Sports Charters

CaptBill

CaptBill

Well-Known Member
Just found out I am flying the Astros to Dallas tomorrow (24th) after they finish playing the Giants at home. I guess they start a three game series with the Rangers on Friday.

I would really hate to be the captain who screwed up and wiped out a major sports team. I guess I better read up a bit on things so CNN doesn't vilify my good name.

I have flown many sports charters and am always surprised at how well they cater the flights. There is always tons of goodies left over once the team deplanes. All the ramp guys have figured this out and within minutes of the last player leaving the plane, the food disappears.

This will be my first time flying the Astros. I will give you a "how it went" tomorrow night (unless I screw something up).

Any fun or interesting stories out there with sports teams?
 
I feel bad for the poor FAs having to deal with all those athletes.
Talk about a testosterone-filled cabin....

:D
 
Don't worry. If you screw it up we'll find out shortly after you do. It's funny, on a normal flight you get maybe two or three rampers to help, on a charter you get half the airport circling the plane like vultures.
 
calcapt said:
Any fun or interesting stories out there with sports teams?
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As the Rockets were taxiing out and the roar from the 727 was dissipating I heard a distinctive noise. Sounded a lot like a car engine at idle. Looked over and saw a brand new Beemer with lights on, engine on and doors locked. Sat there for several days until the team made it back. I'm not sure what they did to move teh car as it was out of gas and a dead battery but I wish I had been there for it.
It was pretty funny driving by on a tug the next night and seeing the headlights cutting in and out as the battery was dying.
 
calcapt said:
Any fun or interesting stories out there with sports teams?
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Nothing really fun or interesting but I flew the Green Bay Packers to the San Diego Super Bowl in '98. Never saw so much food consumed before. Had a good chat with Coach Holmgren when he dropped by the cockpit.
 
They fired a bunch of mechanics here in PHX for raiding a college charter one night....the "higher ups" are really cracking down on us for picking at the leftovers. (My favorite is the cheese cake and especially pumpkin pie that we carry on charters in the fall....

Ahh ASU mens team, how I love your catering....
 
I flew the U of KY and U of TN mens basketball teams to Tampa for a tournament last year. All the chic-fil-a you could eat. Those guys didn't look very comfortable at all on an RJ though.
 
for the sports charters, is it does drop and run for them? Is it something you bid for in your months bids or is it picked up or reserve?
 
Got to fly some Missouri school's (can't remember which one) women's basketball team from Austin, TX to Cape Giradeau, MO a couple years ago. There were two planes, one plane for the players and coaches and one for the band and cheerleaders. I got the plane with the cheerleaders...giggity! :)
 
During Bill's reserve stint as an 88 CA in ATL he flew some college baseball team to the finals... it was scheduled only a couple days in advance, and he got the trip as a RSV assignment.
 
We always flew your airline when we chartered at Rutgers. They never gave us an EDC time or subjective to a ground stop when flying back into EWR. They used to get us right out as well.

:bandit:
 
Got the team boarded up and as we approached the runway for takeoff we get the call from ATC that DFW has a ground stop due to thunderstorms, update in 1 hour. Finally got them there but lots of nasty weather enroute.
It was fun to visit with a few of the players and the coaches and staff were all friendly. All in all a good night and 1:29 of overs as well. :)
 
calcapt said:
Got the team boarded up and as we approached the runway for takeoff we get the call from ATC that DFW has a ground stop due to thunderstorms, update in 1 hour. Finally got them there but lots of nasty weather enroute.
It was fun to visit with a few of the players and the coaches and staff were all friendly. All in all a good night and 1:29 of overs as well. :)
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Only 1:29? psssh.

Dad would have to look for the exact number, but after dropping the team off in IND, they sat for probably over 5 hours waiting to get back to EWR. Needless to say he couldn't fly the next day (30 in 7 and min rest), got hid RX dropped and got a ride up to BOS to go to our family Christmas party. That 4 something hour IND turn turned into over 9 hours of pay. That all got put to good use when the family went to ARN over new years with him on a 5-day. That city is hella expensive.
 
OldTownPilot said:
That all got put to good use when the family went to ARN over new years with him on a 5-day. That city is hella expensive.
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