Bobby Johnson - BBJ Pilot - How are things going with the new job?
 

It has been months since we have heard from Bobby Johnson. Wanted to hear his perspective on flying the BBJ - I think it has been 9 months or so since he left BA to pursue his BBJ Captain's position.... .. .So Bobby, has flying the BBJ lived up to your expectations thusfar?. .. .What are the BEST and WORST aspects of your new job vs. your previous job flying 737s for BA?. .. .Any interesting or EXOTIC destinations/flights you can share with wannabe BBJ pilots? Have you been able to work on your tan (that would be a great perk!)?. .. .Cheers

I love the part about working on his tan...... .. .Mutt . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

When I met him for a beer late last year he was still very happy.. .. .He was off to Las vegas on a long trip and was takeing the wife!!. .. .Still apart from that drawback he says he loves the BBJ lifestyle.. .. .(His biggest complaint was that you couldn't get the boards all the way out at high speed as he feared the tips would snap!!!!!!)

It has been months guys since I last communicated on PPRuNE, my apologies. I have had an incredible 6 months doing alot more work than I ever did in BA. It is however a lot more rewarding. I spend most of my time in Jeddah and getting online down there is very difficult on the mobile and very expensive!

There are many pros to this job, and some cons. The pro's are obvious, the cons are also obvious to the seasoned corp pilot. I have just got back from 8 weeks away with only two days at home. That's a definite con! I am just hoping that it will not be like that all the time.

Yes I do have a tan, you cant fail to get one in JED it was 43 when I left.

This is a quick missive, I am also still working on the www.thebbj.com website. This is also taking an age.

Speak to you all soon.

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself, although I believe that you still owe me a "non-alcoholic beer"....... :):)

One of my ex-colleagues has just moved to your side of 34C to fly the Dallah machine, extremely nice guy if you happen to bump in to him.

Cheers and enjoy the time off.

Mutt. :)

BIG EGO
 

Sounds like Bob has a big ego......
but from my experience this is very much the attitude in BA.
As a corporate pilot myself i can appreciate the pros and cons too
but really i don't call myself GLF5 pilot....i just am what i am
a stargazer....
Come on bob.....get a new name....your ego seems
as big as the plane you fly.....:cool: :D ;) :p

Stargazer,

I appreciate your message and your point. Actually, Bobby Johnson has been very good about sharing the highs and lows about his job - very sincere. A lot of us aspire to flying GVs and BBJs in the future and Bobby has been a good information resource.

I'd love to know more about your job as a GV pilot. How far afiled do you typically fly - Asia, Europe? and how often? I'd love to know what type of schedule a GV pilot would have - say 3-4 long-haul trips per month or more... What did you fly before the GV and how did it compare to your current aircraft?


Cheers

Hi Stargazer,

I thought that PPRuNe was a medium for information, thats all I am providing, and what exactly is your experience of BA. I agree there are some who have a blinkered view of BA of aviation as a whole. Thats why I left, I knew very little about the 'Big Picture' before I left. I have learnt more about aviation since I have been in this new job and I really enjoy it.

I wonder what is really behind this beef that you have of BA Pilots.

Maybe I should clear up a few things about British Airways Pilots.

Most are a just a bunch of lads that want to have a good time. Some take it all too seriously. With regards to the EGO thing. It is British Airways that tells them they are good, not themselves. Most are sensible enough to realise they could not organise a flight around the world on their own, and they couldnt just walk into a corporate/private job and just do it. I know I certainly couldnt.

They all just get on with the job and do as they are told. They just do what is expected of them, in the same way as you do when your boss says jump. The only difference is that they can say no if it is outside the Ops Manual, how many times have you said no to either your boss or charterer. They of course have the backing of the Union and we dont so we just make a 'sensible' decision.

Some are however just empire building idiots that will tread on anyone to get to the top, in exactly the same way as people do in this business, dont you agree.


I look forward to your reply

PS Go on give me some suggestions about what name I should use::p

Right On, Bobby!!
 

Hi Bobby,

I have followed this thread and your other one on flying the BBJ, found your comments on adapting to the bizjet world (becoming a BBJ pilot with its associated challenges) very interesting and particulary admire your last comment to Stargazer:

"Most are sensible enough to realise they could not organise a flight around the world on their own, and they couldnt just walk into a corporate/private job and just do it. I know I certainly couldnt."

I am an airline type with tons of time on the 737-200 beginning from 25-30 years ago and find your comments on checking out on the BBJ pilot very enlightening. The only close connection I have to flying the 3rd Generation of the 73' is that I was fortunate to have worked for an airline in the '90s that operated a -400 and accrued nearly 2000 hours of glass.

Very enlightening indeed, as I have done some B727-100 Charter flying within the last year and have seen first hand the complexities of operating world wide without an airline dispatch office to hold your hand....

I appreciate your conveying of information, never once even thought of a "big ego" and think your name is great!!!

Please continue writing!!

How about the new name of

Floating Gin Palace Driver!

....we never did get those Sunseeker pics from the 206.

Hope all is well fella.

(Stargazer.....talk to the trees zzzzzzzzz)

Attn B.J

I read your thread with interest , I have just started in a similar ops, was with a major carrier and am I enjoying the new job as much as you are. My aviation knowledge has increased 10 fold by all the work that goes into in getting this plane from A to B ,flying into all those small runnways has been a challenge in itself. We run the numbers in the BLT cross chk them in the QRH and to our amazement they are correct to with in a few meters.
So keep up the good work ,I smile every time i read a tale of yours as it has happened or will happen in the near future
Thks::cool: