Cargo v. Airline

[CrimsonEclipse]

I apologise in advance for being nitpicky.

Shouldn't this be titled Pax -VS- Box?

Cargo airlines are still airlines.

I'm an airline pilot. The boxes don't complain.
(the captain sure does....aparently, he has something to live for )

CE

 

[Sawmill]

Well, this is why I hardly post on these sites...OK, since we have to be "nitpicky" now according to CE: 1) I would like to apologize to all the cargo pilots out there who believe that I insulted them by not refering to them as "airline pilots". 2) Thank you gringo and ukaviator for answering my questions. 3) CE: Why don't you take some of that "I'm an airline pilot" pay and go buy a dictionary, since we have to be nitpicky. 4) If anyone else wants to reply to this thread, would you please refrain from silly reasons like "boxes do not complain" and give some actual facts and opinions? Thanks. Oh, and one more thing...just because you have a sarcastic thought, it does not mean that you actually have to voice it. Anyone?

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Well, this is why I hardly post on these sites...OK, since we have to be "nitpicky" now according to CE: 1) I would like to apologize to all the cargo pilots out there who believe that I insulted them by not refering to them as "airline pilots". 2) Thank you gringo and ukaviator for answering my questions. 3) CE: Why don't you take some of that "I'm an airline pilot" pay and go buy a dictionary, since we have to be nitpicky. 4) If anyone else wants to reply to this thread, would you please refrain from silly reasons like "boxes do not complain" and give some actual facts and opinions? Thanks. Oh, and one more thing...just because you have a sarcastic thought, it does not mean that you actually have to voice it. Anyone?

With that attitude, stick with Pax.

CE

oh, everyone is entitled to my (sarcastic) opinion!

(like I could resist that one)

 

[Cassive Mock]

pax vs. freight...or whatever

I left a regional to go to a feeder, and spent 5 1/2 years as an F27 and ATR check airman. I'm now with Gemini. The neat thing about freight is that you will get to go places you'll probably never see at a pax airline. Or at least you'll get to go there sooner. With the industry the way it is I didn't think I would get the chance to fly heavies to Europe and Asia in my career span. Flying freight has afforded me both those opportunities. Kit Darby (I know, I know, I don't trust him either) made a good point. If you want to fly heavies to the far corners of the globe, you probably won't be happy doing JFK turns in an Airbus. On the other hand, if you like flight attendants and airline terminals, you probably won't be happy flying freight. It just depends on what you want out of your career. Good luck.

 

[flagshipper]

I left Pinnacle a year ago for a Feeder Van job and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. My salary doubled. I worked a quarter of what I use to and got treated with some respect. But I decided early in my flying career that i have no desire to go to the majors or FEDEX. I would love to later on do corporate or even stay with cargo but if you think Kit is right and you wanna fly the big stuff one day stick it out at your regional because upgrade will happen sooner or later. Most of the people who fly vans for fedex are older guys in second careers who never go anywhere and the rest stay a year and leave for something else. Just my two cents Oh yeah and flying single pilot is great.

 

[414Flyer]

I thought empire has a few ATRs, one in ONT?

Its 1, ONT is the outstation, its base is SBA

 

[Onlyflyfreight]

4) If anyone else wants to reply to this thread, would you please refrain from silly reasons like "boxes do not complain" and give some actual facts and opinions?

I don't think it is particulary silly! That was one of my main reasons for night time freight. I loved the thought of flying around alone at night. Now six years later I'm still in love with it. Passengers makes everything so more complicated and boxes don't complain when when you make steep turn to final or leave FL 400 80 miles out. Not having passengers on board allows me to enjoy my job. Having fun and enjoying my job is important to me. I hope I never look at what I do for a living as just another job! If that happens I might as well quit and do something that is a little more stabel and allows me to sleep in the same bed as my wife, every night.

 

[CX880]

What do I know but I thought pilots flew checks and boxes at night through thunder storms at FL200 with no autopilot alone just so they could get a job at the regionals. You want to go backwards?

 

[ukaviator]

What do I know but I thought pilots flew checks and boxes at night through thunder storms at FL200 with no autopilot alone just so they could get a job at the regionals. You want to go backwards?

[FONT=&quot]


Actually that is a common misconception my friend.
You can go to the regionals with as little as 600 hours or less but you need 1200 to fly boxes!
Regionals cant hire pilots fast enough, but Fedex and UPS etc have their pick of the litter with tons of resumes on file. Pilots are now going to the regionals so their resumes can look good for the cargo operators (not in all cases, but many more than a few years ago)

Ahh, it seems we have come full circle, gone are the glamorous days of pax flying, freight is the new king! [/FONT]

 

[belchfire]

Be a freight dog and be happy.