AirNet, to float or not float?

[petepilot]

Hey, just started training and they gave us the run down on what we can bid tomorrow evening.
I've narrowed my choices down to 3 possibilities.
1. The run out of pittsburg, work only 4 nights a week is pretty sweet. the run does go to CMH which is good cause I want to be able to get to CMH to stay in the loop on stuff.
2. Take a floater spot at CMH, I would difinetly be around headquaters more then, but not sure how much it will keep me away from home. Wondering if you get to go home when you get a day or two off. also as a floater if working a fifth day there may be some extra $? also flying 3 different planes would be interesting.
3. A run out of STP in the van, 5 nights a week, this would mean extra $$$ perhaps?

thoughts any one?
don't have a spouse to worry about so being on the road wouldn;t be too bad, I would just like to be able to be at home on days off?

Thanks!

Pete

 

[flydog56]

eh...

Floating can be fun, but it can be draining also. I float now, and have been for almost a year. Floating you get to see a lot of the country. But if you constantly float 5 day runs you get home long enough to do laundry pay bills and leave again. I had a regular run. it got kind of old doing the same thing every night so I decided to float. Now with the dropping of floater pay I am looking for a regular run again. You give up a lot as a floater. but you get to see a lot of the country. PIT runs are cool. MSP = cold.

Good Luck

 

[Jmmccutc]

sorry to hijack the thread, but i got a quick question...what FBO is used at PIT? i'm searching for summer work right now and have airnet as a future goal, was just thinking i might try to get to know some of you guys/gals given the chance...thanks

 

[starchkr]

Must be a new guy...

How can i tell...well besides you saying that you are in training and get to bid tomorrow...you say you actually want to be around CMH!!!! That's funny! J/K

Floating is OK, I wouldn't do it. The "new" schedule of 8 on 6 off sounds like it will soon be 10 on 4 off with the first and last day as travel days. That really stinks!!! Talk about no time at home, not worth it at all. But as was said above, you will get to see alot of new places...good luck first time going somewhere though. You can always tell the floaters.

PIT, ehh, expensive to live, and too close to the east coast.

Minny...better, yes it is cold in the winter, but right now it is getting better and is very beautiful in the summer. Plus extra money is GOOD. 5th night first year run should make 30K plus.

Everyone will have a different answer to this though, and just remember, you really need to think about it because you will be base and a/c locked for the next year.

 

[freightdoggie]

Im in with starchekr, I would go for the Minny run given your choices. Floating was fun at first, and with the old guidelines. You were paid extra to travel leave late sunday night, early monday, and home by friday.
It definently had some advantages. I floated right out of class, which was a little tricky at first I admit, your on your toes constantly. I got out of the floating and took a run with a fifth night, no complaints yet.

Go to minny, leave the floating for the low timers...

 

[wings421]

I think that I would only Float for the money. Since that is about to go away, I'd get a run. I would imagine floating would make you a better pilot, but having a normal schedule is nice. Plus, if you float, you'll probably still end up in Minny sometime next winter dealing with ice in the caravan. I don't fly it, but I hear that its a ton of fun!! Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[CMH Floater]

Stop spreading rumours

Floating is OK, I wouldn't do it. The "new" schedule of 8 on 6 off sounds like it will soon be 10 on 4 off with the first and last day as travel days. That really stinks!!! Talk about no time at home, not worth it at all.

 

[StarChecker]

With the Floater pay gone buh-bye....why would anyone float? I guess unless they lived in CMH? Just wondering.

I would take the run...you'll get plenty of experience. You don't need to be a floater for that. Good Luck.

 

[FlyCMI]

Hey pete,
Good Luck with the choice. Let me know what everybody else picks so i can figure out what I want to take. I will see you out at Training for the 31st class. I will give you a call later.


-A

 

[IP076]

Minny is pretty nice, I lived there all winter, not too bad. I think 608 is open again, is that the one?

Run is long duty day, only 4 hours of flight, but you can sleep down in OMA. The FBO is awesome (Both OMA and STP). You will get spoiled at STP though with the nice FBO, Great People, Hangared Aircraft, and Good Mechs. Its a great place to be. Only reason I left it was to move closer to more friends and family.

Good luck in your decision, as your probably making it about the time I am writing this....

If you end up in STP, pm me if you have any questions about living up there.

Hey CitationMan, when did you graduate from Riddle? Didn't someone crash that airplane last summer?

 

[jaybird]

Being a floater this is what a typical night/day is.

Jaybird- Hey this is Jaybird checking out for XXX

Dispatch- Oh hey Jaybird umm were gonna need you to finish up 223, were gonna put you to bed in BUF. Then your gonna catch the early jet back here and then were gonna send you to CPS to do 242 the rest of the week.

Jaybird- Well I just ran out of vasceline, can I go run to the store real quick.

Dispatch- Just make sure your back in time to go to BUF.


In reality floating is great experience. You never see the same things. It's a constant learning experience ie., how much fuel do you need, when to get fuel, how to load the aircraft, where to go on the airport etc. IMO if they're not compensating anymore it's not worth being the company Beotch.

Good Luck

 

[wings421]

Dispatch - Send Jaybird to do 242, maybe I'll get a week off !!

 

[jaybird]

Dispatch - Send Jaybird to do 242, maybe I'll get a week off !!

Ewww, no way never again. Sorry man, i feel your pain. That was my least favorite run to do. That three hour sit at MDW was the worst. How's Ken? Is he still running around pissed off?

 

[starchkr]

Stop spreading rumours
...CMH Floater...


Not rumors, actually came from the floater with me this week.

 

[Future SNA]

If nothing else........

I would take the STP run just for the very fact that the FBO there has a KICK ARSE COFFEE MACHINE, hot chocolate, cappuchino, you name it, it's got it..........and the best part is, it's FREE CHA CHING CHA CHING!! If you do end up taking it, say hi to all those poor bastards that leave DSM around 1:30am, god I'm glad to not be doing that crap anymore! Just remember, there's only 2 recliners in DSM, GET ONE.

 

[Whyzitsokold]

Petepilot,

How far in training are you to find out options for bases? Did you just start a few days ago? It would sure be nice to find out that soon when you'd be located.

 

[$$$4nothin]

floater and runs

They are giving people there choices around day 2 or 3 of training. Oh yes and when there are 10 runs open and 5 of them are floater spots what does that tell you. With everybody getting base locked now the only thing left for new hires in a couple of month will probably be floater spots. I you have a significant other and you become a floater you will soon have had a significant other.

 

[SquirrelDog]

to float or not?

I think that boat is going to sink!

 

[petepilot]

thanks for the input

Hey guys, thanks for your input,
In the end I went with the the run out of AGC (USC501). Only 4 nights a week, Not a ton of time to start but I figure it's a good starting point to learn the ropes and not get burnt out, the MSP run had a 5 or 6 hour stby period which I figured would get old real quick. The run I picked takes me to CMH and has me leaving early in the morning, so it should be alot of fun I think

hey Whyzitsocold, started training on wed, found out about bases that day, picked them thursday evening. there were 13 open spots, so everyone got what they wanted, which was cool.

 

[USC328]

Re: If nothing else........

I would take the STP run just for the very fact that the FBO there has a KICK ARSE COFFEE MACHINE, hot chocolate, cappuchino, you name it, it's got it..........and the best part is, it's FREE CHA CHING CHA CHING

Well, since you took AGC, thought I would let you know that they also have the same machine. It too is all free!! Enjoy!