Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Human Factors; Procedure
While enroute; the high-profile passenger and his female companion had been sleeping on the air-mattress berth. About 30 minutes prior to landing; the Flight Attendant informed us that the person's assistant told her that the individual did not want to be awoken for landing; and that 'He always sleeps right through landing; no one ever makes him get up.' It was getting bumpy; so the PIC told the Flight Attendant (FA) to inform him that the Captain was instructing him for his own safety to comply with Federal laws and fasten his seat-belt.At that point; the assistant came forward and repeated the statement that 'He always flies with him and has never had to wake this person up prior to landing.' We informed him that we can't speak for any previous experiences; but that he is required to be in a seat with his belt on prior to landing. We also pointed out it was expected to be turbulent and that he needs to be in a seat for his own safety. We allowed that he could let the individual sleep until we were closer to the airport; but were clear that he had to be up before landing.At less than 10 minutes prior to landing; as we were descending through 9;000 feet; near the airport; the Flight attendant told us that the passenger had flatly refused to get up. Since we were in the sterile cockpit environment; and the situation looked like it could escalate into a confrontation; we decided the safest course of action was for us to simply land and get these people off the plane rather than attempting to force the passenger to comply while we were so close to the airport. In addition; the company induced fear of making an owner mad; and this individual's known volatile history were factors in our decision to not confront the owner.The company needs to set the expectation with the owner that he needs to be up and in a seat prior to landing; and that if he again fails to comply with crew member instructions that there could be consequences. As for the statement that he was allowed to sleep through previous landings; I can attest that I did not have this problem with the owner on previous flights. This makes me think that this was simply a ploy by the assistant to manipulate us.
[Report Narrative Contained no Additional Information].
Pilot reports of a VIP passenger who refuses to sit in a seat and remains lying in the bed. Captain and assistant discuss matter. Pilot reluctantly decides to let passenger remain laying down to avoid a company problem.