fdx727pilot

Hmmm, 10% income tax, and the contents of my gun safe and ammo cabinet would make me public enemy #`1. I don't think so.

md11phlyer

Otherwise known as a flat 4.63% but who's counting.

nocturnalmishin

You didn't see what he did there.

threeighteen

Just because the company isn't willing to buy us a bigger parking lot / ramp facilities, it doesn't mean that the ramp manager hates pilots.

IslanderDriver

He just hates pilot's cars being in the way for weeks I'd imagine!

threeighteen

Exactly. It wouldn't leave enough space for those who actually work at that location if pilots had any more than that one row in the main lot, and then nobody would be there on time to drive the air-stairs up to your plane.

MD11Fr8Dog

I'll jump in. I commuted out of DEN for 7 yrs, and I had issues with parking and used to think the same about this manager. He's just trying to manage what he was with the resources he's given. He doesn't hate pilots. He has gone above and beyond for me more than a couple times, sometimes just because.

Example - during IOE 7 yrs ago for Capt upgrade, my first leg in the left seat was MEM-DEN. I hadn't been home for about a month. I had missed my anniversary 2 days prior so my wife and then 2 1/2 yr old daughter came down from Steamboat to watch me taxi in (and see the landing if possible) and spend the night at the hotel with me.

When she arrived at the ramp, she went inside and asked the cust. svc rep if it was okay if she parked in a customer spot for a few mins and where might be the best place to watch the jet taxi in thru the fence. The cust. svc rep was kinda b!tchy and rude so my wife asked for a manager or supervisor. The ramp manager happened to be around the corner, stepped in and help my wife out. I didn't know any of this of course, until I was turning into the gate and saw my wife, skirt blowing in the breeze, holding my daughter, just to the side of the marshaller. He didn't have to do that, he could have just pointed to a section of fence to press against. I ended up with some of our most memorable pictures - of my daughter sitting in my lap in the left seat on the jet.

Most people that say or think he hates pilots probably have never met or talked with him.

Back to the discussion. It can be tough due to fewer seats on the MD10s than the Airbuses and the parking situation, but it was worth it to live in CO for those 7 yrs. In fairness, I probably averaged less than 1 commute a month due to bidding mostly single departure lines, double deadheads (deviate out of Hayden, CO) and VAC. We left CO after the upgrade because I was not going to be able to deal with 3-4 commutes each month as a junior Capt and a 3-4hr drive after/before a 2hr jumpseat. - I sure miss 75+ ski days/yr.

IslanderDriver

Awesome story about your daughter and wife seeing your first leg!

Did you move to SLC? Some pretty good skiing there 45 minutes from airport. And I don't mean Park Sh*tty!
But you being avid skier probably know this.

Always annoying when one's job interferes with skiing!

MD11Fr8Dog

Nope moved to NC. EASY commute out of RDU, and parking can't be beat, both for FDX jumpseating and offline jumpseating/deadheading! Carolina skiing sucks though, but the beaches are only 2 hr away!

I actually skied PC for the first time this year! I trashed relatively new skis on a rock just below the top of Jupiter Access lift! Not bad overall, but too much lift riding to get to and fro. Have free use of a condo in Deer Valley next year (I know, I know), but we'll take my 9 yr old daughter to Alta/Snowbird (she's been on black diamonds since she was 6) for a couple days and make a day trip up to Powder Mountain to check that out.

IslanderDriver

Alas...
I lived in Big Cottonwood Canyon for
2 seasons. Good times!
Utah skiing is hard to beat, especially during a good storm cycle.
Sucks about the core shots to new skies.
Powder Mountain is great. Awesome place. Huge!