Dear John, How Have You Survived?
I hadn’t seen him in more than two years. At last check, my original flight instructor John had a healthy heap students, and was flying a Pilatus for a nearly-famous family.
That was then. This was now.
26 months and thousands of layoffs later, the aviation industry isn’t what it was in 2007.
So when I saw John this last weekend, I was somewhat surprised and very happy to hear he still had students, and was now flying not one, but three single-engine turboprops on a charter basis.
Dear John, how have you survived?
“It hasn’t been easy. But it’s all about building those relationships and being more than a good pilot,” John told me before we climbed aboard a Cessna 172SP for a reunion flight of sorts.
He had always been a great pilot, and he also had a way with people. Funny. Personable. Professional. Passionate.
“I’ve seen a lot of guys that went on to become regional pilots come back looking for charter jobs. These guys were great pilots, but they never had the passion, and this economy has exposed their disadvantage.”
John said the Part 135 money is still flowing, even after all the bad press. But it takes a good reputation, plenty of pride, and a good business sense.
“When the economy was great, and the flying plenty, other pilots quickly started raising their rates. I kept mine the same, and my clients took notice,” John proclaimed.
“Now that we’ve hit bottom, those same pilots are slashing their rates, and I’m still holding mine steady when I can. You’d think the cheaper pilot would get the job. But clients are still coming to me because they know I don’t just go with the flow. Integrity goes a long way in this business.”
Same goes for flight instruction.
“If I don’t think a student is going to make it through their lessons, I’m not going to waste their time just because it’s steady money for me.”
What goes around, comes around.
Dear John, something great is coming around… for you.
