MovieChat Forums > Airplane Repo (2010) Discussion > New Airplane Repo episodes - so fake

New Airplane Repo episodes - so fake

posted 11 years ago by neerood
5 replies | jump to latest

The original brief Airplane Repo series back in 2010 was great, showing the reality of the airplane repossession trade from the viewpoint of Sage-Popovich. It had a minimal fake footage.

But the revived 2013 version of Airplane Repo seems fake as hell. While slickly produced, the camera shots and fake jeopardy situations are so artificial as to ruin the viewing experience.

Discovery and Nat Geo excel at re-enactment shows. But when the same techniques are cynically presented as reality it doesn't work. A quick disclaimer at the end admits the footage is re-enacted to protect the crew and subjects. Mike Rowe shouldn't have lowered himself to narrate this.

[–] Daggett57 11 years ago

Agreed, the first season seemed realistic, no insane confrontations, police standoffs, etc. Why did they have to ruin it?

[–] e_mendez 11 years ago

That's the formula for every "reality" show now. The first season was excellent but the mouthbreathers at the network decided to revamp the show by bringing in actors and creating fake scenarios with drama and tension. Sadly this is so common that it makes the movie Idiocracy seem more and more like a documentary.

I read on an aviation forum that the planes on the show aren't being repo'ed at all, they're on loan from owners for the episode. Additionally, the acting can be so bad it's laughable. The episode where one of the repo men is talking to a cop while the owner of a helicopter just walks away, starts it and takes off in just a couple of minutes was one of the most memorable for all the wrong reasons.

[–] neerood 11 years ago

Checked out one of the original "Airplane Repo" episodes. The comparison to the new fake series is laughable.

The repo company does all the paperwork in advance, makes sure they have prepayment arranged with the airports, fuel stations,mechanics, etc., so there's no reason for a grumpy mechanic or fuel guy to attack the repo team. In reality, they are actually happy to have these tabs paid off.

Before doing anything, they contact local police and airport authorities and advise them of the repo. Repossession is achieved by placement of a repo notice sticker and chock blocks, not by dangerous midnight takeoffs on unlit runways and frantic repairs.

Long before a repo, lenders engage the repo company to visit and inspect the asset, so the owners are fully on notice.

They have had some past scrapes in foreign countries, and it's always unnerving for pilots to fly a plane they aren't familiar with. One example was a slight vibration that didn't affect the flight. The original series uses quick cuts and bureaucratic snags as the points of drama.

Mike Rowe should ask to be removed from the garbage new series, it's beneath him.

[–] captlupin 10 years ago

Pretty hilarious they can just jump in a plane and take off at midnight without telling a soul. Especially post 9-11

[–] JerseyJoe 10 years ago

ALL REALITY SHOWS ARE FAKE. If there is a camera on you and you know it, not reality. Film people who do not know they are being filmed then you got reality.