Pilatus PC-12 (N824SA)

Standing beneath the landing pattern at KCRQ, I enjoy watching these glide in to land from KSQL or KSMO. They are really pretty birds, and usually right on schedule. Would that I had the money and/or the need for the Surf Air service...seems like a great way to fly! :)

Lately, I've been noticing Surf Air pilots are taking the "hot dog" approach more often than not. I wonder if this has to do with negative press about noise from their planes disturbing residents, whether those complaints are founded or not. To be honest, though, I wouldn't want to fly with them if this is becoming their standard operating procedure. I don't want to be a part of some pilot learning his/her limitations. I'd much prefer to see them taking a long, standard ILS approach all the time. Might seem more boring to some, but it's much prettier as far as I'm concerned and also provides a standard experience. A hard-banking right turn and a rapid descent into a controlled landing-gear-absorbed crash on the tarmac isn't what I'd expect from a company advertising themselves as a luxury provider. More like bush-plane/pilot type of a move, and you can put lipstick on the pig but I think when it comes down to it that's really what Surf Air is beneath the super-high price tags.