Celebrities: Good and Bad
#141
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2016
Posts: 463
#142
New Hire
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Position: Retired Aerospace Engineer
Posts: 2
In the 80s co-owned a part 135 executive charter and pilot services operation. I once flew a well known TV news anchor. He got upset when I delayed the return flight due to weather and demanded to speak to the company owner. It was fun to see his face when I handed him a business card.
I used to provide backup pilot services to a celebrity that owned a Lear 36. He was the most considerate person to pilots I've ever seen. He would set us up in the same hotel and room class as he was in (usually a mini-suite), and he would take us out to dinner to nice restaurants. Best of all, whenever we were somewhere for a few days, he would tell us to rent a car on his nickel and go see the local sights. He just asked that we checked back with him daily in case his departure plans had changed.
I used to provide backup pilot services to a celebrity that owned a Lear 36. He was the most considerate person to pilots I've ever seen. He would set us up in the same hotel and room class as he was in (usually a mini-suite), and he would take us out to dinner to nice restaurants. Best of all, whenever we were somewhere for a few days, he would tell us to rent a car on his nickel and go see the local sights. He just asked that we checked back with him daily in case his departure plans had changed.
#143
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,926
Marcus Lemonis has a reality TV show of some sort; we used to fly him quite a bit. He's a businessman, often running late with meetings, but a very nice guy, always easy to deal with. It was clear that he had a lot going on, but he was always coordial, though busy.
We picked up Roberta Flack for a short-notice charter to a concert once. Both she, and her band were very nice, gracious. I always liked her music.
I went to Canada to pick up Goldie Hawn and her son, a friend of the son, and two very large dogs once. We didn't talk to the boys, who were coming back from a hockey camp, but Ms. Hawn was quite nice. She took the dogs on walks while we fueled at a stop before going to Aspen. At aspen, we flew the VOR from the hold and it got a bit bumpy, plus the descent into Aspen; Ms. Hawn wasn't happy with the arrival. Her husband Kurt Russel picked her up, and was very concerned with her distress, asked what happened; we explained the weather.
I spent four hours with masking tape de-hairing the airplane from the airplane from the dogs.
Our company flew Robert Redford with some frequency. I picked him up at Provo once for a trip to Van Nuys. I was instructed not to speak to him unless he spoke to us. He turned out to be very nice. When we returned him to Provo that night, he had his own SUV parked, drove himself. I told him that I'd grown up watching The Great Waldo Pepper, and it was one of my inspirations to fly. He said he'd done all his own stunts for the movie, and said he'd never been so scared in his life, and was afraid of heights. Me too, heights.
We flew Mrs. Fields and company, of Mrs. Fields Cookies. Great passengers, very polite, friendly.
Flew with John McCain once, though wasn't flying him. We ended up in the same security line at Phoenix. Quiet just another guy in line, greeted people politely when they recognized him, but otherwise just a regular person.
I spent a day with Keith Merrill, a film producer, scouting locations from the air. We flew 8 hours, and when we got back, he paid in cash. I was getting married at the time, and he slipped a few hundred extra and said it was a wedding gift. There was another film maker with him, also nice guy, but I don't recall his name. We spent the day doing low altitude and close up views of various remote locations. They spent a lot of time taking about setting up camera shots and angles, and taking pictures. Very interesting to hear their stories.
I used to fly Glenn Close's father quite a bit. I believe he lectured at medical schools. I believe we met her once, but didn't fly her. He lived in a rural location, and was always dropped at the airport by his wife, in a SUV full of large rescue dogs. Nice folks. He's not a celebrity, but one of his great accomplishments was quashing an Ebola outbreak. He's since passed. Great man.
I've had a few celebrities climb on board who were quite impressed with themselves, but whom I wouldn't have known from adam. One, some reality show figure (survivor or something like that) came aboard with an entourage and expected all kinds of special treatment, which was part of every client's standard care. Most didn't demand it though, or play the "do you know me" card.
I didn't fly Bill Cosby, but spent some time in the FBO with him. I always loved his comedy, especially his older records. He was very personable, quite interested in aviation, asked a lot of questions, was approachable, and ended up with an gaggle of pilots in a relaxed back and forth conversation.
There have been others, most of whom are notes in a logbook somewhere, most have been great to deal with. The few who weren't know who they are and needn't be discussed.
We picked up Roberta Flack for a short-notice charter to a concert once. Both she, and her band were very nice, gracious. I always liked her music.
I went to Canada to pick up Goldie Hawn and her son, a friend of the son, and two very large dogs once. We didn't talk to the boys, who were coming back from a hockey camp, but Ms. Hawn was quite nice. She took the dogs on walks while we fueled at a stop before going to Aspen. At aspen, we flew the VOR from the hold and it got a bit bumpy, plus the descent into Aspen; Ms. Hawn wasn't happy with the arrival. Her husband Kurt Russel picked her up, and was very concerned with her distress, asked what happened; we explained the weather.
I spent four hours with masking tape de-hairing the airplane from the airplane from the dogs.
Our company flew Robert Redford with some frequency. I picked him up at Provo once for a trip to Van Nuys. I was instructed not to speak to him unless he spoke to us. He turned out to be very nice. When we returned him to Provo that night, he had his own SUV parked, drove himself. I told him that I'd grown up watching The Great Waldo Pepper, and it was one of my inspirations to fly. He said he'd done all his own stunts for the movie, and said he'd never been so scared in his life, and was afraid of heights. Me too, heights.
We flew Mrs. Fields and company, of Mrs. Fields Cookies. Great passengers, very polite, friendly.
Flew with John McCain once, though wasn't flying him. We ended up in the same security line at Phoenix. Quiet just another guy in line, greeted people politely when they recognized him, but otherwise just a regular person.
I spent a day with Keith Merrill, a film producer, scouting locations from the air. We flew 8 hours, and when we got back, he paid in cash. I was getting married at the time, and he slipped a few hundred extra and said it was a wedding gift. There was another film maker with him, also nice guy, but I don't recall his name. We spent the day doing low altitude and close up views of various remote locations. They spent a lot of time taking about setting up camera shots and angles, and taking pictures. Very interesting to hear their stories.
I used to fly Glenn Close's father quite a bit. I believe he lectured at medical schools. I believe we met her once, but didn't fly her. He lived in a rural location, and was always dropped at the airport by his wife, in a SUV full of large rescue dogs. Nice folks. He's not a celebrity, but one of his great accomplishments was quashing an Ebola outbreak. He's since passed. Great man.
I've had a few celebrities climb on board who were quite impressed with themselves, but whom I wouldn't have known from adam. One, some reality show figure (survivor or something like that) came aboard with an entourage and expected all kinds of special treatment, which was part of every client's standard care. Most didn't demand it though, or play the "do you know me" card.
I didn't fly Bill Cosby, but spent some time in the FBO with him. I always loved his comedy, especially his older records. He was very personable, quite interested in aviation, asked a lot of questions, was approachable, and ended up with an gaggle of pilots in a relaxed back and forth conversation.
There have been others, most of whom are notes in a logbook somewhere, most have been great to deal with. The few who weren't know who they are and needn't be discussed.
#145
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 84
Had LL Cool J and entourage on board a flight from IAD to JFK.... I was a new fresh regional FO. Couldn't help myself. Made sure I got off the flight first, straight to the top of the jet bridge and when he came off, politely introduced myself and asked for a quick pic.... He passed my camera to one of his lads, and got my pic. Super nice guy.
#146
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,886
Had LL Cool J and entourage on board a flight from IAD to JFK.... I was a new fresh regional FO. Couldn't help myself. Made sure I got off the flight first, straight to the top of the jet bridge and when he came off, politely introduced myself and asked for a quick pic.... He passed my camera to one of his lads, and got my pic. Super nice guy.
#147
I have found that musicians in general are the nicest of them. Except for a few who will remain unnamed. R&B types seem a little full of themselves, but the rockers are almost always very gracious and will start handing things from guitar picks to nice tips.
#148
It would’ve been pressure enough, if it were just him on board, but he had his ENTIRE family with him. Every last name on the manifest was Clapton.
Even better, it was ILS 6 circle 1 at TEB that day, the usual horrible winds condition. I kept telling myself...”Don’t screw this up!” (the Lear crash was relatively recent).
#149
Clapton comes to mind here. Understated and acted like he’d been there before.
It would’ve been pressure enough, if it were just him on board, but he had his ENTIRE family with him. Every last name on the manifest was Clapton.
Even better, it was ILS 6 circle 1 at TEB that day, the usual horrible winds condition. I kept telling myself...”Don’t screw this up!” (the Lear crash was relatively recent).
It would’ve been pressure enough, if it were just him on board, but he had his ENTIRE family with him. Every last name on the manifest was Clapton.
Even better, it was ILS 6 circle 1 at TEB that day, the usual horrible winds condition. I kept telling myself...”Don’t screw this up!” (the Lear crash was relatively recent).
#150
Honestly, I don’t mind it. I certainly don’t look forward to it, don’t get me wrong...
Too many guys want 20-mile finals and calm winds every day.
That’s not me, I love a challenge.
Thread drift over.
The Olsen Twins were a fun flight...
Too many guys want 20-mile finals and calm winds every day.
That’s not me, I love a challenge.
Thread drift over.
The Olsen Twins were a fun flight...
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