Central Air Southwest

[holdmybeer]

The contract has been recently increased to 12 months if i understood Mr. Towner correctly.

 

[rchcfi]

the aerocommander is without a doubt the best airplane i have ever flown . probably one of the finest machines ever built.

You hit that nail right on the head! It makes you want to get out of aviation if you have to fly anything else. I've flown the Aero Commander now for the past three years and can honestly say that it is definately a dream to fly. Except for the fragile nose gear, that sucker is built like a tank!

 

[Texanflyboy]

CAS did extend the contract from 6mo to 12mo. I guess too many people getting 100 or so twin time and going regional. JT and MB are great guys, never had a problem. They paid for my ATP checkride last week when I was down for recurrent. You can't ask for a better aircraft to do an ATP ride in! Great company...wish it paid a little more but JT will pay you extra to wash the engine cowlings. I wash 3 per pay period and it's about $225 extra. I've been based in GRR for the last 8 months so it's a little harder to wash during the winter...no hanger space. I would do it all over again. Good company and mx. Communications is really up to you calling the office to find out what's going on. Being based away from KC isn't that bad either. They're pretty much "Out of sight out of mind" which is cool b/c you don't have to deal w/ office politics everyday.

 

[agpilot34]

Ran across two of the CASW Commanders on the ramp at Cushing, OK this morning on my pipeline route. One's based there, and the other... last two letters of N number were KC, left out right after I landed. Looked like pretty nice equipment as far as cargo goes. DIdnt get a chance to talk to the pilots other than "how are you" though.

 

[CaravanMan]

Cushing is a mx base, and is actually where the Certificate is held. I've been through there swapping out Commanders at night and man, is it every dark and lonely out there! I always felt like some psycho was going to come out with a chainsaw or something- like a scene out of some creepy movie.

 

[agpilot34]

HAHA! Yup, that's Cushing, OK alright! Nothing moving at night but the deer and the possums, or the occasional Air Evac chopper call out.

 

[ubpilot]

I was a GRR based pilot, good place to build up your multi time, and this job will push your IFR skill to the limit. only thing I can add is that GET YOURSELF OUT BEFORE THE WINTER COMES!!!!

 

[NoPax]

I was a GRR based pilot, good place to build up your multi time, and this job will push your IFR skill to the limit. only thing I can add is that GET YOURSELF OUT BEFORE THE WINTER COMES!!!!

Holdmybeer....I was probably the last guy in Lubbock that you replaced...say hi to azalia from me, if she's still at Trajen in Austin


To the rest of you guys who know me...Hello!

 

[holdmybeer]

She was still there a month ago. But now the run has been restructured and is LBB-DAL-LBB. It is supposed to be temporary, I'll say hi to her when i get back down there.

 

[flyinlow67]

Which airport do they do thier STL run out of? I have seen them in KC a bunch, but never in St. Louis. Is it a base, or just a stop?

 

[Boris Badenov]

There's a Commander parked at Ideal (CPS) most mornings. Looks like one of theirs.

 

[flyinlow67]

Actually, now that you mention that, I remember seeing one there.

 

[CaravanMan]

Well, I don't know what they're doing now, but when I was there a year ago (give or take) we had a run out of KC (MKC is the company base, BTW) that went into STL at night. It was only a quick turn- drop and head to ICT. I worked many, many, MANY nights on Dispatch...it was an un-paid "priviledge" ...and I remember logging a few flights that went through CPS at night, but I don't recall where they came from. Things change so often in the freight world, so I wouldn't have any idea what routes thru CPS they have now.

 

[Texanflyboy]

The Commander based in CPS goes to Midway every night. We swap a/c with that run now and then goin' back to Grand Rapids.

 

[Live2Fly]

I flew for them a number of years ago. Great experience. I went from flying in SoCal (little IFR) to flying in the snow, near thunderstorms and lots of icing conditions.
The anti-ice on their planes is second to none (exept jets). It will make a great instrument single pilot out of you for sure.

 

[SNOWBUM]

every pilot at central who worked dispatch at nigths got paid extra for it.

is that you B. Quinn?

 

[CaravanMan]

Nah, not BQ. Heard he went to OMA w/Baron- C208. I flew with him once on during my training week. Good guy...if you can survive the first couple of legs with him!

Oh, and I never saw an extra dime while working dispatch. Probably because it was during the first 6 months?? Either way, seems like we should've gotten paid for working it, whether on probation or not.

 

[SinglePliot135]

I did a week or 2 of BQing, thats true, he was cool after the first night, taught me a lot considering I had never flown a twin solo until my 1st night at GRR in the snow and ice.
Outbased rules at CAS, no managment to deal with at all, just pick up your check every other monday from the mailbox.

 

[Way2Broke]

BQ, that guy was a something else. I wonder if he still has that beard going? I only flew with him once and he left a lasting impression. That was the first time I had ever seen anyone sleep in the co-pilots seat and the first time I had head "one taco to go." Man was I green! He served his purpose at Central very very well, with his tough love (to use a "Townerism") He was hired at CASW around the same time that one of my best firends was. My best firend now has 5 types, and is a captain at Net Jets. At the time BQ was still at central. I remember wondering, why is this guy not moving on? I'm glad to hear he moved on. I bet hes getting paid pretty in that Caravan.

And yes, outbases do rule as CASW, but the MX is a little less impressive at the outbases. Especially if you do not tie into the system at all. But one thing I have learned is that if you are flying a broken plane only one person can take the blame, and that is you. Central will fix anything if you nag enough about it, just like every 135 in the world. And just like anywhere else you have to know who to take your problems too. Anyone that has flown for Central knows who they could do that with and who they couldn't.

"Get your head out of you bo bo" -JT
(Still the most effective seven, or eight words I have ever heard in aviation) Its too bad not everyone is capable of doing it!

 

[Future SNA]

I worked at Central Air for about as short of period as you could possibly work there, not because it wasn't an "alright" place to work, but because as soon as I got a job there, I got called by places that would allow me to actually pay my bills. I absolutely could not live on $1500/month, plus I commuted to my base so actually was paying for 2 places, sort of.

I agree, the owner was outstanding, very personable, stand up guy. There was some other Habib that worked there that straight told me to go one night, when waiting for a line to clear was undoubtedly the best thing to do, so when people say they don't pressure you, I guess I can't agree. I was experienced at night cargo when it happened, and it was sort of the straw that broke the camels back.

Having been trained by some quality places, if you are a 1200 hour CFI wonder going there, god help you if your run is difficult and the weather is bad. Their training is short, if you don't have the skills prior to coming, you could be in trouble.

Overall, looking back, it was fun (I had dead of the winter Northern route mind you), but I still can't figure out why I didn't join the military earlier.