Page 18 - April 2017 Twin & Turbine

Sometimes the most challenging part of being corporate pilot is guring out what to do while waiting to y the return leg of a business trip.
When she puts down large glasses of cold beer, and warm, fresh bread, TL asks about ordering something not listed on the menu, to which she cheerfully replies, “Something special for you...of course the chef will be glad to.” We are halfway through our beer when a huge tray of sauerkraut, potatoes and German sausages of every known variety arrives. Later over freshly brewed coffee and apple cake, the chef himself comes out to inquire about the meal. We praise his skills extensively, and then ask about his accent. Turns out he was also born in Germany, immigrated to the United States and (befitting a true pilot’s restaurant) then served as a crew chief on helicopters with the U.S. Army in Iraq. We thank him for his service to the country, pay the modest two-digit bill, then stagger out greeting the bag ladies and potential muggers out front as if they were our old friends. On arrival back at the hotel we decide to skip the free breakfast, and just sleep in.
The next morning after a breakfast that lasts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., we decide to visit one of Nevada’s renown gun stores, this one with a target range known to be the training ground for gun-toting Nevada women. We first look over a huge inventory of guns of every make, model and purpose, then turn our attention to the soundproofed glass of the target range, where a group of Reno’s finest young ladies are practicing their shooting skills, many with rather large, 9 mm Glocks. Most are deadly placing kill shots on paper targets. We could not help but notice all their targets are males who look a lot like us. After a couple of hours of this intimidating activity we elect to return to the hotel to take a nap and then consider dinner choices.
Later, after a careful discussion that takes longer than planning a flight to Europe, we decide it is steak night. We are told by a local that there is an excellent steakhouse about 15 miles away in a remote northeast corner of town that has five stars and rave reviews. We head over there and arrive to find a crowd of most unattractive, poorly clothed, severely overweight people of both sexes, smoking and lounging around outside the entrance. Not a good first impression. We enter and work our way to the restaurant area in near zero-zero visibility from all the cigarette smoke, through a forest of slot machines occupied mostly by wrinkled women who look like they are not slept in months. We signal to the hostess that there are just two of us for dinner. Ignoring that at least half the tables are empty, she says that there will be at least a two-hour wait, then with a firm but meaningful smile, invites
us to use the nearby slot machines until our table is ready. We might be pilots, but that doesn’t mean we are entirely stupid. The restaurant is obviously devoted to losing gamblers, not hungry, steak-eating aviators, and so decide to go somewhere else where our type is more commonly seen and welcome. For our last fabulous, professional pilot, expense account dinner in Reno, we settle for the “In and Out” Burger joint located near the hotel.
At around 10 a.m., the next morning we have the Lear fueled, plus coffee and ice boarded. The weather system from two days prior has blown through, and that for the return trip is essentially clear. Our passengers arrive 30 minutes early, and we are airborne 15 minutes later. We make the Mustang 8 departure, and are shortly thereafter cleared direct to the Olympia VOR about 600 nm to the northwest, which is the entry point to the OLM Two arrival for Boeing Field. We have fun skimming along at 250 knots over the top of a 5,000-foot broken layer, then drop down to 3,000 feet and request the Harbor Visual arrival into Boeing Field (KBFI). We grin following our smooth landing 13R, and exit right in front of the Clay Lacy FBO at A9 with only the slightest braking required. Our passengers smile and nod as they get out, and we head home for dinner.
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out what to do while waiting that we want to get paid for. T&T •
Truth is, most professional pilots will fly for free, it is figuring
Kevin Ware is an ATP who also holds CFI, MEII and helicopter ratings, has more than 10,000 hours and is typed in several different business jets.
He has been flying for
a living on and off since he was 20, and currently works as a contract pilot for various corporate operations in the Seattle area. When not working as a pilot he is employed part time as an emergency and urgent care physician. He can be reached
at kevin.ware2@aol.com
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