Aviation articles by Garth Wallace

2/ What do airport workers say when they see you coming?

I have three questions for pilots:
1/ Did you tip the waitress the last time you ate in an airport cafe?
2/ What did the waitress do to deserve your extra gratitude?
3/ Why don’t we tip the linecrew who pull out and fuel our airplanes?

Maybe we should forget Question 2 but how about the third one?
Linecrew are the lowest paid workers on an airport yet the consequences of their mistakes run from expensive inconveniences to all-manner of life-threatening possibilities.
The waitress serves food and always receives a tip. The worse she can do is mess up the order or drop it in your lap. Her opportunities to kill someone during her shift are few.
The line staff could knock you out of the sky anytime. What are we doing wrong?

A tale of two pilots
I instructed at a fixed base operation that also offered aircraft storage. Two customers each kept a Piper Comanche in our hangar.
Customer "A" was a prickly blowhard who plowed his way through life believing that being pushy and ignorant got the best results. The linecrew always parked his airplane in the back of the hangar under the beam occupied by the most birds with the loosest bowels and the best aim.
If he called ahead to have it pulled out, "A’s" airplane would still be in the back when he arrived. The tires would be soft, the fuel tanks empty and the topsides would be covered with bird residue. The linecrew would be nowhere in sight.
The irate owner would charge into the office ranting about poor service. The manager would recruit the available staff to move airplanes. We’d hose off the Comanche, pump up the tires, fuel the tanks and send "A" on his way. The linecrew would reappear after he left. The manager would chew them out. They’d smile and nod; happy in the silence provided by their earplugs.
Comanche Customer "B" phoned ahead every time he wanted to fly. When he arrived, his airplane would be sitting on the ramp, clean and full of gas. The three linemen would be standing beside it smiling.
"B" would say, "Thanks guys, I really appreciate how you always have my airplane ready to go." Then he would hand them each a $5-dollar bill.

Try this experiment
I’m not suggesting that all pilots are like Customer "A". One of the nice things about flying is there are relatively few miserable people in it.
And I’m not going to say we should all blow $15 on tips for the linecrew every time we go flying.
I just want to point out that tipping an underpaid someone who helps you enjoy aviation is smart. It shows respect and gratitude for what they are doing for you. A small investment in appreciation can generate good returns.
The next time an airport line staff fills the tanks on your piston-pusher with avgas and not jet fuel; if they don’t dent a wing or break off the pitot tube; and if they didn’t set anything on fire; tip them five dollars and give them a hearty, "Thank you."
You’ll enjoy the reaction and you’ll love the service the next time you taxi up to the pumps.
Some might argue that linecrew are already being paid by the FBO and they should give every customer good service. It’s true but that attitude ignores human nature. We all love recognition for a job well done, especially when we don’t expect it.

Let’s take this further
Aviation is filled with underpaid, helpful people. Pilots trust their flying instructors with their lives and the lives of their future passengers but we don’t tip them either.
Do you tip your aircraft maintenance engineer? If you don’t, I invite you to somehow arrange a recording of what is said in the shop when you are taxiing up in a sick airplane. It’ll be different than if you had stuck extra twenties in a few pockets the last time. The bill at maintenance shops may be large but the AME’s income is not. If you only have one friend in the world, shouldn’t it be your aircraft mechanic? Tip them and they’ll treat you better than family.

Let’s keep going
I was talking to a fixed base operator who was also the manager of the small, municipal airport. He was happy to report that 2002 was the first year that the airport’s income had covered all its expenses. I asked him what had pushed his budget over the top. He replied that it was donations from aircraft owners and area businesses
"We charge small parking and tie-down fees," he said, "we have an airport tax in the fuel and we charge commercial aircraft a landing fee. It wasn’t enough so I sent letters or talked to most of the airport users as well as the local businesses and service clubs. The response was encouraging. A few private aircraft owners who vacation in the area sent $50 or $100. One who is based on the field donated $500. A corporate aircraft operator who was already paying landing fees contributed $3,000."
Maybe your airport needs a little extra to stay open.

"Aviation is already too expensive"
Yes it is, and indications are that it will not get cheaper. If the cost of flying is about to push you out of aviation, I understand. There are other ways to show your gratitude.
For the rest, please remember that you will not be taking your money with you when you die. A few extra dollars spent in gratitude for good service goes a long way. I’ll guarantee that you’ll breeze through the rest of your life with less stress, more fun and lots of friends at the airport.
One last thing: the next time you are in the coffee shop, ask the waitress if she would like an airplane ride. That and fifty cents will win her gratitude too.