Abx??

[Chicken Taco]

I know they're not hiring right now, but I'm wondering how life is at ABX. Is your contract available anywhere online? What are your typical trips, how many days do you work? Are the layovers good, or something to be dreaded? How does your schedule work over the weekend dead time? thanks for any info you guys can offer..

..CT

 

[ABXbooger]

Life is good. I am a jr FO on the 9, I am currently working 17 on 14 off, hoping to get 7 on 7 off schedule soon. Pay is really good right now considering the other airlines. There is a rumor that we will hire 50 this year, the way things are right now, I believe it. Layovers are generally good, some longer than others but usually in a decent or better hotel. There is always people that will down talk anything, but this could be worse. The future is looking brighter, DHL is going to take freight away from the other two, just a matter of how much and how they handle the growth. We are seeing christmas rush plus freight now. Good luck.

 

[LarryinTN]

Most weekends arrive Saturday morning and lay over until Monday night. Some our 4-day weekends arriving Friday AM departure Monday PM or Sat AM to Tue PM.

A few cities have Sunday flights so the Sat AM arrival leaves Sun AM and a Sun PM arrival lays over until Mon PM.

 

[abxaviator]

Lots of rumors right now, all trending good these days (767's, 757's, hiring...); of course, only time will tell. The contract is not online, but payscales are available at www.airlinepilotpay.com. Layovers during the week are typical, mostly spent sleeping if you're lucky. Flying lines are typically 7 on/7off or thereabouts, reserve lines can be the same or 14/14 (which can allow for a month off at one shot). Of the 16 days of reserve, one may fly a ton or just a few days (great if one lives in Ohio). The weekend layovers are free of duty so guys frequently jump home for the 2 or 3 days or bid places they enjoy visiting.

 

[jobear]

purple tails, brown tails, red tails, & now Yellow tails. Freight grows and doesn't cut rates where-as people haulers drop fares ask for gives backs and wither on the vine. Maybe the people movers should treat pax more like freight?

 

[dojetdriver]

purple tails, brown tails, red tails, & now Yellow tails. Freight grows and doesn't cut rates where-as people haulers drop fares ask for gives backs and wither on the vine. Maybe the people movers should treat pax more like freight?

I've had this same idea for a while now! Imagine, put he people in containers, put em in through the cargo door. While the plane is flying cattle in the day, the other half of the operation can take over at night and fly freight and actually make up for the money lost during the day time. Outstanding idea!

 

[LarryinTN]

UPS tried the people hauling gig but gave it up after a while. They had passenger "pallets" that went in and provided all of the passenger interior items. They flew passenger charters on the weekends.

 

[jobear]

I know Alaska had the 737s configid' for something like that or used too.

 

[furloughfodder]

Maybe the people movers should treat pax more like freight?

Obviously you haven't flown Southwest lately.

 

[Direct FL400]

Can any of you ABXer's shed light on the possible parking of planes as the merger in ILN takes place ?

 

[abxaviator]

Last November's plan said we would park 3 9's and 2 8's in January, didn't happen; and we're flying multiple extra pairings each day on top of the normal schedule due to extra freight.

 

[rican]

Any guess on the hiring timeline? I'm In the pool and would be near first to get called. I'm at ATA and expecting a furlough letter in late Spring early Summer. Vol. furlough may be an option, just have to start the paper work. I know it's just a rumor but was wondering if any ABXers had some inside scoop that would help me with some planning. Don't want to burn any bridges if possible.

Thanks

 

[GogglesPisano]

stupid question

I know this is a stupid question, but ... what the hell?

Can anyone describe the current relationship between DHL, ABEX and ASTAR?

I'm under the assumption that DHL purchased ABEX's aircraft and spun off the ground operation. What is ASTAR?

Thanks

 

[B767Inst]

ABX Air and ASTAR are two separate companies that compete for DHL business. Both have long term contracts to carry DHL freight. DHL does not own any of ABX's aircraft. ABX Air also has the contract to staff and operate the freight sorting facility at Wilmington. DHL now owns the airport and facilities.

ASTAR (formerly DHL Airline) changed ownership and name to remove any doubt over the citizenship of the airline. UPS and FEDEX challenged (and lost) the citizenship in court.

Hope this helps.

 

[LarryinTN]

ASTAR (formerly DHL Airline)

DHL Airways

I'll add that if the airplane is a 727, DC8-70, or A300 then it's an Astar airplane. If it's a DC9, DC8-60, or 767 it's an ABX Air airplane.

 

[abxaviator]

Dc8-60

 

[LarryinTN]

Oh, picky picky!

I fixed it, thanks.

 

[NIGHTCARGO]

I'll add that if the call sign is "DHL" then its an Astar aircraft.
If the call sign is "ABEX" its a former Airborne Express aircraft, now Abex Air.

 

[FreightNazi]

I'll add that if the call sign is "DHL" then its an Astar aircraft.
If the call sign is "ABEX" its a former Airborne Express aircraft, now Abex Air.

Actually to be correct, and since this is the "picky, picky" thread from the above post, it's ABX Air, not Abex Air. Abex is the ATC callsign.

Ufford!

 

[NIGHTCARGO]

Sorrrry.
Let's just call them "Big A".

 

[LarryinTN]

Wasn't the "Big A" callsign for Arrow Air?