Page 42 - Feb17TNT

40 • TWIN & TURBINE
February 2017
On Final
by David Miller
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Arecent Citation M2 flight with my friend Larry King reminded me about the business advantages of flying customers in a private airplane. For many, it’s the flight of a
lifetime. When you land at your customer’s home town and taxi up to the FBO to meet them, it’s a big deal. Sometimes they bring their friends and families to see them off. Cameras and cell phones appear. Memories must be preserved. Years ago, I remember landing our Sabreliner at a small Virginia airport, only to be met by at least 10 total strangers. They had heard a rumor about a “big” jet landing at their local airport and just had to come out to see if it could be done.
If you fly long enough, you will eventually have some passenger “moments.” My favorite Alabama customer, Glen Pike, was a 300-pound bear of a man who was always late paying his invoices. His first flight in a small airplane was in my B-model Baron.
He was scared to death.
I wedged Glen in the back of the Baron as we headed to the factory for a tour. Somewhere about half way home, I put the airplane in a 30-degree left bank, turned around to Glen and said, “Glen, let’s talk about your payment problems.” You have never heard a grown man scream so loudly.
His checks were never late again.
Other than Donald Trump, no one refuses a trip in a private jet. Larry’s customers in San Antonio were no exception. But we had to get there first.
Departing Mesquite (KHQZ) for San Antonio (KSAT) presented few problems, but the weather en route did. A huge low, almost the size of Texas, lay over our route for days, flooding central Texas and causing some to lose their lives. Minutes after
takeoff, we were enveloped in the weather, me operating the radios, radar, and NEXRAD, and Larry flying the airplane. Soon, we were deviating. At our cruising altitude of FL 260, the ride was acceptable with light to moderate turbulence, and no icing. “Fort Worth center, November-921-Xray-Tango needs another 10 left for weather,” I said.
No response. Not a word. There was just total static on the frequency. The most I had ever heard.
“Fort Worth, do you read November-921-Xray-Tango?” I repeated over the deafening static. I swore at the Garmin radios. Then from center, “American 1234, can you relay to American 5678? There is a thunderstorm right over my transmitter and nobody can hear me!” I apologized out loud to Garmin. With everyone now talking to each other, we descended into San Antonio, shot the ILS to 30L, and landed just after the thunderstorms had passed.
At the Million Air ramp, the customers said their goodbyes, took photos, and were all smiles. As they left, Larry said, “One of those guys shook my hand twice in 10 seconds. Last week, he didn’t even like me!”
I think it worked. Fly safe.
With 6,000-plus hours in his logbook, David Miller has been flying for business and pleasure for more than 40 years. Having owned and flown a variety of aircraft types, from turboprops to midsize jets, Patty and David currently fly a Citation M2. You can contact David at davidmiller1@sbcglobal.net.