A Day in the Sky: Fly From Coаst to Coаst

Today, I'm going to give you an example of daily routine of a corporate pilot. We'll be flying from Teterboro, New Jersey to San Francisco, California. My co-pilot for this trip will be Captain Jim, real professional with incredible personality and easygoing man. Let's get started. I will guide you through the entire process, from the moment I wake up to the final engine shutdown, showcasing the dedication and precision required to ensure a seamless journey across the skies. Before heading to bed, I carefully check the weather conditions for the departure airport, destination, and alternate airports for tomorrow's flight. Good morning, take a breakfast. To ensure everything is perfectly in place, a corporate pilot arrives at the airport well in advance of the scheduled departure time. This extra time allows for a thorough review of the aircraft, final checks, and any last minute adjustments, ensuring that the flight is not just on time, but also as safe and smooth as possible. The ground personnel on the ramp are very professional, towing the airplane, refueling, and providing all the necessary services require special training and solid experience. You can now see their expertise in action as they work with my airplane. Making pre-flight check of fuselage, wings, control surfaces, landing gear. Pitot tubes and static port covers are removed, lights not damaged. Now it's time to call fuel truck. I'm excited to show you how fancy this bird looks inside. It looks fantastic, is not it? It certainly does. The interior is stunning. Everything looks so well appointed and cozy, perfect for a relaxing journey through the skies. It's the perfect setting for an unforgettable journey. This is the busiest private airport in USA terminals in the world. 500 takeoffs and landings per day, and around 142,000 per year. It is one of the oldest airports in America. The first flight from the present airport site was made in 1919. After completing the interior inspection, which includes all flight instruments, such as altimeters, airspeed indicators, attitude indicators, GPS, autopilot, and the TCAS system, it is a perfect time to set up flight management system, FMS. What do I mean by FMS? The FMS is the brain of the airplane. You can have all airplane systems working properly, and your engines in great condition. But if you experience an FMS failure, your mission becomes impossible. Setting up the flight management system includes configuring the route, weight and balance, departure runway, and departure and arrival procedures. Therefore, the crew should pay special attention to how the FMS functions and ensure that all settings are absolutely correct. Before start the FMS programming, let's get ETIS. Automatic Terminal Information Service is a crucial step before setting up the flight management system. Provides essential information about the airport, including weather, active runways, and any special procedures or notices. Now you can hear what ETIS sounds like. Runway 24 with the RUDY-6 departure. It's going to be a smooth climb out. Clear skies and a great flight ahead. Let's rock and roll! Oil pressure. Fuel flow. Temperature is good. Good start. And clear left. After start check, please. After start check. Start power. Off. Terminal power. Off. Generators one and two. Trip, please. Generators trip. PS1, PS2, tight. Okay, on trip. Good. Closed. Salts and amps, check. Air condition. Set for passenger. Alternators. On. Heaters. On. Pitot amps. Check it. Engine anti-ice. Not required. Airbrake. Airbrake cycle. Off. And APR. APR test. ATIS, 780 Romeo Echo. Signature West with Echo. Ready for taxi. Roger, 780 Romeo Echo. Tetherborough Ground, runway 24. Taxi via PAPA Lima. Hold short runway one-niner. Runway 24 for departure PAPA Lima and hold short one-niner. Zero Romeo Echo. Cleared right. Cleared left. Conquer 780 Romeo Echo. Cross runway one-niner Lima. Left is a PAD monitor tower. Traffic three mile final. Aircross one-niner. Zero Romeo Echo. Approaching runway one-niner. Copy that. Okay. Parallel lights. On. Yeah. Check. Conquer zero Romeo Echo. Affirm runway 24. Line up and wait. Traffic will land runway one-nine. Runway 24. Line up and wait. 780 Romeo Echo. Aircross one-niner. Aircross zone. Traps. Aircross zone. Engine ignition. Straps up. Approaching runway two-four. Okay. Taking runway two-four. Flight control. Freedom. Top. Freedom on the bottoms. Okay. Line up check complete. We are good to go. RTO runway two-four. Okay, your tabs. Yep, my tabs. Hold in here. 780 Romeo Echo. Runway two-four. Cleared for takeoff. Wind one-seven-zero-three. Traffic four mile final. Runway one-nine. Runway two-four. Cleared for takeoff. Number 780 Romeo Echo. Okay, your tabs. My tabs. Power set. Okay, power back. APR armed. Timer started. 80 knots. My yoke. Ah, that's great. Gear up. Gear selected now. Flaps up. Autopilot on. Okay. 780 Romeo Echo. Contact departure. Have a good day. Good departure. 780 Romeo Echo. Low departure. Hawker 780 Romeo Echo. Point three, climbing two-thousand. Hawker 780 Romeo Echo. Radar contact. Climb and maintain one-zero-thousand. Turn left heading three-five-zero. Climb and maintain one-zero-thousand. Left three-five-zero. Zero Romeo Echo. Okay, three-five-zero heading set. And ten-thousand. And I see ten-thousand. Air valves are open. Secure. Flaps are up. APR is disarmed. Engine sink is on. Ignitions and anti-ice are off. Thank you, man. Okay. United 1770, direct to Hathi. Direct to Hathi, United 1770. After getting final flight level, we are in a great spot to chat about the pros and cons of being a corporate pilot versus an airline pilot. Let's dive into it. Corporate Pilot Pluses. Flexibility and Variety. Corporate pilots often have more varied schedules. You might fly to different destinations, including smaller airports that airlines don't service, which can be exciting and offer a broader flying experience. The flight paths and mission types can vary widely, from short regional hops to international travel, giving you a diverse range of flying experiences. Offering a more luxurious and comfortable flying experience. It's not just about getting from point A to B, but doing so in style. You generally have more control over your schedule, as well as decisions related to flight planning and aircraft operation. There's often more room for decision making in operational aspects, including routes, fuel management, and ground services. Minuses. Unpredictable Schedule. You might also face last minute trips and long hours with little notice, which can be challenging if you prefer a predictable routine. Oh dear, it's the boss calling. Now make sure the background noise sounds as if you are working hard, or don't answer. The career path can be less defined, with fewer opportunities for advancement compared to the airline industry. It may be harder to transition into management or other roles without leaving the cockpit. Work Environment Corporate Pilots. Small Crews. Often work with a small crew, sometimes just a co-pilot, or even solo on smaller jets. Varied Environment. They may operate out of private terminals, FBOs, fixed base operators, and may spend more time on the ground coordinating logistics. Pilots. Fixed Schedules. Airline pilots generally follow a more structured schedule with defined routes and times. They know their flight schedules well in advance. Routine Routes. They usually fly the same or similar routes repeatedly, often between major airports. Flight Planning. Airlines have specialized departments for flight planning, so airline pilots mainly review and execute pre-prepared flight plans. Today our FBO, or Fixed Base Operation Terminal, will be signature. The terminal is specially designed for VIP passengers. FBO terminals are designed to offer a level of service and comfort that far exceeds what is typically found in commercial airports, making them a preferred choice for private and business travelers. Aircraft Types and Operations Corporate Pilots. Diverse Aircraft. They often fly smaller, private jets or turboprops, which are typically more luxurious and equipped with customized features. Airline Pilots. Larger Aircraft. They typically operate large commercial jets designed to carry many passengers, such as Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s. Specific Roles. Airline pilots have more defined roles, with dedicated staff handling most non-flying responsibilities. Job Stability and Security. Corporate Pilots. Less Stability. Job security can be less predictable, often tied to the fortunes of a specific company or client. If a company decides to sell its aircraft or no longer requires a private pilot, the job could be at risk. Airline Pilots. More Stability. Generally enjoy more job security, especially with larger airlines. Airline Pilots are often unionized, which can provide additional job protection and benefits. Time flew by quickly during our conversation. Now, with just 20 minutes left before landing, it's time to listen to the ATIUS. Nothing changed with the arrivals, visuals, charted visuals. Wind is 090 at 6. Have a little bit of a tailwind. According to ATIUS, San Francisco is using a parallel approach to runways 28 left and 28 right. And based on our flight plan, we will be following the SURFAR 3 arrival procedures. Now Jim is calling to Signature FBO and inform them we are arriving soon and if we need some service on the ground. Victor, on the plane, there are multiple women waiting for his autograph. Yes. Something about clothes and underwear coming off, getting ready to get thrown at you too. I don't know. Finally. Finally, I got it. American 265, contact Oakland Center 134.15. 15. Skywest 3488, climb and maintain. Flight level 34, correction 5-3-3-0. G-93 back with you. Nobody home 34-15. A little bit history about San Francisco Airport. On June 6, 1927, operations officially began at Millsfield Municipal Airport of San Francisco. With a 4,590-foot runway, a total of 19 aircraft landed, carrying 19 passengers in the first month. As part of his touring of the United States, Charles Lindbergh visited Millsfield with the spirit of St. The Airport was renamed San Francisco Airport on June 9, 1931. One o'clock, two miles, 2,000. I have that traffic in sight. Zero Romeo Echo. Zero Romeo Echo, maintain visual separation, follow that traffic there, landing 28 right, cleared visual approach and wait 28 left. Okay, clear visual 28 left, following the traffic on 28 right, we have in sight. Zero Romeo Echo. Zero Romeo Echo, thank you much. Maintain 180 knots, full five mile final, contact San Francisco Tower 120.5. 180 knots, still five mile final, 120.5. Zero Romeo Echo. Tower 780, Romeo Echo, visual 28 left. Zero Romeo Echo, San Francisco Tower, 28 left, cleared to land, caution, we have turbulence airbus for the right. Cleared to land, we have airbus in sight, Zero Romeo Echo. Zero Romeo Echo, just confirm runway 28 left, cleared to land. Sorry, 28 left, cleared to land, Zero Romeo Echo. Cleared to land. Be checked. And before land check. Takeoff, ignition. Tower, one Romeo Hotel, I've got a traffic that needs to go westbound, so if you can go northbound, make left 360s over candlestick until, 100, you can contact NORCOM. Switching a day, Southwest 848. 300. Okay, landing check's complete. Perfect. Current position, I have one westbound departure, and then we can get you back southbound. Minimums. Hold in your current position, there'll be one westbound departure, and then we can proceed. One Romeo Hotel, hold position here. Thanks, American 1974, hold position. 100. 50, 40, 30, 20, 10. And taxiway, liftoff. Okay, six lights. Put up on Lima. Airport diagram. You yoke? I got the yoke. Just left. Right at Echo, hold short of 28 right, zero, Romeo Echo. Ground 780, Romeo Echo, on Echo, north of 28 right to signature. November, zero, Romeo Echo, central ground, taxi via Charlie to the ramp. Taxi via Charlie to the ramp, zero, Romeo Echo. American 2533, central ground, pushback spot 5, Bravo, your discretion. All right, I got our times. Charlie to the ramp. 6541, central ground, after Air Canada passes behind you, pushback onto Alpha is approved. Pushback to Alpha after Air Canada, Skywest 5541. Watch your wings, go to the right just a little. Okay, a little bit right. Bravo. Good. Pushback 5, Bravo, American 2533. Got a picture? Got a picture, okay, I got it. But we are ready now, we're pushing back. Okay, thank you.