Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Bigskycanada · Post by **Bigskycanada** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 6:07 pm

I have had the pleasure of meeting "Jericho" from YWG terminal, and he's one of the friendliest and easy going controllers I have ever met.Even if he is Australian and talks funny.

fogghorn · Post by **fogghorn** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:16 pm

Older fella who runs the fbo in ycg (esso I believe), bend over backward to help out and very personable. He winters in az, don't know his name though..

Rudder Bug · Post by **Rudder Bug** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:11 pm

My hat goes off to ol'Gedeon, running Sharp Wings in William Lake. A awesome legend, someone to write about.

Merry Xmass Gedeon and thanks so much again for your kindness when I had to overnight with Mike India Charlie!

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:00 pm

fogghorn wrote:Older fella who runs the fbo in ycg (esso I believe), bend over backward to help out and very personable. He winters in az, don't know his name though..

Al Janzen.

JEG · Post by **JEG** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:43 pm

My vote is for Petite. She sends Redline and I cookies.

P.S. Redline says thanks too

fogghorn · Post by **fogghorn** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:09 pm

Airtids wrote:
fogghorn wrote:Older fella who runs the fbo in ycg (esso I believe), bend over backward to help out and very personable. He winters in az, don't know his name though..
Al Janzen.

Thanks

Tui · Post by **Tui** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:21 pm

I'll second Tony Beluse, and add John Anderson and Dave Gronfors.

petite · Post by **petite** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:54 am

Thank you to IABD, Hazatude, JEG and RedLine.

Yesterday I was having an extremely bad night and you guys have reminded me that I am loved. My list grows everyday with the people I meet. I can't remember names as midnight shift is rotting my brain but I can say what kind of people they are.
Pilots that disprove the stereotype of 'cocky asshole'
AMEs that let me poke my head into every aircraft crevasse imaginable and innundate them with my questions.
The guys in the Manufacturing world that were AMEs in other countries - India, Pakinstan, UAE, almost every Soviet country, few Africans, and a Commonwealth. Between their butchered english, my franglais, lots of hand gestures and blueprints - we always got the job done and they opened my eyes to the outside world.
Larry Canduro,Steve Canduro and the Supreme Commander of Welding - Aircraft Structures at Sault College
Christoff Ziemsen - made me promise that I'd get my PPL. One day I will.
Steven Hause - The man
Stephen Small - first AME I met
All the CF Personnel I've the priviledge of speaking/dealing with.
The gals of Ladies' Night - because they rock and we party in the private room.

Well Good Morning to All and I'm going to bed.

Phlyer · Post by **Phlyer** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:25 am

Rudder Bug wrote:My hat goes off to ol'Gedeon, running Sharp Wings in William Lake. A awesome legend, someone to write about.

Merry Xmass Gedeon and thanks so much again for your kindness when I had to overnight with Mike India Charlie!

Second that. Taught me more than he'll ever know, usually by saying nothing.

Brewguy · Post by **Brewguy** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:28 am

Scott Manning (Air show pilot).

While he did not fly commercially, he was one of the most "professional" pilots around.
He was also once of the nicest people I've ever met.

He is sorely missed.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:38 pm

The late Bob Nyman from my Austin Airways days.
Also, Barry Jewell, again from Austin.
Dennis Hendricks and Joe Salonia from Soundair...two of the greatest guys to spend a night trying to find CVG with.
Carl Millard, Billy Houghton, Kelly Hepburn, Farrah Fawcett (Yup, her! Shared a ride to LAX with her in a GII)
All the folks I worked with at Skywalker were fun to be with.
Tim, Tom, Wolf etc.
Never met Cat, but I've "talked" with him often enough to know he's on my list! As is Wasen't me...yes it was....bring back CF-DAY, I really miss it!
Just Curious, C-FOXY....and too many to mention.
I've been really lucky......the list could go on all night. But I must go buy more mix!

All you folks have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Doc's orders!

NAYA · Post by **NAYA** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:31 pm

I've met so many great people from this biz.
An Instructor I had at Perimeter, John Okemo, was one of the nicest guys I had ever met. I new him for a very short period of time but he treated everyone with respect and kindness. May he rest in peace.

... · Post by **...** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:43 am

I am Birddog wrote:
I am Birddog wrote:
I am Birddog wrote:Here's my list in no specific order.

Jean Provencher-CP for .. Died in a crash in 1998. He always returned my phone calls...he always made the time to see me in his office. I model my professional interaction with pilots in the same courteous manner.

The boy's under the Big Top '98 '99

Avcanada Moderators, Sulako, & Doc (yes Mr. Doc...we have met )

Les Boys-CYRJ '96 '97

CYSN ATS (The Best FSS EVOOOR!)

The 'old school' boy's in Ontario flyin' them there 'yeller ducks'

Hicks Senior

Haza

Tower Dudette

My first and only flight instructor from the ground up, Ralph.

Additions:

unregistered
Squidward
SKK boiz
Addition;

It's not very often someone crosses your path in life that makes you stop, and take notice...

Your name on Avcanada may be petite...but your heart is larger than life.

Thanks 'petite'...I appreciated the lovely surprise. However you have it wrong, it's YOU that is the class act...and I'm a better person now that I have met you.

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

Much Love

I am Birddog!

ADDITIONS:

a]Burnt-Back McDonald...for being insane
b]Edge...for being a lifesaver.
c]"Big Goof" in YSB flyin a Black Raven all summer long....
d]A golfless 'Gewph' from Brantford (That never washed that mustard sweater for that last 11 months.)
e]Scotty...DOOOOOOOO!!
f] "Ronald" Le Chinois Phuckoh (for handling life's issues better than I could ever have)
g] 'Elvis'

It's ironic that he is named after a RockZtar when he is one in aviation and in his personal life!
h]YUL BUIIIIIIIIEEEEEST (for being a go-getter)

The Bad 'Beech' Boiz;
i) BrandoH (the other company token ethnic guy)
ii) Boney ass 'Pretty-boy' Nickey
iii) Pitter....because he just gives 'er! (superstaaaar)
iv)

"Get Dem ExPerience ya'nuh!"

bandaid · Post by **bandaid** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:33 am

I can't believe that I never made IABD list, bugger

Will be in Montreal airport for about 6-8 hours next week if anyone is in the neighbourhood that might want to say hi.

... · Post by **...** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:08 am

bandaid wrote:I can't believe that I never made IABD list, bugger
Will be in Montreal airport for about 6-8 hours next week if anyone is in the neighbourhood that might want to say hi.

The title of this thread is "Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?"

I have not met you yet...

I too may be @ YUL next week...this will be your last chance before I become a famous rockstar.

Swizzle · Post by **Swizzle** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:44 am

Wow my 2.3 secs of fame, thanks IABD even though I am represented as a Ladies bracelet!

You're def one of the nicest people I've met in my life forget just the biz. Don't know why people hate on SKK, great bunch of guys to fly with - Swiz

bandaid · Post by **bandaid** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:12 pm

Hey I have offered to take you out and give you a golf lesson! I think that I am at YUL for most of the day on wednesday.

Dan2049 · Post by **Dan2049** » Wed Sep 23, 2020 6:36 am

Did you know Jean Provencher well? I am looking for someone who can speak about him as a professional and as a person - to honour him for a Discovery Channel series. Kind Regards, Dan

cannuck · Post by **cannuck** » Thu Sep 24, 2020 6:08 am

What a nice topic for my first post here. Just found this forum this morning.

Although I started flying around 1961, I did not get a license until '72. In all of those years as a hangar rat, student, bush pilot, repair station, lessor and enthusiast I have met some scoundrels and scaliwags but also some extremely nice people. The first were the pilot and engineer who kept a shiny new Beech D18S at CFB Picton for a local construction company (HJ MacFarland). They would tell the few 12 year olds who made the pilgrimage from the PMQs to the RCFCA club and adjacent ex WWII hangars at the airport pretty much anything we cared to learn about airplanes and flying. They also shared space with a small crew building 4 P-51D models from the vast store of parts and planes (ALL of the RCAF's DHC-1s were in another hangar next door). 11 years later I met one of the pilots who flew one of the Mustangs out - a crew chief for C-130 I was helping. Those guys also would tolerate our dumb questions and show us what they were doing along with careful explanations. These extremely nice people are responsible for me being in and around the business for the next 59 years.

In the North, I met a lot of people who used aviation for transport, business and recreation. Some became close friends for life. There were those who had an extremely gruff and even rude presentation, but over time I came to be able to rely upon them in ANY adversity to solve a problem and lend a hand (or a tool, or an airplane) whenever I needed. One of those fellows is building his 12th original design and what we believe to be the largest amateur design/build airplane in the world. Another became a Transport Canada accident investigator. Yet another DHC-3 kojo turned out to be the designer of the DME in my airplane and another very good friend.

In the South, the guy hangared his Citation and Gazelle where I would rent space to work on my 3NM in the winter also became a friend until his last days. We did some serious political crap disturbing in our time. Also met some names who anyone at the time would have known that gave me a lot of first hand reports on aviation from their experience in the '30s and '40s. Did a brief flirtation helping a small company build some "ultralights" about 30 years ago, and met a fellow who has been one of my business partners ever since.

Currently fly with a friend introduced through some of the aviation channels above, but most of all, I crossed paths a few times with a squadron mate of a CF-104 jockey (actually the RCAF acceptance test pilot) I worked with. This man had been running the RCFCA club where I did my ab initio training after I left (YBR), ran another operation at a field where one of my Northern friends now owns an engine overhaul facility and finally came to YXE where we met maybe 15 years ago. I saved "the best for the last" because he is IMHO the very personification of the "pilot's pilot". In a lifetime of meeting interesting and capable friends in aviation, he tops the list of people who fly because they love flying, who fix and build because they love airplanes. You can find him at Millenium Aviation at YXE. Not only is Cecil Sorenson the owner of this business, he is also Canada's highest time pilot. He seems to have the time and patience to discuss and teach everyone and anyone at any level of interest in aviation. He is the ultimate good will ambassador for our business and hobby.

Meatservo · Post by **Meatservo** » Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:07 am

vnavlnav · Post by **vnavlnav** » Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:47 pm

Emilio Tarsitano from Island Air. He was a great mentor and helped me out tons when I was doing my flight training. Very generous man and always looked out for others.

pilot96140 · Post by **pilot96140** » Fri Sep 25, 2020 7:26 pm

apatry · Post by **apatry** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:28 am

Hi - this is going to be a shot in the dark but a user (who I think is no longer on this forum, called BirdDog) has spoken with Jean Provencher a number of times before he died in 1998. I was hoping to ask BirdDog a few questions about him... would anyone here also have spoken to Mr. Provencher back then?

Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Gedeon

Re: Gedeon

Re:

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?

Re: Who are the nicest people you've met in the biz?