Airnet or Airlines?

[bigbenno]

To all you freighter dudes.....

Looking back, would you have rather gone to a regional airline if you had the chance, or are you glad you are in cargo?

I have the option to go to either one..... cant decide..... if i go to a regional i will probably sit right seat for 4 or 5 years.

If i go to airnet i guess i could upgrade to sic in the lear in a year and possibly left seat of the lear in another year or two after that...

Tough call... Any suggestions???

 

[Princedietrich]

Go with Airnet. The regionals are prbably going to pay you two thirds or even half of what you'd make here starting out. sure it's a prop instead of one of those big glamorous jets, and sure you don't get to wear the snazzy uniform and epaulettes. But you've got job security and better QOL over the regionals. And I know there are all those out there who will say this place is going down the tubes, but there have been some major changes around here lately. With the exception of one individual, the entire bad apple management of Jetride has been flushed down the crapper where they belonged. They're not being replaced with better personnel who have the ability to think. Now if we could just get that shareholder's meeting over with so we can toss the worthless CEO out on his butt where HE belongs, all would be good in the world.

 

[Whiskerbizkit]

PIC recip prop time means nothing. Go to the airlines.

 

[wings421]

Worked at AirNet for 1 1/2 years. Loved the flying, but hated the schedule. Flying in the middle of the night isn't for eveyone. I made the jump to the regionals at the end of last year. I really love it here. Lots more time off, day time flying and at my company I think the job security might be a little better than what I left at AirNet at the time. The money sucks the first year, but you know that going in.

I wouldn't trade my time at AirNet for anything. Certainly gives you much more confidence in your decision making process. I had a blast there and miss that type of flying a lot.

Realize that commuting is much tougher at AirNet than the regionals, if that's a factor for you.

Good luck in the decision.

 

[cougar6903]

Go with Airnet. The regionals are prbably going to pay you two thirds or even half of what you'd make here starting out. sure it's a prop instead of one of those big glamorous jets, and sure you don't get to wear the snazzy uniform and epaulettes. But you've got job security and better QOL over the regionals. And I know there are all those out there who will say this place is going down the tubes, but there have been some major changes around here lately. With the exception of one individual, the entire bad apple management of Jetride has been flushed down the crapper where they belonged. They're not being replaced with better personnel who have the ability to think. Now if we could just get that shareholder's meeting over with so we can toss the worthless CEO out on his butt where HE belongs, all would be good in the world.

Hey Princedietrich,

Just wondering who you fly the 727 for and if you went from the Lr-35 to the 727. That is what I'm hoping to do after I get on with Airnet.

 

[Princedietrich]

The 727 was something I did in a former life, back when I had an airline gig and got furloughed with no possibility of callback. So now I'm a freight doggy.

 

[MVSW]

To all you freighter dudes.....

Looking back, would you have rather gone to a regional airline if you had the chance, or are you glad you are in cargo?

I have the option to go to either one..... cant decide..... if i go to a regional i will probably sit right seat for 4 or 5 years.

If i go to airnet i guess i could upgrade to sic in the lear in a year and possibly left seat of the lear in another year or two after that...

Tough call... Any suggestions???

I hear that Airnet is down sizing. I think that I would go and fly a RJ.

 

[exchexflyer]

I did the airnet thing and then the regional thing. 4 years after starting with airnet I am sitting left seat on the erj. I say do both.

 

[Steve]

I did the airnet thing and then the regional thing. 4 years after starting with airnet I am sitting left seat on the erj. I say do both.

Are you with xjet?

 

[Heavy Set]

An ERJ is more comfortable than either the Baron or the Lear 25/35. Go to the airlines (If COEX is an option, go for it - they are stable and adding new routes all the time). Do you like unloading cargo? I wouldn't every night.

 

[LJDRVR]

Freight dog it baby!

I learned more about flyng my first three months in a Caravan than I did in the previous 15 years of flying. In this business there are few substitutes for having been out there in the WX making the decisions by yourself. Also, you will never regret having flown the Learjet. A truly great airplane. It's not hard to fly, but if you can fly a Lear smoothly and precisely, the rest of the jets are cake.

Regional flying is a lot of fun too, so you really can't go wrong regardless of which path you chose. Heck I did em' all. If you chose a regional, choose one with a good operation and crew culture. (Horizon, Skywest and Express Jet are ones that come to mind, though certainly not the only ones that would a nice place to work.)

PS- back when I used to be a Captain the very best FO's transitioning into the Lear were ALWAYS ex-freight dogs. Period.

 

[freemind270]

Qol = 0

But you've got job security and better QOL over the regionals.

dude that is the most retarted quote i have heard all day, QOL sucks big donkey d&*** you have to be on the night schedule that screws your body in the long run,

and you can not have a regular life and have meaningful and fulfilling relationships with girls or family , especially if you commute

but if you dont have a life , no girls no friends , no family and if your hand is your best friend then night freight is the place for you

do your one year get the experience and go to a good regional that is what i did

As per higher pay now that does not make any sense , it does not matter what you earn now what matters is how fast you can get into the job that you will retire at you will make a lot of money there in the last few years compared to what you make now remember we all 121 guys have to retire at 60


Airnet to majors is not happening during my time there i did not see a single lear captain get hired by the majors and jetblue ,southwest fedex etc had been hiring

 

[avpro91]

Best experience you'll ever get...you'll never regret it! Night schedule does get old after a while though. At a regional now...still miss the boxes every day. Just don't get stuck in those big skyhawks they've been buyin.

 

[Onlyflyfreight]

No regrets!

Barons are fun, got to fly the Aerostar (GREAT airplane), and the LJ-35/35 are awsome airplanes. The flying is great and lots of (legal) fun! Gives you experience the comuters will not. Besides you can actually handfly, if your into that

After instructing I wanted to go solo! I liked it (instructing), but never got to fly. At AirNet that will not be a problem.

Might also be a little scary the first week or two, depending on how much inflight ice you encounter or how long that line of T-storms is. My first night, first leg, RVR 1800 and VV001. But since you are the only pilot (in the pistons) you get to practice that PIC authority. The company is (in my experience) pretty good about not second guessing you.

Nights can be tough (I like it) and it is tough on your social life, but I can't imagine when you start out at the comuters that it is that much better. Besides it is what YOU make out of it! I'm on a 8 on and 6 off schedule and I'm bored after five off. I can only speak for myself, but the longer I'm in this industry the more important it is to have fun, or enjoy what I do.. if you will. I don't think I could look the TSA in the eyes (every day) and deal with their petty squabble. Having to listen to and deal with passengers! I feel like I might be missing out on not having flight atendants, but if I'm to belive what is posted on this forum, I might not be missing that much.

Pay and benefitts are allright!

Future? I think my odds of retaining my job is about as good as most pilots! Getting a new one? Well, it isn't exactly easy no matter where you are applying from. Besides, it seems it depends more on who you know, these days, and not so much on whether you have the listed requirements.

Like someone suggested, you can have both! Try AirNet first (I think that involves a one year contract these days) and if you don't like it, most comuters will love to take you onboard!

Good luck, and don't forget: have some fun!

 

[bigbenno]

thanks for all the great feedback