Real Pilots

VOR-DME writes:

In international news I notice that the French Foreign Affairs Minister is
on the brink of forced resignation after the press revealed she has not
once, but twice committed the crime of being a passenger on a private jet.

It wasn't being on a jet that caused the scandal, it was who owned the jet
that raised eyebrows.

Funniest thing is it IS cheaper to keep a jet busy for some of those people,
Disagree or not with the salary. A lot of those excecutive types in large
corporations make more than it costs to buy a King air sized aircraft in a
year (I dont want to think about the people whose annual salary is the
purchase price of a lear, falcon, or gulfstream)

When you calculate how much those people are worth an hour (and 24/7
avaialbility is expected) the time to go to an airport check in fly the next
scheduled flight on their $300 ticket its more expensive to have them
standing in the line and sitting in the terminal than to have the jet ready.

Calling the pilot tell him to warm up the jet and be in the air within an
hour and a half from making the call and flying direct to destination can be
better economically in that case.

But at times appearance is reality hence why the execs forn the automaker
limped back to washington in cars from their own company for visit 2

Brent



"VOR-DME" wrote in message
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In article
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says...


You make several good points. I agree 100%, although the whole pie --
not just some parts of it -- is shrinking.

That's sad. I see so many multi-million dollar boats down here in
Texas, I know it's not a shortage of rich people. It's...something
else. I wish I could identify it, and fix it.
--
Jay Honeck
Port Aransas, TX
Pathfinder N56993
www.HarborInnPortA.com



In international news I notice that the French Foreign Affairs Minister is
on the brink of forced resignation after the press revealed she has not
once, but twice committed the crime of being a passenger on a private jet.
Look at the scandal surrounding the big 3 auto execs who descended on
Washington in their Gulfstreams. That may indeed have been a poor judgment
call, but 20 years ago it would not have had the scandalous aura. It would
even have enhanced the image of the CEO's and the companies they
represent.
In our ever more socialist society, the airplane is rapidly becoming a
symbol of shame.
For a young person coming up today, aviation has a reputation about on a
level with dioxin and PCB's.

In article ,
says...


It wasn't being on a jet that caused the scandal, it was who owned the jet
that raised eyebrows.

You are partially correct, but at the time the French and Tunisian governments
were friends. No scandal would have been (nor has been) made over other
hospitality gestures between the countries. The jet is definitely the "toxic"
element, the proof being that the scandal has now spread to other French
officials who also got courtesy rides on the wrong jets. It appears the French
government is suggesting clipping the wings of public officials, and requiring
them to spend their vacations within bicycle distance from home! The point is
"Planes are Poison" or "No Plane, No Pain"!

In article ,
says...


Funniest thing is it IS cheaper to keep a jet busy for some of those people,
Disagree or not with the salary. A lot of those excecutive types in large
corporations make more than it costs to buy a King air sized aircraft in a
year (I dont want to think about the people whose annual salary is the
purchase price of a lear, falcon, or gulfstream)

When you calculate how much those people are worth an hour (and 24/7
avaialbility is expected) the time to go to an airport check in fly the next
scheduled flight on their $300 ticket its more expensive to have them
standing in the line and sitting in the terminal than to have the jet ready.

Calling the pilot tell him to warm up the jet and be in the air within an
hour and a half from making the call and flying direct to destination can be
better economically in that case.

But at times appearance is reality hence why the execs forn the automaker
limped back to washington in cars from their own company for visit 2

Brent




I fully agree! Flexibility, efficiency, privacy and yes, economy are much
stronger arguments than luxury and privilege in corporations’ and governments’
decisions to use business aviation. When people complain about the cost of a
government official using a private plane, it is a sure sign they have not
weighed the cost of security measures for the same official and their
immediate entourage to use commercial flights. The nuisance factor is
incalculable. Require government officials to use commercial on official trips
and the entire world will be clamoring for them to return to their private
jets and let the rest of the population flay without yet another security
snag.

Scaling is an important factor though. Beechcraft ran a clever ad in the
aftermath of the Detroit CEO debacle, stating that had those CEO’s arrived in
Washington in KingAir 350’s instead of Gulfstreams they would have been viewed
as rational and frugal managers, instead of disconnected, wanton demagogues.
I’m not certain that is strictly so, in the context cited, but the idea is
correct. KingAirs HAVE served as AirForce One in the past, and any number of
turboprops and smaller jets could go a long way toward a more rational use of
aviation means, with bulletproof economy-of-means analyses.

Brent writes:

When you calculate how much those people are worth an hour (and 24/7
avaialbility is expected) the time to go to an airport check in fly the next
scheduled flight on their $300 ticket its more expensive to have them
standing in the line and sitting in the terminal than to have the jet ready.

They are "worth" whatever the market will bear. The company doesn't actually
lose money if they are idle or occupied for a few hours. There are other,
lower-level employees who would be missed a lot sooner.