ASTAR Questions

[Tweaker]

- While on a 7 on 7 off schedule, are you away from ILN the entire time, or do you return for any overnights there?

- What does a typical 28 day period earn on average for pay credit? I see that guarantee is quite low at 65 hours. (I usually earn 100+ hours at current job)

- How long is a typical duty period each night? How much block time?

- What is a typical schedule each night (report time, break for sort, check out time)?

- I live in central VA. I don't expect to choose to commute long-term, but if I did...Do any of the following cities have service to ILM or CVG from ASTAR or ABX?

RIC
IAD
LYH
ROA
any others in area?

- Does it not seem like it would require really substantial growth (more than advertised by your management) to avoid furloughs or at least big time stagnation as you transition to 2 man cockpits? As the FEs are already 10 year men, this concerns me a lot.

- Because I have no experience in 3 man cockpits, what does the FE do besides run the gauges? Radios, checklists, coffee-bitch, anything else?

Thanks for your assistance. I am really considering this move, as I would love to leave the problems of the 121 Passenger industry behind for good.

 

[erichartmann]

- ...Do any of the following cities have service to ILM or CVG from ASTAR or ABX?

RIC
IAD
LYH
ROA
any others in area?....

Tweak, FYI its ILN, not ILM.

ABX operates flights from ROA, RIC, & IAD. A feeder operates direct from LYH to ILN.

 

[jmreii]

- While on a 7 on 7 off schedule, are you away from ILN the entire time, or do you return for any overnights there?

- What does a typical 28 day period earn on average for pay credit? I see that guarantee is quite low at 65 hours. (I usually earn 100+ hours at current job)

- How long is a typical duty period each night? How much block time?

- What is a typical schedule each night (report time, break for sort, check out time)?

- I live in central VA. I don't expect to choose to commute long-term, but if I did...Do any of the following cities have service to ILM or CVG from ASTAR or ABX?

RIC
IAD
LYH
ROA
any others in area?

- Does it not seem like it would require really substantial growth (more than advertised by your management) to avoid furloughs or at least big time stagnation as you transition to 2 man cockpits? As the FEs are already 10 year men, this concerns me a lot.

- Because I have no experience in 3 man cockpits, what does the FE do besides run the gauges? Radios, checklists, coffee-bitch, anything else?

Thanks for your assistance. I am really considering this move, as I would love to leave the problems of the 121 Passenger industry behind for good.

I have always heard the FE is the hardest working member of a three member crew, especially on the 27 and the dinosaur-8 or steam engine. In a emergency you will be busier than a one-legged man in a hind kicking contest.

 

[fodc8]

The 727 is true he is busy. The DC8 and the A300 S/O's job is to jumpseat between preflights.

 

[AV8OR]

The 727 is true he is busy. The DC8 and the A300 S/O's job is to jumpseat between preflights.

Shhhhh. Quit that! Lies, lies....all lies!

 

[Tweaker]

Thanks, auto-type inserted ILM there by default.

Is it possible to jumpseat on the feeder flights? I actually live in CHO, I just know I have never seen ASTAR or ABX operate here. Does a feeder run to ILN from CHO as well?

Any help from someone on these ?s

- While on a 7 on 7 off schedule, are you away from ILN the entire time, or do you return for any overnights there?

- What does a typical 28 day period earn on average for pay credit? I see that guarantee is quite low at 65 hours. (I usually earn 100+ hours at current job)

- How long is a typical duty period each night? How much block time?

- What is a typical schedule each night (report time, break for sort, check out time)?

 

[Flyin Tony]

The feeder flight goes CHO LYH ILN and back to CHO in the AM, leaves CHO at 9pm. Its a Ameriflight bro. Im not sure if they will let us take Astar guys (only southwest) It wont hurt to ask though. I will let you know

 

[Chubaka]

The best thing about this job is there are no peeps. Only boxes and an occasional jumpseater. If you can condition yourself to sleep during the day, this is a good job. I'll answer one of your questions, about 7 on, 7 off. Firstly reserve schedules are 8 on and 6 off. The bid period is 28 days. There are 13 bid periods for the year. Why? I have no idea. But it works. The first day of reserve or a line for that matter your trip will have you show at about 3:00 am. You will do one or two legs to get to your destination. The hotels are top notch, quiet, and places to eat nearby. At roughly 9:00 pm you will start the return flight to Wilmington. Arriving at about 1:00 am. If you have another trip, the show time will be about 3:00 am again. While in Wimington at the hub, there is an OK cafeterea, bunk rooms, and a quiet lounge with lazy boys. After a couple of years I'd say you'll make $75,000 pretty easy. To add, DHL does not generally fly on the weekends or on holidays, so if these days fall on your schedule, which they will, they are yours to do as you wish.

 

[Tweaker]

At roughly 9:00 pm you will start the return flight to Wilmington. Arriving at about 1:00 am. If you have another trip, the show time will be about 3:00 am again.quote]

Thanks, let me make sure I understand you. Rather than a 7 day trip, you usually do one day out and next back to the hub? A series of these makes up the 7 on?

Also, after you get back to ILN at 1 AM and work the next day, would you be done for a night in ILN, or ship out 2 hours later at 3AM?

 

[AV8OR]

At roughly 9:00 pm you will start the return flight to Wilmington. Arriving at about 1:00 am. If you have another trip, the show time will be about 3:00 am again.quote]

Thanks, let me make sure I understand you. Rather than a 7 day trip, you usually do one day out and next back to the hub? A series of these makes up the 7 on?

Also, after you get back to ILN at 1 AM and work the next day, would you be done for a night in ILN, or ship out 2 hours later at 3AM?

Our "days" begin and end at 0330 so your last "day" always with an inbound leg to ILN. Once you get back to ILN on that leg, unless you have another day of duty beginning at 0330ish, you are done and can leave to drive home, the crash pad, the hotel, catch a js or whatever.

 

[flyinboxes]

You will hang out in the hub and watch TV or read or sleep, or surf the net, then you will get up, go to the cafe and eat and drink a cup of free bad coffee. Then you will go out and fly to your next exotic destination, sleep all day, get up and fly back to ILN. If it's your last day, you will get in your car and go home or hang out and catch a jumpseat. I have never had an easier job in my life and the money is good. If you care only about cash and time off, this is the place. If you must fly to be happy, then this is not the place. Duty days average around 10 hours or so.

 

[Fly Astar Jets]

At roughly 9:00 pm you will start the return flight to Wilmington. Arriving at about 1:00 am. If you have another trip, the show time will be about 3:00 am again.quote]

Thanks, let me make sure I understand you. Rather than a 7 day trip, you usually do one day out and next back to the hub? A series of these makes up the 7 on? [YES]

Also, after you get back to ILN at 1 AM and work the next day, would you be done for a night in ILN, [NO] or ship out 2 hours later at 3AM? [YES]

Think of it like this. This is a generic seven day line:
First day on (Tue)- duty clock starts at 0330 in ILN and stops at 0830 at outstation and you ROD.
layover 12 hrs.
Second day on - duty clock starts 2030 at outstation,
you fly your trip into ILN, cool your heels for a few hrs., and fly back out to another outstation where your duty clock stops at 0830.

You do this for four days.

On the fifth day (Sat) You get to your outstation at 0830 and essentially your released from duty for the weekend until Mon. 2030. You fly your airplane back to ILN and your done for seven days. If you're senior enough to get a line with a weekend layover in your home town you can maximize your days at home. More often than not you'll JS home on Sat. and JS back to your layover city on Mon. Just remember it's your responsibility to get back or woe be on to you.

Hope this helps,
FAJ

 

[Chubaka]

The best way for me to explain it is, that you work a 24 hour day. Your show could be 3:30 am, you fly to destination arriving at 8:00 am, you're on the layover until 10:00 pm or so, leaving for Wilmington and arriving about 1:00 am. That is one trip. If there is a trip for you on the next day, it will start at, let's say 4:30 am. So in this case you had about 3 hours at the hub. Some eat, some sleep, some watch tv, you choose. Your week consists of several of these trips back to back. On the weekend you arrive, at your destination, Saturday morning at 8:00 am and don't go back to Wilmington until Monday night at 10:00 or so. It's a good job, but only if you can sleep some during the day. Personally, I sleep 4 hours, go eat lunch, go back to sleep 4 hours, and go to work.

 

[Tweaker]

_____Thanks for your information everyone! I understand the "alternative" lifestyle now. One thing feels weird though.

_____In all my posts, coming from an admitted position of ignorance, no one has felt the need to namecall me or denigrate my judgement in any real capacity. If someone cannot really bring it, I will not be sure this is a real pilot forum.

_____As to my priorities, pay and time off are definitely #1 and #2. The pay rates are "vedi niice." (Borat voice) I guess I should just make real my plans for a sweeet homebuilt plane of my dreams to get the flight fix. I have been flying equipment that I really enjoyed since I started professionally, and that is not and should not interfere with a long term decision like this.

 

[Chubaka]

Astar is supposed to hire 3 classes of 10. Probably all for the 727. Classes April, May, June. Don't hold me to it. Things can change fast here.

 

[Fly Astar Jets]

_____In all my posts, coming from an admitted position of ignorance, no one has felt the need to namecall me or denigrate my judgement in any real capacity. If someone cannot really bring it, I will not be sure this is a real pilot forum.

OK.

Your :uzi: avatar is boring.

You tag:smash: is gay (not that there is anything wrong with that).

You use to many uke: colors in your posts. AND WHAT THE H#LL IS WITH THE LINE BEFORE EACH PARAGRAPH.

There. Feel at home now. Your gonna fit right in brother. Might as well order your OOTSK shirt now.:beer:

FAJ

 

[AV8OR]

OK.

Your :uzi: avatar is boring.

You tag:smash: is gay (not that there is anything wrong with that).

You use to many uke: colors in your posts. AND WHAT THE H#LL IS WITH THE LINE BEFORE EACH PARAGRAPH.

There. Feel at home now. Your gonna fit right in brother. Might as well order your OOTSK shirt now.:beer:

FAJ

hehehe Well there ya go. That's pretty funny in context.

 

[Tweaker]

Thank you sir may I have another!

 

[pipejockey]

I figure I'll ask this on this thread. Are there any jumpseat wars between Astar and ABX? ABX flies out of a nearby airport and wondered if I would be denied the jumpseat trying to get to work at Astar if I were to be hired there.

 

[hvydriver]

I figure I'll ask this on this thread. Are there any jumpseat wars between Astar and ABX? ABX flies out of a nearby airport and wondered if I would be denied the jumpseat trying to get to work at Astar if I were to be hired there.

Nope, we j/s on each other.

 

[ABXbooger]

The junk spewed here does not translate to work.

If the J/S stuff ever starts happening then it would get squashed really quick. The Astar peeps are very professional when it comes to that, and the CA's that I fly with are as well. It basically comes down to mutually assured destruction...

 

[Chubaka]

The only problem you'll have riding the jumpseat on Airborne, is getting through their security. They give you the finger. From what I hear, she has got one big finger. But she'll go easy on you the first time.

 

[TWA]

The only problem you'll have riding the jumpseat on Airborne, is getting through their security. They give you the finger. From what I hear, she has got one big finger. But she'll go easy on you the first time.

Here's a good quote from the Youtube series Cockpit: "Do you guys know what a cavity search is? I had no idea. I would not have agreed to that!"

 

[LarryinTN]

I figure I'll ask this on this thread. Are there any jumpseat wars between Astar and ABX?

No. Other than an idiot or two on each side, jumpseating is not a problem. Both groups do a good job of taking care of those problems internally once they come to light.

There are some cities where the demand for the seats often exceeds the supply and not being on your own airline puts you behind all of that airline's commuting pilots for jumpseat priority.

 

[On Your Six]

You will hang out in the hub and watch TV or read or sleep, or surf the net, then you will get up, go to the cafe and eat and drink a cup of free bad coffee. Then you will go out and fly to your next exotic destination, sleep all day, get up and fly back to ILN. If it's your last day, you will get in your car and go home or hang out and catch a jumpseat. I have never had an easier job in my life and the money is good. If you care only about cash and time off, this is the place. If you must fly to be happy, then this is not the place. Duty days average around 10 hours or so.

Probably a stupid question, but given your background flying some sophisticated airplanes (i.e., Dornier 328), do you ever miss the glass, etc. when flying the 727 or do you not really care? I hear what you are saying about cash and time off though - very important factors.

 

[erichartmann]

The only problem you'll have riding the jumpseat on Airborne, is getting through their security. They give you the finger. From what I hear, she has got one big finger. But she'll go easy on you the first time.

ABX does not employ the security guards. They work for a firm contracted to provide security by DHL.

 

[b707guy]

Thank you sir may I have another!

Not as good or as complete as FAJs, but here goes:

Yer mother was a hamster, and yer father smelt of elderberries!

(Waaay too little Python here.....)

 

[hvydriver]

Not as good or as complete as FAJs, but here goes:

Yer mother was a hamster, and yer father smelt of elderberries!

(Waaay too little Python here.....)

Now run away or I shall taunt you again a second time, you silly English Kennniggit!

 

[trijetter]

Probably a stupid question, but given your background flying some sophisticated airplanes (i.e., Dornier 328), do you ever miss the glass, etc. when flying the 727 or do you not really care?.

It seperates the men from the boys and I love the Big carbon foot print it leaves! Honestly your still a pilot, not a systems manager that finger flys. I have flown both glass and steam equipment, I enjoy the 72. I personally think there is a reason you can take a 250 hour pilot and put them in an RJ, its the flight management systems, as great as they are, a monkey can do it. I guess I am just getting old.

 

[bsox1918]

ASTAR contact?

ASTAR folks,
I'd like to ask a favor. If one of you knows Mike Braun, if you'd pass on that the captain he talked to on the flight from SAN to LAS is trying to get in touch with him. He can email to [email protected]

tia