I worked 5 years at Boca Aviation (KBCT) doing Line Service. I still have hundreds of corporate contacts because of that job...Cheers

 

Yep. I worked the line @ Millionair, Montreal. Many moons ago.

 

Worked the ramp at EWR for PEOPLExpress in the mid 80's right out of college. Loading bags, pushing and pulling 72's, 73's and later on 74's all over the place. Great fun most of the time. It taught me to appreciate the work that takes place after the jetway is against the A/C. And never take it for granted.

 

AMEN! Nothing like ladder-climbing up on the cold slippery wing of some big chartered old turboprop bird while dragging a monster-heavy hose + brass nozzle, trying to shield the fuel port from the rain, sleet & runoff-water with your own freezing body and hands while setting the anti-paintscratch mat around it and opening it, then finally getting some Jet-A flowing that hits some weird internal tank-structure and backblasts at high pressure right into your eyes!

End result, you lose your grip on the nozzle + all control of the hose and it slithers back down off the wing, scratching the paintwork all the way while you're rolling around blind on a slippery freezing wing in intense pain, in the sleeting rain, still trying desperately to cover the open fuel port against the water and sleet with your body AND clear your eyes and not-very-protective safety glasses from the eye-burning kerosene while wearing wet heavy leather gloves. And when you finally do, you see every face at the pax windows staring out at you with mixed horror, dismay, open fear, amazement, amusement - but never any sympathy! Then you get to put the fuelcap back on, climb BACK down the ladder, retrieve the hose and anti-paintscratch-mat (hah!) and go back up there again and try a different nozzle-angle this time.

All this is performed in front of a 100%-fascinated lineup of pax with their noses against the windows, and while wondering which one of them is gonna go up to the front office and inform the Captain that there is an insane man on his wing rolling around in agony rubbing his eyes, shooting jet fuel everywhere, and scratching the hell out of his expensive paintwork...

Let's hear it for underwing single-point refuelling!

 

I work the Ramp for AE currently... Loads of fun... BUT man can it be hard work. I recently made the move into Operations, Ticketing, and gate stuffs... I like the ramp personally... I get to meet all sorts of pilots, Got a few recommendations, names and numbers. Also, I do my job and people benefit from it. Good all around.

 

When I was 14, I made a deal with TML Aircraft at Cherry Ridge Airport in Pennsylvania. The deal was that I would be compensated the equivalent of Minimum Wage, in terms of aircraft rental and instructor time. I did everything from helping the mechanics and learning about aircraft, to burning trash. I count it as one of the best experiences I've had in Aviation. I learned about flying and the mechanics of aircraft, and I made a few valuable connections - not to mention my first few hours of Dual Received.

 

I worked line for a 135 King Air/Lear outfit when I was 19. After that, I was a bag smasher for American. At the time I thought, "sure wish I was in the cockpit of a jet and not down here smashing bags". Lo and behold, I did 6 years at a frac and I was in the cockpit AND smashing bags! Anyway, done with handling bags.

I realize that it is impractical that every pilot do it. However, if possible, an aspiring pilot should work as a lineman just like aspiring automotive/aerospace engineers should be automotive/aircraft mechanics first. It really helps with one's perspective.

 

I pumped gas at an FBO when I was 16. Great experience. I was the only guy at the FBO on weekends. A lot of responsibility for a kid. Great experience.

 

I worked line at 1C5 for 2 years when I was in High School and their was not better job. I was able to meet so many people and learn so many things without paying for an hour of dual. Its always nice to have a place to call on when I need a CFI job. And I still hate fueling Katana's.

 

Worked at KSAN washing airplanes for a couple years, I've been working the front desk at the FBO at KLAF since last year and just started instructing there. Haven't done the line tour, but having worked around those guys, I sure do appreciate what they go through.