DC-8's @ BWI

[chawbein]

What company flies DC-8's out of BWI? White plane with light blue stripes.

I thought it was cool, because I've never seen a DC-8 in person....

Oh yeah, anybody flown into Jackson, Mississippi? There's a big ass bump on the runway that scared the poo out of my wife!!

 

[DIRT]

DC8's

A.T.I.

The name of the company is Air Transport International, they operate DC8's all over the world for the US government/military.

 

[chawbein]

Thanks Dirt

The DC-8 is a wicked-awesome airplane!

 

[dsee8driver]

We do ...

The previous post was right. I fly for Air Transport International (ATI) The 8's you see in BWI are the combis we operate for AMC to Lajes in the Azores and Thule, Greenland. They have 32 pax in the back with two FAs and 10 pallet positions. The Avatar I have is the new paint scheme that you might see in the future. We recently acquired 73 series from Emery that have been retrofitted with semi-glass intruments. 2 CRT with various modes for display. The 8 is the only jet I have ever flown. I truly enjoy flying it. Lots of hand flown approaches to mins.

Take care.

If you want any pics let me know....

 

[chawbein]

Pics would be awesome!! send me some. One of my career goals is to fly DC-8's for UPS, probably a pipe dream....

 

[DIRT]

DC8Driver

Whats it like working for ATI?? What is your schedule like?? Do you get to go anywhere interesting?

 

[dsee8driver]

Doesn't matter what knd of dream..

Doesn't matter what kind of dream it is, at least you have one. I remmember the days when I was a baggage loader in Miami on the Suriname DC8's and the Rich Internationals and said to my self that one day I would be there. I also remmember the days when UPS was starting to bring their flying inhouse. I was driving a delivery truck taking chilled tuna and tropical fish to the Crystal Palace in Miami where it was loaded into a UPS plane for shiping to Asia. I also said to myself I would someday fly for them. I loaded package cars for UPS for 3 years in Miami and the closest I have been to them was their cockpit jumpseat when I was flying Caravans out or Raleigh for them. So whether its a pipe dream or not, at least it's a dream that can be reached with betters odds then winning the lottery. I have to admit I'm getting closer.

Regards..

 

[dsee8driver]

What is it like....hmmm

It's a great job. I'm sitting in a hotel in Louisville, KY, having returned from Shannon, Ireland, Stansted, England with a load of horses. Going tommorrow to Anchorage, lay over for 26 hrs while airplane goes to Asia and back.
The schedules are typically 8-10 days on domestic with a week off and internationally aboyt 16 on 12 off. We do lots of military charters. I have been to lots of interesting places worldwide. The airplanes are great old dinosaurs. The crews are for the most part very knowledgable old timers that make an 8hr leg kinda interesting with their stories.

 

[727PAA]

Hiring

You folks hiring at all???

I am a furloughed 72 driver...looking for a home.

 

[chawbein]

Sounds like an awesome job!! Why am I saying job, flying could never be a "job" for me. Sounds like you got a great gig.

 

[dsee8driver]

nah..no hiring...

We have a few FE's on furlough and a few FE's waiing to upgrade to FE bird deflectors. Have you tried Capital Cargo? We have a bunch of them on our ramp...

 

[DIRT]

DC8driver

Thanks for the info, sounds like an interesting career. Does it ever seem like just another job, because if I were flying professionally I could not imagine ever going "oh no I have to go fly a DC8 transpacific tonight"

Just wondering....

 

[dsee8driver]

Nope..

In my short career of just 4.5 years, I have loved my flying job ever since the beginning. I still get butterflies when I sit there and rotate. I have a career that I still truly enjoy. Ofcourse you will always have those folks who are tired of putting up with the schedules, Unions and you can always find crap to whie about. I guess I'm still in the awe stage of my career. I hope I don't become one of those unhappy folks.

I do have to admit that I have recently wondered about leaving home for a week at a time. But only cause I leave behind a little 3 year old boy and 1.5 year old little princess that sort off given me a completlely new outlook on things. But I still look forward to my flying adventure!

 

[LR25]

I used to be a mechanic for ATI, I couldnt believe the new paint scheme.

I realize that Burlington has most interest in ATI now but, we will see if they invest money in new paint for the rest of the fleet.

They finally got that 73 out of MIA, I heard they didnt want the lease after all the work that went into the airplane.

 

[dsee8driver]

3 already...

I used to be a mechanic for ATI, I couldnt believe the new paint scheme.

We actually got to pick from 3 different schemes and that one won. As the airplanes go for checks they will be repainted. Although we are owned by Bax, we where separated by Pittston and now we sit under one umbrella(Pittstons). The airplane leases were all re-negotiated under ATI. No longer Bax. Also, we have gotten 3 73's from Emery online now. There are 2 more coming. The problem with them was simple, Emery destroyed them. When we originally got them and were ready to come out, they found a bunch of AD's that Emery never complied with so that delayed delivery. But they are here now.