Cargo Minimums

[plunger]

Just curious as to what the average new hire has as far as total time at some of these freight haulers. Ameristar, kalitta etc. I'd like to get into something turbine. Don't really care whether it's jet or prop, just turbine. Also which companies are the most commuter friendly (if any). My times are 1200/400.
Thanks

 

[mdt301]

www.airlinepilotcentral.com

 

[Vspeeds]

Just curious as to what the average new hire has as far as total time at some of these freight haulers. Ameristar, kalitta etc. I'd like to get into something turbine. Don't really care whether it's jet or prop, just turbine. Also which companies are the most commuter friendly (if any). My times are 1200/400.
Thanks

Well, how can I put it delicately.......

If you are breathing you are pretty much hired......Heard AmeriScare does a phone interview.....
All the other "Scares", like CherryScare, KalittaScare & etc you gotta go & do the meet & greet.....
Minimums: I would guess if ya meet 135 mins.....

Hope this helps!

 

[Piper877]

You ever consider Ameriflight? I think I read on here that the upgrades are running around 5-8 months? Start in a Ho and next step is Beech 99 and it goes up from there. Might walk out of there with a 1900 or Lear type in your pocket. Plus for the most part it's all PIC. I have a buddy there and he is really enjoying it.

Also their mins are 1200/50 so you're definitely qualified.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

I started at Ameristar last year with around 2000TT, 600MEL, and 435 turbine. We have guys here who came straight from flight instructing with just over 1200TT and others who came from the regionals with 3000+ hours. It helps to know somebody who works here to get hired with low time, but sometimes we hire street applicants. Business is slow, so hiring is minimal right now.
If you wanna fly 135 jet cargo, you have to be a good pilot, you must have some guts, and be ready to operate in any conditions with 40 year old airplanes. If you're not all of these things, you will be a burden to the captain and the company.
You have to know how to fly NDB approaches and DME arcs to VOR approaches, and shoot them down to minimums, at night, surrounded by mountains, into airports you've never been to before...and you have to do it frequently.
You will fly through Tstorms at FL410, you will land on icy runways, you will fly with INOP equipment, and you will have to load freight in the freezing rain. This job is not for the faint of heart.
We have no TCAS, no GPWS, no TAWS, and there's no fancy FMS in our airplanes. Our GPS' are from the early '90s. There is no moving map. There is no terrain mapping.
Sometimes the auto pilot decides not to work, so you will have to hand fly the airplane for two hours at 43,000ft.
If you are married, don't apply. If you have children at home, don't apply. If you have pets living with you, don't apply. You will be away from home a lot.

On the up side, you get to fly a Learjet that can climb over 10,000fpm. You get to do the fun type of flying that you will never experience in an airline job. You will visit places you've never been before (some you may never want to visit again, lol). At our company, you will make over $30,000 first year salary. If you upgrade, you'll make over $50,000 second year. You may not like the job, but at least you'll make enough money to enjoy your life outside of the job.
In my opinion it's better to be able to enjoy my home life than it is to enjoy my job. If you are independently wealthy or still have your parents paying your bills, then maybe a regional job is better for you.

 

[Windsor]

I started at Ameristar last year with around 2000TT, 600MEL, and 435 turbine. We have guys here who came straight from flight instructing with just over 1200TT and others who came from the regionals with 3000+ hours. It helps to know somebody who works here to get hired with low time, but sometimes we hire street applicants. Business is slow, so hiring is minimal right now.
If you wanna fly 135 jet cargo, you have to be a good pilot, you must have some guts, and be ready to operate in any conditions with 40 year old airplanes. If you're not all of these things, you will be a burden to the captain and the company.
You have to know how to fly NDB approaches and DME arcs to VOR approaches, and shoot them down to minimums, at night, surrounded by mountains, into airports you've never been to before...and you have to do it frequently.
You will fly through Tstorms at FL410, you will land on icy runways, you will fly with INOP equipment, and you will have to load freight in the freezing rain. This job is not for the faint of heart.
We have no TCAS, no GPWS, no TAWS, and there's no fancy FMS in our airplanes. Our GPS' are from the early '90s. There is no moving map. There is no terrain mapping.
Sometimes the auto pilot decides not to work, so you will have to hand fly the airplane for two hours at 43,000ft.
If you are married, don't apply. If you have children at home, don't apply. If you have pets living with you, don't apply. You will be away from home a lot.

On the up side, you get to fly a Learjet that can climb over 10,000fpm. You get to do the fun type of flying that you will never experience in an airline job. You will visit places you've never been before (some you may never want to visit again, lol). At our company, you will make over $30,000 first year salary. If you upgrade, you'll make over $50,000 second year. You may not like the job, but at least you'll make enough money to enjoy your life outside of the job.
In my opinion it's better to be able to enjoy my home life than it is to enjoy my job. If you are independently wealthy or still have your parents paying your bills, then maybe a regional job is better for you.

Theres a lotta kool aid in that. NDB approaches??? Since when do the trip holders work? HA!!! 30K for f/o's is possible, but flying is slow right now. You need to fly to make the $$. Whats the big deal with climbing at 10,000fpm? All it means is that the altimeter winds up quicker. Your eyes are on the instruments so you dont get to enjoy the view unless your pnf. AJI is what you make of it. I like it, but daytona is right, its not for everyone.

As far as getting back on topic, if you have a pulse and 135 mins, you can get a job. Some jobs are better than others, do your homework before you decide.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

When freight places need to hire, lately, they're having a very, very tough time finding people, so if you're motivated to work for a freighter, it's relatively easy to get hired on when they need a class.

The regionals/commuters that pay the least/have the worst working conditions, are desperate for pilots right now. I know of guys getting hired with less than 20 MEL.

It's kind of ironic, because at the high end of the airline industry there is a glut of pilots, and at the low end, there's a simultaneous shortage.

Oh, and there is a world of difference between the freighters. I fly a freighter, and I've flown with some guys who say flying for us is awesome, compared with their last freighter job. I've also flown with non-freighters who didn't last long at all.

cliff
GRB

PS-NO NDB approaches in 4.5 yrs, and we don't fly through thunderstorms. Lots of VOR arcs to VOR approaches at night. It's better at night, because you can't see the mountains. Daytime is too scary.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

Yep, NDB approaches. I've done 3 recently. It may not be a lot, but it's more than many jet jobs do. Many airlines don't even train for NDB's.
DME arcs around mountains are a regular event when flying in Mexico, which is practically every other week for us. Many are at night.
Yes, business is slow now. I usually fly around 50-60 hours a month. I've already made over $30,000 this year and there's still a month left in 2006. It's not a great job, and it's not for everybody; but if you can get past the negative attitudes and put in a year and a half, it will make you a better pilot.

 

[Wankel7]

Theres a lotta kool aid in that. NDB approaches??? Since when do the trip holders work? HA!!! 30K for f/o's is possible, but flying is slow right now. You need to fly to make the $$. Whats the big deal with climbing at 10,000fpm? All it means is that the altimeter winds up quicker. Your eyes are on the instruments so you dont get to enjoy the view unless your pnf. AJI is what you make of it. I like it, but daytona is right, its not for everyone.

As far as getting back on topic, if you have a pulse and 135 mins, you can get a job. Some jobs are better than others, do your homework before you decide.

To much for you to swallow...doing an NDB?

 

[Tug Driver]

lets not forget about the beautiful new schedule of 5 on, 2 off, 12 on, 2 off. Also it is good to have CFI experience because as an FO, your will always have to look at the Captains instruments because the ones on the right side don't all work. SOP's don't apply and be ready to do the same thing 15 different ways.