For personal reasons, I’m going to leave the names and places out of this. They aren’t that important with regard to the questions that follows it all.

Last week, a guy calls me. He got my number from a friend that I went to college with and still fly with from time to time. He’s the chief pilot for a small company that just bought their first jet. A Lear 35A. Actually, they partner the thing with 2 other companies that will all use the same flight crew. His right seat (co-pilot) is not available for the flight to get this thing to its home base airport. He wants to know if I’ll be his co-pilot for the trip to its new home.

Sure, why not? Nothing else going on, and it’s a quick $2500.00. (no. not the norm)

He slaps some fuel in the thing. It’s enough for the trip, plus about 40 minutes or so. And so, off we go.

Weather is getting bad at our destination. He speeds things up in an attempt to beat it. Fat chance. We’re just burning more fuel now. I keep my mouth shut. He’s a chief pilot with a big ego. Still plenty of fuel for the trip.

During the trip we chat about his training, experience, etc. Seems to be a competent pilot. Age 42.

Our first approach, and things are thick. It’s night. Very dark. Raining hard. Still within the capabilities/limits of the aircraft, but visibility is closing fast.

As is the usual procedure. He flies the approach via the instruments. I call out pertinent information to him until I make visual with the airport (runway) lights. At this time (I call “visual made”), he should be able to look up from the instruments, see the runway, and land the thing.

NOT – “I can’t see it. We’re going around.” He says. He powers up and around we go. About 15 minutes and we’re all lined up again. Now visibility is getting worse. Still in limits though. Fuel is getting low. Not panic low - But be rather concerned low.

Approach #2. I see the runway, and call it. He looks up……”I can’t see it…We’re going around.” Powers up. More fuel use….. I’m now becoming concerned about this guys capabilities with instrument approaches.
I somewhat calmly state: “We can’t keep doing this ****, man. We’re very low on fuel.”
He doesn’t say much. Not anything I can understand, anyway.

Approach #3. Fuel tank levels are reading … (let’s just say: “E”), but we’re trusting the totalizer which says we still have some. I’m no longer as concerned for this guys abilities as I am for my own well being. Aka: Life.

Again – He can’t make visual. (OMG, we’re gonna die !!) For about 3 seconds, as this idiot powers up again…I think about DJ and the kids. Then I think about how the fuel pick-ups are in the front of the tanks. (Even with fuel in them, it may not be enough to cover the pickups when he accelerates and pulls the nose up.) I get on the radio and call for a very short/low go around. We can. I talk this idiot through the path and picking up the marker and ILS. I explain to him that this is it. I will take the controls if he misses it again. (Screw the left seat - right seat - pilot - copilot - pilot in command crap.) He says nothing.

Approach #4. Thank God he sees the runway !! Why he can see it this time and not the others, is beyond me. He’s a bit left-and-right, up-and-down with it, but we touch down (a bit long, but we’re down) and a warm feeling of “just cheated death” fills me.

Then the spooky "reality hits you in the gut” part.
Taxing to the FBO the #2 engine flames out from fuel starvation. I didn’t say a thing…Neither did he. I don’t know about him. But at that time, I sat there trying not to shake too much or show signs that I just wanted to cry from all the overwhelming emotions. (Some of which was – Hey, let’s kick his ass when we step out of this thing.)

Nothing was said during the post flight shut-down other than checklist items.

In the FBO, I’m calling a cab. He walks up and thanks me for my time. He says that (the company) will get a check to me this week. I looked up at him and said to forget about paying me. That I just wanted to forget that this flight ever took place.

He turns and walks away.

In all my years and hours of flying. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere near that concerned about "not making it". Few things, when piloting any aircraft are as bad as feeling: "We're not going to make it."

Qs: (Just curious where you folks might stand.)
Do I contact the company(s) this guy is going to fly for and tell them about this flight?
Do I contact the FAA about this guys instrument abilities?

Nothing he/we did was illegal. No need for a low fuel emergency as the pattern was empty. But if this guy normally takes 4 shots with routine “in limit” instrument approaches…. I have concerns for his future passengers.

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !