[nicenewtemp84]

If I had finally made a billion dollars, getting on a rented helicopter with a rented pilot seems like the last thing I'd want to do. Unless I personally found the best helicopter pilot ever, and found the most trustworthy set of helicopter mechanics to double check each other's work, you couldn't get me on that thing.

[prepend]

If I’m a billionaire, what’s an extra $600-1200k for 2-4 helicopter pilots to be rotationally on call at all times of day for immediate response?

I mean, there are netjets for helicopters if I want to save money. But we’re talking about buying a building for $250M and refurbishing, why skimp on a million per year for pilots?

[nicenewtemp84]

The rental pilots are the exact thing I'm worried about. Your life is in their hands to an extreme level in a helicopter, as well as the mechanic.

The biggest psychopath I ever met with a decent drug habit (opiates) got fired from 3 companies over the years I knew of, although hesitantly because he's a likable guy (as long as the psycho doesn't set his target on you).

He's now a pilot, instructing other pilots in training for money, until he lands a corporate gig or with an airline.

You do not want that guy in charge of your life. And while these people exist everywhere, I don't think you're ever more at risk of being hurt by one than in a helicopter in one. It requires a lot of the person, and you just don't know if the person in the seat is trustworthy. If I made billions, I wouldn't risk it.

[lostcolony]

The parent wasn't suggesting a rental pilot, but a salaried, on call pilot. As in, "You. I have fully vetted you. I have spoken with you. I will pay you hundreds of thousands of dollars to live near the airport just to fly me where/when I want you to. I have two others just like you, so that all of you can still have lives as I rotate between you. Because the 1.2 million it costs me per year as a multi-billionaire is not even perceptible to me, being like a normal person paying 100 bucks a year, and the convenience to me is huge".

[prepend]

Yes, that’s exactly what I intended. Hiring 3-4 pilots who would work 40 hours per week just sitting around waiting for me. Being tested to make sure their skills are high.

Although I suppose if I was paying $1.2M in rental pilots they would be absolutely amazing and not the junkie that GP described.

I still think like a poor, working class person rather than like a billionaire where $1M/year is literally the equivalent of a few hundred dollars for me.

I read a book by Douglas Coupland (I think it was All Families are Psychotic but not sure) where a super rich person goes to a restaurant and orders every dish on the menu. He then tries them and eats one and throws the rest away. His guest was so perplexed and he explained that what’s $1000-2000 for a meal. It doesn’t matter.

What’s inconceivable to me is common to some. And there’s probably someone out there that feels the same about me. In that there are countries with $1k GDP and people making $2/day. So I make 1000x just like billionaires make 1000x my own.

[svnt]

Billionaires typically keep pilots on staff and pay them full-time. These pilots only work for the wealthy or maybe corporate clients and have a nice ratio. Maintenance crews I‘m speculating but in these sorts of situations there are usually a select few companies who are known in that world.

[nicenewtemp84]

Pilots yes, but when you travel nationwide or international, your local helicopter can't make it. So other than your main office location and home, you're probably just chartering a pilot and helicopter. Statistically I'm sure it's ok, but my gut says I wouldn't do it. I also don't let my friends drive if we're going anywhere either.

[lostcolony]

I feel like San Francisco, and in general, the Bay area, is the sort of place a billionaire could rationalize maintaining a crew.