Meatbombs typical disrespect for pilots!

[Mr Porter]

Hi Guys,

Ive been working in Darwin and Cairns over the last two years as a jump pilot and in my time have noticed across the industry generally a massive lack of respect for pilots among jumpers! Everything from abuse when you stop too many jumpers getting into our twins, to being intentionally left out of many social activites simply because of the job. I have spoken to others about this issue and it seems that generally across the board in this industry jumpers totally have no time for pilots and say that they are nothing but shi#t kickers and basically "the bus driver". I for one am sick of the arrogance shown in this industry towards pilots who have worked so hard financially, physically and emotionally to get where they are, to be only rubbished by these low life morons!

Just wondering if any others can share any other thoughts or experiences!

Cheers in Advance......... Pete

[tinpis]

Piss in their bong water

[Tinpis2]

Mate i too have experienced that sort of crap! Do what I do, if you cop anything just refuse to take them up and go over and crack a beer in front of them. Fukcing Wankers!

[Atlas Shrugged]

As far as I'm concerned, the only two things ever designed to fall out of the sky were rain and bird $hit - take your pick......

[OCTA]

Probably has nothing to do with your attitude.
Never had a problem with them anymore than normal pax or groundies. Do you drink there beer? and do you buy when its your turn? always helps.

If you don't like it go fly somewhere else i'm sure they'll find someone else very quickly. Even better go find another industry to bitch and moan about there are enough people doing that already in aviation.

[ASKARI]

Hey OCTA, how about cutting Mr Porter some slack?:}
I think his comments are pretty typical of the dirt-dart industry in general!

[ginjockey]

I have heard the Darwin scene is particularly bad. The club itself is a nest of infighting and backstabbing. They refuse to pay pilots to fly at all, the facilities and aircraft are run down and tired, everything is broken or undergoing some form of half arse repair, the instructors are unkept, thong - wearing yobbos who need a shave and a good soak in napisan who regard pilots as smart alec wannabes who need to be kept "in their place".

And they can't seem to get pilots who will turn up and fly for them for free for some reason............... no idea why!

[Boney]

Been there, done that.

You are forgeting one important fact. You said you are flying a twin. Just remember, they can get another C182 driver in about an hour if you leave/get the ar$e. However, if you are flying a twin, you will not be so easy to replace.

Sure, plenty of twin drivers out there but how many willing to put up with the crap and also have the experience to be able to look after those big motors/turbo's on those big decents?

This is your job security.

So speak to them the same way they speak to you (but NEVER to the dude who actually employs you).

Alot of them are smart ar$es and it makes them feel like a big man to treat the driver like a dog, especially when they have a cute girl doing a Tandem with them. They will push your buttons as far as they think they can get away with.

Also, you must remember, they would have had their share of knobs with big ego's over the years driving for them and they will assume you are just another one until you prove otherwise 10 times.

As difficult as it may be to stomach, I suggest you give back as good as you get to just the BIGGEST ar$eholes but still go for a beer with the crew at the end of the day.

You will find that most, if not all, will leave their attitude at the airport as long as you also do the same.

[tinpis]

Rummages around for 20 sumpin year old photo of dopey buggas on a DC3 hangin off the antennas walkin on the roof trailing off the stab...mutter... mutter

[Contract Con]

Mr Porter,

The most fun I have ever had in aviation was as a jump pilot. Great people using aeroplanes for there intended purpose, FUN!

Any disrespect I received was from "would be if they could be" w@nker jumpers who normally didnt last long at the DZ,(and were normally cr@p skydivers anyway, not the Skygods they thought they were) and were shown the door before takeoff.

Lighten up and have fun. Ringing the bell occasionally will help:ok:

Cheers,

Contract Con

[GeeBeeZee]

mr porter check your pm's

[psycho joe]

I for one am sick of the arrogance shown in this industry towards pilots who have worked so hard financially, physically and emotionally to get where they are, to be only rubbished by these low life morons!

So hard??

You go up, then you go down... At least a bus driver navigates.

[SeldomFixit]

"I for one am sick of the arrogance shown in this industry towards pilots who have worked so hard financially, physically and emotionally to get where they are, to be only rubbished by these low life morons!"
Yep - can see how letting them know that's what you thought of them would earn their respect. You're a natural leader - go get em. Tosser

[nig&nog]

Im with contract con, I was a jump pilot for nearly 5 years and it was some of the most enjoyable flying I have done. Flying around on boring 3-4 hour sectors now, but every time I hear an old jump plane rego or clearance to drop, it always brings a smile to my face.

[cjam]

In my experience it changes from drop zone tp drop zone.
Funny thing is the tin-pot little outfits with average jumpers are the worst, they are the guys that think they are sky gods when they are five eighths...the big turbine outfits that pay well attract the really skilled jumpers who know what they are doing and would fly rings around most, consequently they are happy and secure within themselves and have no ego driven need to put down the driver or put pressure on them. I did find at one place that I had to really have a go at one bloke who was being a dick-head in order to be fully accepted there by the others....after a while even he started being friendly.
You do have to chill out a bit at drop zones tho.....(still keep on your toes tho), cheers

[jumpnut]

Perhaps your reference to skydivers as "meatbombers" and "dirt darts" is the first part of your problem. Have a bit of respect for the sport and maybe people will accept you as a decent person, most of the threads I have read on this forum show the people to be nothing more than a pack of whingers. Mate you should be lucky that anyone would want to give you a job!

If you turned up to our DZ calling us meatbombers and dirt-darts you would probably end up with a smack in the mouth for being such a disrespectful idiot.

I do find it hard to believe that skydivers don't respect their pilots, after all without you guys we go nowhere. I jump at a large DZ and out pilots are top blokes and girls, however I am yet to meet a female jump pilot. Maybe you should move to another location but then again with your attitude a larger DZ probably wouldn't want to know you anyway.

Enjoy

:yuk:

[pakeha-boy]

Mate....did what you are doing about 20 yrs ago,flew in kiwi then buggered off to oz ,(you know the grass is greener on the other side thing)...this is what you do mate!!!.....get your time,then figure out when you are going to quit.....then on that day,have a pre-arranged plan,about 200-300 kms away,with a mate and a car.....fly these jokers all the way out there,...land... get out and walk away,leave the buggars and the plane right there....it works.... I did it......tell them its the best "jump" they have ever had......how do you make a "hormone"....dont pay her

[hair of the dogma]

Does it really matter any more Pete? You say you have been doing it for 2 years now. Isnt it time you went and got a real job now, and gave a newbie a crack at it.

Let me guess you are doing it for free, and you wonder why they dont treat you with respect. They would know if you are getting paid or not and might be trating you in accordance to your worth. If you are getting paid I withdraw the comment.

If skydivers still dont have any time for you after 2 years it might be time to look at yourself. I always found it a little hard to break into the crowd at a new dropzone but it does not take long, as long as you leave the whole " I am a pilot, listen to me" attitude at the door. The problem might also be with your flying ability, they might not be pilots but they can spot a bad one a long way away.

Not trying to come across as overly harsh but most jump pilots I have met have not had the same problems you have and definately not for 2 years.

[QNIM]

Gday Mr Porter
I found the best way to fix those smart arses is to pull back the power just after takeoff before they are high enough to bale out and just look at their faces it’s worth million bucks.
Just kidding
Cheers Q :p

[Lukeatme]

Porter


Some are good some are ars****s but only you can determine that one, if all are arse****s maybe you have the problem if only a couple fit your words then maybe it is time to fit in or f***k off as so many say.

[10000FT]

i have to say i've never had any problems with jumpers either. Jump flying is great fun and the jumpers i've meet were just like anyone else...cept for the jumping outa the plane bit!
Maybe i'm just at a good drop zone?
like a couple of other said maybe its time to move on? you've done it for a couple of years, try another DZ?

[Navajo King]

Flew at a DZ for 3 years and had a great time. I found that acting in a professional way while flying, and then chilling out and having fun at the end of the day really helped fitting in.

If you can find a good DZ you'll have a great time.

[BankAngle50]

Hi Porter.
Sorry to say but I don’t think you will find it much better in the airlines of Oz. Ground crew and especially management, treat us with the same sort of disrespect that you have encountered with the jumpers. The only difference is, management do it surreptitiously and the ground crew (not all of them) are straight out rude with an attitude to match. Welcome to aviation!:ouch:

Ps. I started out flying “meat bombs” as well. It’s a part of their ‘pack’ culture to give the pilots sh1t.:hmm: I think underneath it all they appreciate you flying them safely. Have a beer with them and hopefully things will improve. If not, then it’s a good training ground for the crap you will experience in the airlines.

[SeldomFixit]

After you've taken your cap off the back parcel shelf Bankangle, be so kind as to outline your particular importance in the team that is aviation or are you the star player ?

[sabre150]

any skydiver that doesnt want to know their pilot is a fool, i have been jumping for 4 years and i make it my business to know who i trust to get me to height
as mentioned earlier most of the better jumpers look after their pilots, as to earlier comments of leaving skydivers 300km away whilst you drive away, you forget that some skydivers are also pilots and all it does is show your lack of professionalism.
if you make some effort most jumpers will too!!!