What do you really think of aviation enthusiasts?

[BigHitDH]

I found these forums a while ago, and I take great pleasure in reading what you all have to say, and I feel more informed in doing so.

Back when cockpit visits were allowed, I got the chance to go "up front" with a VS crew, who, to their credit, were great. They took the time to explain things to me, and answered all my questions. But most of all they conveyed to me what it's like to actually fly.

As professional pilots, what do you really think of (non-pilot) aviation enthusiasts? Is you attitude towards these types affected by your knowledge that you are the representative of an airline, or do you genuinely enjoy talking to them?

Would you, for example, be prepared to talk to someone for 5 minutes on the ground after a flight if they had some questions?

I usually like to ask a cabin member if I can chat to the crew (after a flight, on the ground), even if it's just to say thanks, but I haven't asked since 9/11 for fear of being escorted from the aircraft. What do you think about this? Should I still ask, or is it no longer a good idea?

I think it would be a shame if aircrew became completely unaproachable by the public, for fear of being branded a "terrorist".

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

[scroggs]

Once the flight is complete, you are (in UK, at least) welcome to ask whether the crew would permit a flight-deck visit. It may not be possible for a number of operational reasons, but you should not be treated with suspicion just for asking!

If you are allowed to visit, or to talk to the crew, please remember that they will want to be getting home after a long day's work, and that the aircraft will almost certainly have to be turned round rapidly for the next service, therefore it must be vacated by all passengers and crew expeditiously. Don't overstay your welcome.

Most aircrew were aviation enthusiasts before they learned to fly. A few, certainly, have forgotten that and will treat all 'spotters' with contempt, but the vast majority are happy to talk about the job. Unfortunately, it's no longer possible to do so in flight.

[Miserlou]

I feel very much as Scroggs does.

Since the attack on that 7/11 we've had precious liitle chance to do, what I consider to be, our part in customer relations (representing our company AND our industry) as we so rarely come into contact with the passengers. Being able to let a passenger visit our office was always a pleasure, especially when you really are making a dream come true or sowing the seed for a coming pilot.

Whereas one might occasionally have made an anorak joke about spotters in general, I will always spare a few minutes to answer questions from any-one who takes such an interest in my job.

Often you will find that cabin crew don't understand the enthusiasm for aviation. Don't be put off.

Thanks.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I exist in a slightly different universe to these folks, but can often be found - usually accompanied by an aircraft - at GA airfields, airshows, etc.

I'm an enthusiast, am happy to be civil to another and if I've time will contentedly chat aviation to anybody who takes an interest.
If I'm too busy I'll say why, if I've really nothing to do I've been known to offer a free flight to a passing enthusiast.

Having said that, there are a group, called I believe "reggie spotters" who are interested only in the registration and/or serial number of what I'm flying and have no interest in what it is, where it was built, how it flies, and the other issues that keep me interested in aviation. Sorry, but I can't really regard them as other than mildly deranged - albeit probably harmless.

G

[FlyingForFun]

Completely agree with Genghis' view. I know your question was directed at commercial guys, but as a private pilot I will quite happilly talk about flying all day long to anyone who's interested. I've also been known to turn up at my local airfield some time before I'm due to fly, start talking to someone in the bar, and offer him a flight, despite having never seen him before or since.

I'd imagine that the world of commecial pilots is different, because it is a job, and they will want to go home after they finish work, just like the rest of us. I hope that, when I'm in that position, I still have enough enthusiasm that I wouldn't mind delaying getting home so that I could talk about flying with someone who is genuinely interested.

As for Genghis' "reggie spotters", I'm not sure that I'd call them "mildly deranged". They have a hobby which I don't appreciate or understand, that's all - they're free to carry on practicing their hobby, as far as I'm concerned, but I'm no more interested in talking to them about the fact that G-ABCD spent 3 minutes less than normal on the ground last week than they would be interested in talking to me about flying.

FFF
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[BigHitDH]

Thanks for the replies guys, some interesting views there.

I have to agree about the "reggie spotters", I just cannot comprehend their hobby...

[chuks]

I am quite happy to talk to pax on request, especially younger people.

The better the pax know the flight crew the less likely they are to become alarmed about something, fire off a stupid complaint and cause me to waste valuable time stood on the Chief Pilot's carpet explaining what I got up to there.

The first time I met a plane spotter I thought he was a nark, since he was poised at the fence jotting down the details of my shabby little Beech Baron. I went over to ask him if I could help him (that's American code for 'What the f*ck are you up to?'), when he explained that he had come over from the UK to Miami just to collect some registration numbers. I asked him if he wanted to actually sit in the airplane, perhaps, when he replied that, no, just getting its number was enough. Weird!

I think that Osama B's crowd really spoiled things when it came to assuming that our continued mutual survival was taken to be a shared enterprise. That has gone, so that now who really knows what anyone is up to? By the time the SLF gets into our hands they are already keyed up by requests for piccies, fingerprints, removal of shoes, confiscation of nail-clippers, etc, etc. so that a certain level of hostility is often there to begin with. If talking to a passenger can dissipate some of that, well, that's part of my job.