P91 job flying turbine equipment at 700 hours? There is a noticable difference in his attitude and your airline attitude. Are you sure you are in the right place?

No, the aircraft does not require 2 pilots, but what to say the company policies do not?

Finally, it gets worse than this. There is an operator in FL that has the pilots come in on the days they don't fly and prepare the fruit catering trays. They say it saves them $. Who has the better deal?

 

[Diesel]

You are actually supposed to wipe down the struts with a rag dipped in hydraulic oil. It keeps the struts clean so you keep the dirt out of the orings. Supposed to lengthen the life of the strut. Mechanics know about it.

I'm not mad just amazed at G200's "born into it" attitude.

PS we had a policy you broke it you fixed it. Kept mx down to minimum. I can't tell you how many nights I spent fixing planes.

 

[Flybet3]

never once....and I have flown the rattiest charter/medevac kingairs, lears...etc...

WHY the hell would you wipe down struts? this is another stupid old wives club ritual of abused charter pilots or something?

Is somebody out there stupid enough to think this saves strut seals? ya see, we have these guys called "Mechanics" who take care of the struts.

me thinks its abusive charter BS passed on to another generation.

I chose to just say NO to that $hit. You wipe em chief...I'll be holding down the recliner snoozing and dreaming of my next better job as this one awoke me at 0130 to jet a organ someplace....

"born into it"...diesel if you only knew!

Well you know, not only crappy operators do it...as a matter of fact I have friends that fly for 135 operators (24/7 on the road all the time type) and they never do it....I actually did contracting for a pretty crummy 135 op out of FL and never did I do that. It wasnt actually until my present job that I learned about the "issue".

 

[Gulfstream 200]

You are actually supposed to wipe down the struts with a rag dipped in hydraulic oil. It keeps the struts clean so you keep the dirt out of the orings. Supposed to lengthen the life of the strut. Mechanics know about it.

I'm not mad just amazed at G200's "born into it" attitude.

so you roll up the sleeves, dip a rag in hydraulic oil and wipe down the struts huh? must look, smell good in your uniform/suit?

yes mechanics do know about this, I bet ours do it every flight as Im finishing my paperwork or resting after safely FLYING the plane home.

If thats "born into it" - call me GUILTY!

 

[PilotChapin]

I'm trying to figure out why it was necessary to post something so classless.

The kid has 700 hours. He is flying a KA. That's not too bad. Who of us had a full time P91 job flying turbine equipment at 700 hours? There is a noticable difference in his attitude and your airline attitude. Are you sure you are in the right place?

No, the aircraft does not require 2 pilots, but what to say the company policies do not?

Finally, it gets worse than this. There is an operator in FL that has the pilots come in on the days they don't fly and prepare the fruit catering trays. They say it saves them $. Who has the better deal?

Well I am aware of 135 requirements on some companies. But part 91....hmmm not sure about that one. Hey if the kid wants to get paid by wiping down airplanes then so be it....

 

[FracCapt]

I flew in recently into a Midwestern airport, and I began a conversation with a Corporate Lear 31 pilot. The guy flies for a large corporate flight dept that operates alot of lears...some of you might already know who I am talking about. Anyway, after talking about life, jobs and what not. The fellow pilot metioned something that really came to my attention. He said that at this flight department they make some of their pilots wipe down their landing gear struts after flights. I laughed at first but then realized that the guy was serious. Has anyone heard of this BS....is their a good reason behind this besides being an ass. Anyone??

Wow, you're a real prima donna aren't you? Too good to spend a minute doing something like this when you're at a facility that you don't have company MX? If you've ever worked on an airplane, you may have some idea as to why this could make a difference, and what it accomplishes(keeping the strut shiny notwithstanding). I don't see this as a vanity issue, but an equipment longevity issue.

Before you lash out at me....no, I don't work for the company you are speaking of, and my company doesn't require any such thing....but I DO see the value in it. I am also not a low time pilot(though, not high time either - only 7500 hours), so find another reason to call me an idiot.

If you have gone 11k hours in aviation and still don't understand what potential benefit could come of this, I'm glad I don't work with you. BTW, if there's something to wipe off the struts....it could be indicating a problem that YOU may want to know about.

 

[Diesel]

Actually to be honest I've never done it unless I was doing a 100hr on a plane then I'd wipe them down just to make sure that they weren't gouging. Never done it on the ramp. I have in my uniform, changed out jugs and troubleshot an electrical problem along with a variety of problems.

My old job you had to be a jack of all trades. Just like a pilot in alaska. I enjoyed the work, the experience and the fun. If you've never waterskiied behind a seaplane... it takes two tow ropes not one.

But i guess if you were born into your plane you can just lay on the couch without pitching in to help. Different work ethic i guess.

 

[PilotChapin]

Well you know, not only crappy operators do it...as a matter of fact I have friends that fly for 135 operators (24/7 on the road all the time type) and they never do it....I actually did contracting for a pretty crummy 135 op out of FL and never did I do that. It wasnt actually until my present job that I learned about the "issue".

That's BS flybet....wanna come and work with me. You'll do actual pilot duties, not MX bullsh!t. I think some of you guys just need to say " No" from the start. I mean flying the airplane, dealing with PAX, paperwork and management and then give the airplane a bath wipe sh!t down....that's just crap. Like G said, that's why you have mechanics or you pay people to maintain the airplanes appearance.

 

[Diesel]

Okay so you have a small company 3 pilots 9 planes and 2 mechanics. The end of the day is here and the navajo came in with a funky magneto. You ask Skip to look at it so he starts working on it. You've flown all day, but Skip has also been working in the hanger all day to change out the turbo on the 210.

You both are hot and tired but coming in that night you just added another 3 hours to Skip's workload. So you pitch in, help uncowl the engine and start taking the farings off. Skip's glancing at his watch and you know it's Dinner time. You run down to Stubbys and get a couple of pizzas the boys will be home soon and the job will go quicker.

Here comes mike with the 180 on floats, low and fast over the hanger. he knows we are still up there and after a little while mike shows up at the hanger to get the plane ready for the morning.

3 of us are now working on the plane and the job is almost done. Mag changed out, engine ran, mike is fueling the plane for the AM. King air is just landing from a trip, (going out at 4am). Just got to fuel it and then it's time for a quick trip of waterskiing before bed.

That was my life for 7 years. No scumbag 135 operator. Just any operator who is in the middle of nowhere where everybody has to pitch in.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Actually to be honest I've never done it unless I was doing a 100hr on a plane then I'd wipe them down just to make sure that they weren't gouging. Never done it on the ramp. I have in my uniform, changed out jugs and troubleshot an electrical problem along with a variety of problems.

My old job you had to be a jack of all trades. Just like a pilot in alaska. I enjoyed the work, the experience and the fun. If you've never waterskiied behind a seaplane... it takes two tow ropes not one.

But i guess if you were born into your plane you can just lay on the couch without pitching in to help. Different work ethic i guess.

no not at all ethics related...just very different jobs I would say.

Im too tired after 13+hr legs/16+hr duty days to be trusted wrenching on the jet...or to "pitch in" with mx issues. Just call me at the hotel if it cant be ready for our show the next day. Im expected to get rest and be 100%, not "pitch in" to save a few pennies or be a team player.

I can see your point about Alaska, bush etc....didnt think that was the arena here.

 

[suen1843]

Actually to be honest I've never done it unless I was doing a 100hr on a plane then I'd wipe them down just to make sure that they weren't gouging. Never done it on the ramp. I have in my uniform, changed out jugs and troubleshot an electrical problem along with a variety of problems.

My old job you had to be a jack of all trades. Just like a pilot in alaska. I enjoyed the work, the experience and the fun. If you've never waterskiied behind a seaplane... it takes two tow ropes not one.

But i guess if you were born into your plane you can just lay on the couch without pitching in to help. Different work ethic i guess.

ALL RIGHT, DIESEL. I take back all the bad things I have said about you. I thought the gang I worked with many, many years ago were the only people dumb enough to pull off the waterski stunt. Just remember, don't use 38 foot slalom ropes behind a Beaver. Got that T-shirt. (PS...statute of limitations make it safe to repeat).

 

[Diesel]

Suen you ever fly externally loaded Propane bottles? God i allways thought if I crashed it would look like heroshima. Two fat boys strapped to the floats. eeeech

 

[Diesel]

Point taken G200.

There is a difference between saving money and having no other choice due to location.

 

[PilotChapin]

Point taken G200.

There is a difference between saving money and having no other choice due to location.

see we can all get along