I'll just come out with it. Yeah, I'm dating a pilot, and yes, it's probably against company policy to do so...but I haven't really looked. I think somewhere in the 'code of ethics' it says we are not allowed to fraternize with customers/crew/pilots. Of course, this is also the same company policy that says in my job description that I am required on a regular basis to "finger, and handle" upon request. Take that last part how you want.... we all know I did.
Of course, I would like to clarify that I'm not dating him because he's a pilot. I'm dating him because I love him. I'm 100% confidant that I would still be with him even if he was unemployed.
Now, since I work with pilots all damn day long, I get a LOT of grief over this part of my personal life. It isn't like as soon as someone walks in the door I'm like, "I'm dating a pilot!" Uh, no... Opposite really... but like I've mentioned before, I spend hours with the same guys every day. It just gets out.
In all actuality, sometimes it bothers me that he's a pilot. It definitely isn't a 'safe' job by any means, and it doesn't help that he recently gave me a book on flight physiology... and oh by the way, when I asked him if he'd ever taken an altitude chamber ride, the convo turned into how the learjet is notorious for pressurization issues. Yeah, great. Super. So, not only do I get freaked out that he's going to become hypoxic and crash into the side of the mountains, I also get to worry that the lear is just going to *pop* and he has like a minute and thirty seconds to drop it down to a lower altitude... which to me, isn't really feasible, considering that if he's going along at 38,000ft he's going to be unconscious in 12 seconds. great.
Rumor of the century; Pilots are whores.
Nah... not really. Most of them are actually really great guys. Besides, he isn't gone long enough to have an affair, so I don't need to worry about it.
I wonder if it's like a pilot fantasy to date an FBO girl...
Case in point; www.fbohotties.com This is a website dedicated to finding those 'hotties' and for pilots to post pictures of them. Might I also add, that yes, my boyfriend HAS in fact submitted a 'hottie' to this website. (and no, it wasn't me)
Well if it is a fantasy.... he's livin' the dream.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Freight Forwarders
So, not only do we provide services to private aircraft, but we also currently hold the mail contract for ASA. Which means that we take the mail off of the plane, sort it and then deliver it to the post office. Fun. Fun.
We are also one of the few FBO's that pick up and deliver freight. Daily we turn ACE, and two Empire's. (a FedEx feeder)
People get on my nerves when it comes to freight. One reason being that they have NO IDEA where we are located! We are on an island in Alaska. Located at the airport, which is on a different island than the city of Ketchikan, where all the freight is going to be delivered to. I get phone calls daily of freight forwarders needing proof of deliveries for this, that, and the other... and they get all pissed off at ME if I don't have that information. Why don't I have it? I explain that the driver is still 'on the other side' and is waiting for the ferry to come back to the airport.
Here's where my fun starts.
FF: "what do you mean a ferry? My freight is going to Ketchikan"
ME: "yes, I understand that, but Ketchikan is not located at the airport"
FF: "yes it is. I sent it counter to counter to Ketchikan International Airport"
ME: "yes, but Ketchikan is located on Rivillagiggedo island, Ketchikan International Airport is located on Gravina island. They are separated by the Tongass Narrows, therefore we have to take a ferry which leaves every half hour to the other side."
FF: "well that isn't on any of my information, my customer is going to be very upset, maybe next time we will just have to call ASA and have them deliver it since it takes you so long"
At this point, I'm just like, Okay, have fun with that and hang up. Why? Because like I already said, ASA contracts US to deliver the freight. Plus, even if they delivered it themselves- they would still have to take the ferry. *insert evil laugh*
Another thing that irritates me is the FF's that know everything. Case in point; a lady calls me one day regarding her shipment that *has* to be delivered no later than 10am. She wants to know the status of said shipment. I politely tell her that due to the weather, I have not seen an aircraft land at our airport thus far.. she then calls me a liar. *dropped jaw in pure shock* Excuse me? She then proceeds to go into great detail about how she is looking at the weather report, and it says that KTN is 10mi and clear. I inform her that I am sitting at my desk which is 500ft to the runway, with a big huge orange barricade not more than 10ft from my window, and the fog is to thick and low, that I can't even see the barricade. The website lied to you lady...
She begins her tirade of trying to convince me that she is not stupid, and she knows how to read, and is looking at the website *right now while we speak* I ask her to tell me the time that it says.. starts with the date and then 4 numbers, ends with a Z. Yeah, 1443z would mean that *that* forecast was at 543am. It was now 943am. It hadn't been updated, and there were no pilot reports because NO ONE HAS EVEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND.
She hung up on me, because I was being rude.
Not all freight forwarders are rude and obnoxious... there are a few that I really enjoy talking to on a daily basis. Like the guy who calls me 'hunny buns'... yeah, he's a nice guy. Really sweet to talk to. (could do without the pet names though) Or another guy that tells me a joke just to make me laugh every time he calls, which of course, are ALWAYS off color, and crude, but I still laugh. There was also this one gal from a company in SEA who was hilarious! She would talk and talk and talk about her life and what was going on with her boy toy of the month. I really miss her, I always wondered why they fired her....
Well, that's Freight Forwarders in a nutshell.
We are also one of the few FBO's that pick up and deliver freight. Daily we turn ACE, and two Empire's. (a FedEx feeder)
People get on my nerves when it comes to freight. One reason being that they have NO IDEA where we are located! We are on an island in Alaska. Located at the airport, which is on a different island than the city of Ketchikan, where all the freight is going to be delivered to. I get phone calls daily of freight forwarders needing proof of deliveries for this, that, and the other... and they get all pissed off at ME if I don't have that information. Why don't I have it? I explain that the driver is still 'on the other side' and is waiting for the ferry to come back to the airport.
Here's where my fun starts.
FF: "what do you mean a ferry? My freight is going to Ketchikan"
ME: "yes, I understand that, but Ketchikan is not located at the airport"
FF: "yes it is. I sent it counter to counter to Ketchikan International Airport"
ME: "yes, but Ketchikan is located on Rivillagiggedo island, Ketchikan International Airport is located on Gravina island. They are separated by the Tongass Narrows, therefore we have to take a ferry which leaves every half hour to the other side."
FF: "well that isn't on any of my information, my customer is going to be very upset, maybe next time we will just have to call ASA and have them deliver it since it takes you so long"
At this point, I'm just like, Okay, have fun with that and hang up. Why? Because like I already said, ASA contracts US to deliver the freight. Plus, even if they delivered it themselves- they would still have to take the ferry. *insert evil laugh*
Another thing that irritates me is the FF's that know everything. Case in point; a lady calls me one day regarding her shipment that *has* to be delivered no later than 10am. She wants to know the status of said shipment. I politely tell her that due to the weather, I have not seen an aircraft land at our airport thus far.. she then calls me a liar. *dropped jaw in pure shock* Excuse me? She then proceeds to go into great detail about how she is looking at the weather report, and it says that KTN is 10mi and clear. I inform her that I am sitting at my desk which is 500ft to the runway, with a big huge orange barricade not more than 10ft from my window, and the fog is to thick and low, that I can't even see the barricade. The website lied to you lady...
She begins her tirade of trying to convince me that she is not stupid, and she knows how to read, and is looking at the website *right now while we speak* I ask her to tell me the time that it says.. starts with the date and then 4 numbers, ends with a Z. Yeah, 1443z would mean that *that* forecast was at 543am. It was now 943am. It hadn't been updated, and there were no pilot reports because NO ONE HAS EVEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND.
She hung up on me, because I was being rude.
Not all freight forwarders are rude and obnoxious... there are a few that I really enjoy talking to on a daily basis. Like the guy who calls me 'hunny buns'... yeah, he's a nice guy. Really sweet to talk to. (could do without the pet names though) Or another guy that tells me a joke just to make me laugh every time he calls, which of course, are ALWAYS off color, and crude, but I still laugh. There was also this one gal from a company in SEA who was hilarious! She would talk and talk and talk about her life and what was going on with her boy toy of the month. I really miss her, I always wondered why they fired her....
Well, that's Freight Forwarders in a nutshell.
Monday, February 1, 2010
FBO Life
I work at an FBO. Those in GA know what that is... those who don't know what GA stands for: this blog is for you.
An FBO is a Fixed Base Operator. We are the little people you see running around at the airport ramp, fueling your plane. We do catering, reservations, car rentals, set up charters, buy alcohol, stock your plane (private) and much more. We are not TSA. Matter of fact; we don't even like TSA. (and oh by the way, GA stands for general aviation)
I spend 40-60hrs a week being someones bitch. Really. That's just what I do. I'm not a ramp agent, I work in the office- behind the scenes in a completely thankless job. Call it Customer Service, but I call it being someones bitch. I like to think of my boss as my pimp. Why you ask? That's easy, she whores out my smile and my people skills, and I get paid shit, while she just rakes it all in. I am painfully pleasant. I've been told I fart rainbows. When I answer the phone, it isn't "how can I help you" it is "how MAY I help you"... that's right, it brings me great joy to do whatever you wish, and for me to know EVERYTHING, and give you the instant gratification of answering your questions and not transferring you to someone else. Plain and simple, I.am.that.girl.
I am surrounded by pilots, all day long. Which I think would be every girls dream...but it really isn't. They are like children; needy, whiny adult children that aren't even mine. I spend hours with these guys, I know their lives, stories, and they know mine. I guess I kinda like them (even if they do drop popcorn all over the floor which I have to pick up later) All jokes aside, I've been here for about 2 years now and have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I've also had the unfortunate fate of losing a few. Just last week was the first time that I've personally had to deal with the loss of a pilot who I considered a good friend. (and that will be a whole other blog)
This blog is going to be all about my life working at an FBO. The stories can range from the funniest thing you'll read, down to the saddest thing you'll read. All in all, this is my life, and I love it.
An FBO is a Fixed Base Operator. We are the little people you see running around at the airport ramp, fueling your plane. We do catering, reservations, car rentals, set up charters, buy alcohol, stock your plane (private) and much more. We are not TSA. Matter of fact; we don't even like TSA. (and oh by the way, GA stands for general aviation)
I spend 40-60hrs a week being someones bitch. Really. That's just what I do. I'm not a ramp agent, I work in the office- behind the scenes in a completely thankless job. Call it Customer Service, but I call it being someones bitch. I like to think of my boss as my pimp. Why you ask? That's easy, she whores out my smile and my people skills, and I get paid shit, while she just rakes it all in. I am painfully pleasant. I've been told I fart rainbows. When I answer the phone, it isn't "how can I help you" it is "how MAY I help you"... that's right, it brings me great joy to do whatever you wish, and for me to know EVERYTHING, and give you the instant gratification of answering your questions and not transferring you to someone else. Plain and simple, I.am.that.girl.
I am surrounded by pilots, all day long. Which I think would be every girls dream...but it really isn't. They are like children; needy, whiny adult children that aren't even mine. I spend hours with these guys, I know their lives, stories, and they know mine. I guess I kinda like them (even if they do drop popcorn all over the floor which I have to pick up later) All jokes aside, I've been here for about 2 years now and have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I've also had the unfortunate fate of losing a few. Just last week was the first time that I've personally had to deal with the loss of a pilot who I considered a good friend. (and that will be a whole other blog)
This blog is going to be all about my life working at an FBO. The stories can range from the funniest thing you'll read, down to the saddest thing you'll read. All in all, this is my life, and I love it.
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