Anybody else watching Airplane Repo on Discovery Channel?

I have seen it a couple of times. It seems that the repo guys are not pilots and have to hire a local pilot who always appears to be available at short notice, and who also is familiar with the plane involved. Not necessarily unusual as they presumably have identified some of these guys. The question is what kind of pilot would do this, presumably risky operation. What if the "owner" appeared with a gun?
Peter.

Actually....

While there is some drama involved with airplane repossession. That show is highly over dramatic and juiced up for entertainment purposes. I've been one of those pilots on several occasions and the way it works is like this. The airplane is located the bank issues a notice of default and legal repossession documents.

You walk in to the FBO show them the legal documents they pull the airplane out of the hangar and you fly it to where the bank needs it taken. If there is any trouble local law enforcement has already been notified by the banks attornys in most cases and they will be contacted to assist you if needed.

Now I have talked to some guys who've done some pretty hairy international repo's. I know guy who's had to sneak an airplane off the line in Vegas because the owner was a local thug/mobster. But these are the exception not the rule. The show makes for good TV I guess but it isn't how it works in the real world. Like most "reality" TV there is very little reality involved with this show.

Of course, you never get to look at a logbook, see any mechanical records, talk to the FBO that maintains the airplane. Just open the door, wind up the rubber bands and fly!

I think not. At least not if it was my semi-worthless body in the left seat.

The one that cracks me up is all the trouble they have sneaking onto airport grounds... when the childishly easy way to do so is to have a buddy FLY you onto the airport.

AD

So, suppose I have the aircraft behind my house at one of these "fly in" developments that they have in Florida?
Peter.

As Surestrike mentions, not much drama involved with this sort of thing, it is not like a car.

My concern as a pilot would be is the owners usually stop paying for maintenance before they stop paying the bank. So how would it be inspected before ferrying if all this stuff was done clandestinely.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
So, suppose I have the aircraft behind my house at one of these "fly in" developments that they have in Florida?
Peter.

Then you'd be a pilot. I haven't seen this show but I suspect these planes are business purchases, and the owners aren't even pilots but just some guy trying to keep a failing company afloat in a tough economy. If they are repo-ing Extra 300's and Ercoupes I might think differently, but I suspect they're taking light twins and small bizjets, maybe the occasional Mooney or Bonanza.

I may be wrong, but that's my hunch.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
So, suppose I have the aircraft behind my house at one of these "fly in" developments that they have in Florida?
Peter.

Then we infiltrate the perimeter, eliminate any resistance with extreme prejudice and blow the airplane up in place before exiting. Any intel that is of value is collected and all prisoners are interrogated and disposed of.

That's how you handle that situation. So you better keep up on your payments.

quote:

Then we infiltrate the perimeter, eliminate any resistance with extreme prejudice and blow the airplane up in place before exiting. Any intel that is of value is collected and all prisoners are interrogated and disposed of.

That's how you handle that situation. So you better keep up on your payments.

Damn, this repo show could get real interesting!
Peter

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:

Then we infiltrate the perimeter, eliminate any resistance with extreme prejudice and blow the airplane up in place before exiting. Any intel that is of value is collected and all prisoners are interrogated and disposed of.

That's how you handle that situation. So you better keep up on your payments.

Airline pilot by day, special ops by night, occasional big game hunter; that's pretty cool!

Been there, done that ...many ,many years ago.
One of the most difficult issues was finding the right key that fit the door and ignition from the ring of Cessna keys provided by the FBO-Dealer!!
Funny what you find in some of these aircraft!!
Cheers

So 470EDDY

Since the statute of limitations has passed except for the dead bodies, what sorta stuff was lying around in the aircraft?

Nosey folks wanta know!

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
Been there, done that ...many ,many years ago.
One of the most difficult issues was finding the right key that fit the door and ignition from the ring of Cessna keys provided by the FBO-Dealer!!
Funny what you find in some of these aircraft!!
Cheers

I would not be surprised by anything I found in ANY sort of repossessed vehicle.

I have a friend who does vehicle repossessions
and I've helped him clean out vehicles before they are returned to the finance company.

Typically any aftermarket equipment is removed
audio equipment, instrumentation, communications gear.

I am perpetually amused that some idiot can afford a $2500 stereo system, a $1200 Nitrous oxide system, fancy aftermarket rims and tires... yet can manage to FORGET to make their $250/month car payment... for FOUR months... making their vehicle a repo.

Nothing Illegal....expensive Guitars, leather jackets, etc.....all the trappings of spenders gone wild!!...consequently their airplanes didn't get paid for??

Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by poprivit:
Of course, you never get to look at a logbook, see any mechanical records, talk to the FBO that maintains the airplane. Just open the door, wind up the rubber bands and fly!

I think not. At least not if it was my semi-worthless body in the left seat.

And of course since the bank now owns the airplane and it's in your possession you have plenty of time to go over the log books, the airplane and fix anything that needs fixing and to procure a ferry permit if needed. Or if you're not happy with the plane you leave it there until it does get fixed.

There is very little as in none of the 007 stuff you see on the show.

Yep...that's the way it goes...kick the tires, light the fires and GO!!

Interesting chat with a friend last week....he is a broker and a bank called him about a plane on his home base.....he knew it and had tried to sell it for the owner...nope, not enough, several times!! Long and short of it, bank twisted his arm and he now owns it!! I won't tell you the price, it is one of those home runs!! That's the way it goes....
Cheers,

Going through recorded TV shows on my DVR I watched another episode of this airplane repo and am mystified by another factor....

Several times in the show critical communications gear is MISSING from the aircraft...

And that brings me to a fact, I own an Icom Air Radio, they are not that much money.

Why don't these repo pilots or repo guys own one?

that and a length of RG-58CU coax with a BNC connector at either end would only cost you a couple more dollars...

That and your own David Clark headset w/Mic would be a good way to avoid flying without a radio...

(I own TWO of these and I'm not even a pilot!)

I think the entire show is staged.

I went out to our local airport (KDTO) a few months ago to look at a plane for sale. I recognized a few other planes in the hanger from one of the recent shows about a helicopter repo. Guy that owns the hanger says he was approached to stage the entire thing. It was his wife acting like the wife of the deadbeat and he flew his own helicopter for the scene. Not an ounce of the story was true. All fake, including the cop ;-).

Still any show with airplanes in it is entertaining as far as I'm concerned.

Most Everything on TV is staged, yes, even the Reality shows...and not so far fetched...the news too!!

Now go figure why our Country is so Screwed Up with so many Hollywood types in Government these days!!

That said in real life, the Repos do happen and very much like they are showing....been there done that....and to a comment earlier, YES I did have a VHF handheld with VOR capability in the flight bag when doing this....years ago!!

I was just having a good chat in the hangar of a good friend- jet broker, with a nice Baron sitting in the hangar. He was contacted by a bank to go repo the Baron as they thought it was on his airport.....it was, he had tried to help the owner sell it....always wanted too much for the market, and chased it DOWN....and lost it!! Broker dutifully Repoed it into his own hangar....and shortly bought it out from the Banker at $33K with mid-time engines....really nice bird...and even better story!! SWEET, EH!!
Cheers,

You guys do know that there's no reality in "reality" TV right? There's also no... Oh, never mind.

txlonghorn,

Were you about to tell me that the tooth ferry wasn't real? Don't do that!

...And Tinker Bell n SUPERMAN n Santi Claus too...!!

On the subject of your engine failures....I am wondering if you have GREMLINS following you??!!