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.

 

[Windsor]

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

Naa, I've had to do a few outside the sim in the past few months. I was joking around with daytona because the ADF is normally where we put our trip numbers. NDB's are cake, I dont get why people make such a big deal about em.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

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.

Besides the part about the FO's instruments not working, unfortunately most of this quote is true. SOP's??? I don't think we even have those.
That's why so many captains are leaving and so many FO's don't want to accept an upgrade.
This company may run into a major problem since many of their FO's can now find jobs that pay better with a better schedule, no contract, that treat them better, and flying nicer airplanes.

 

[landlover]

Besides the part about the FO's instruments not working, unfortunately most of this quote is true. SOP's??? I don't think we even have those.
That's why so many captains are leaving and so many FO's don't want to accept an upgrade.
This company may run into a major problem since many of their FO's can now find jobs that pay better with a better schedule, no contract, that treat them better, and flying nicer airplanes.

i get so much extra time off and at home since the 5 on 2 off, i might start moonlighting somewhere else. i am home based and would gladly take an upgrade. 4 extra weeks off since sept 1st. no bad if you ask me.

 

[Tug Driver]

and you can bet that no new hires will be home based in the future...plan on moving to and living in Ypsilanti, MI if you want the job.

 

[kamikaize]

Wow finally some educated posts regarding us freighters. Daytona as always you have a positive attitude and stick to the facts. If you guys aren't using the company sop's or checklists then you are partly to blame. If the Cpt doesnt use them then use them yourself and double check everything. It only takes a few seconds longer. I hate this new schedule but it has worked different for everyone. I've also been lucky enough to stay home in my base on a few occasions and the extra days off make it alot easier. I busted my but as an FO and made almost 34k before taxes. Times are slow now but there are ways to make money when its busy and enjoy extra time off when its slow, you just have to learn the system. The only instruments that should ever be different then the cpts is the altimeter and sometimes a few kts difference on the asi. Due to them being on a less accurate pitot/static system in the Falcon. This job isnt for everyone but if you think it is for you apply and make the best of it. Get your flight time, experience and connections and get out. There are alot of companies out there that prefer pilots like us over the regionl type.

 

[Vspeeds]

Kamikaize wrote: There are alot of companies out there that prefer pilots like us over the regionl type.

Could you name a few? Kinda hard to believe flying 40 year old technology vs. State of the Art!

Most likely POS Freight Company's like AJI would be interested in hiring......

 

[AMDFlyer]

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

First of all where would you like to live ? Are you single or committed?

what is your ultimate objective in aviation, career-wise?

do you think 135 freight will take you where you need to go?

 

[Daytonaflyer]

I don't know if companies prefer to hire cargo guys, but they definitely like the flying experience we have. I think the worst problem our pilots face is the bad habits that some of them have adopted like: flying a jet as if it's single pilot, not using checklists properly, and flying through Tstorms. Some of these bad habits tend to surface in sim rides and can hurt their chances.
Fortunately most jobs after this one place them in a larger jet as FO and they have to abide by the new company's rules.
Glass cockpit and FMS procedures can be taught in initial training and learned in a few days. They are really only a concern for companies that are too cheap to pay for initial training. Even the simulator we use at Flight Safety for Falcon training has a partial glass cockpit and it takes less than an hour to get comfortable with it.

 

[onthebeach]

>>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,<<

Where do I sign?

 

[Extrascorp]

Where is kamikaize when we need to be enlightened?

Oh wait he is getting ready for his mexican vacation....