Flight Express hiring VFR guys

[Checks]

I was just making the point that a lot of operators whine that their pilots leave for the regionals or that it is tough to keep/recruit pilots BUT they then pay crap wages.

10$ an hour is not something to brag about. I live in a small midwest town with a low cost of living and the MCDonalds has a sign up that reads "8.50 an hour to start".

 

[labbats]

How much did you two tough guys make when you had 1200 hours?

I flew for FLX and took a pay cut to go to Eagle. At $23-24 an hour, that still doesn't add up to $100 a day. And that goes for all jet jobs you can get for first year pay, with some cargo/fractional exceptions. Sounds like you don't know too much about the industry right now, but are quick to complain. Yep, you're pilots all right.

 

[imacdog]

I'm a piston twin cargo pilot that works 3-4 days per week and I'll still be taking a pay cut as a 1st year regional FO.

 

[wheelsup]

Hmmm..maybe its just me...but if your flying a 20 mil aircraft and you are NOT making 125 dollars a day...then I would be interested in selling a BIG RED Bridge in SF....cause obviously you'll buy anything....like ...we cant afford to pay you more than 100 dollars a day for a duty day...as the operating costs are to HIGH.....

so looks like amflight or something else is in my future.
I got 28 cents...might be able come up with a dollar.....MAYBE

All you do is complain...and guess what? Ameriflight pays less than flight express... (initially). It seems you're trying to convince yourself you don't want to go to a regional to me.

Anybody know if there is a training contract at Ameriflight (just curious)?


~wheelsup

 

[Boris Badenov]

Looking for a little advice on my situation. I'm 28, about to graduate with a BA. In order to get the degree, I eventually had to quit instructing. I meet the 135 mins by a whisker in all categories (I have a fair amount of actual, though), but I haven't had a flying job in about three years, and I don't have a multi-engine rating of any sort. What is the shortest and cheapest route to get on with an outfit like Flight Express? I'm impressed by what I've heard of their operation on this board, and of course the chance to build multi-time and getting paid for it sounds awfully good with those student loans looming over my head. Will FLX hire with only a single engine rating, let you get the multi on your own time, and upgrade you with a wet multi/instrument? Obviously, I need to work on my instrument currency, both regulatory and practical. What else ought I do?

Thanks in advance,
Boris

 

[wheelsup]

Will FLX hire with only a single engine rating, let you get the multi on your own time, and upgrade you with a wet multi/instrument? Obviously, I need to work on my instrument currency, both regulatory and practical. What else ought I do?

Thanks in advance,
Boris

See their website:

• Commercial Single-Engine certificate with an instrument rating
• 1200 Hours Total
• 500 Hours Cross Country - point to point
• 100 Hours Night
• 75 Hours Instrument total - up to 25 in a simulator allowed
• 50 Hours Instrument in FLIGHT - simulated (hood) or actual

I suggest a hardcore instrument refreasher course - Air Orlando Aviation across the airport has a full-motion GA sim you could use. Also, PM John Glenn, he's in the know about their hiring.

~wheelsup

 

[Checks]

Where did I fault the pilots? I was just making the point that Flight Express shouldnt complain about not being able to fill their pilot seats when they pay the same as McDonalds. If Flight Express paid 20 dollars an hour I can bet they wouldnt have near the turnover they have now.

 

[tacojet]

I made $30K my last year at FLX, even back in '97. I started COEX and made $10.5K my firts year. hmmm. And no I didn't PFT, That was back in the 2000TT/500ME no pay days.

 

[John Glenn]

Moving on UP to the sweet side!

Again, please don't misconstrue my use of the term "idiot".
Nah!! No harm no foul.

I am glad to see a former freight dawg in a air-conditioned cockpit. I agree, 135 freight does make a diiference. I can still use about 10 more pilots so if you want you to fly a 210, call me!

Take care and much success!

 

[John Glenn]

YO! Spincter boy!

Where did I fault the pilots? I was just making the point that Flight Express shouldnt complain about not being able to fill their pilot seats when they pay the same as McDonalds. If Flight Express paid 20 dollars an hour I can bet they wouldnt have near the turnover they have now.

I'm not sure how you interpret the thread but I think you missed the point. By in large money is not the major issue. So are you telling me if I paid you 20 an hour you would join up right now? And you would stay flying with us for how long?

I was just making the point that a lot of operators whine that their pilots leave for the regionals or that it is tough to keep/recruit pilots BUT they then pay crap wages.

No whining here about anybody leaving for bigger and better. Quite the contary, we expect it and have no problem trying to get you time off for the interview. We don't always have the coverage but understand the importance of that next step and try.

10$ an hour is not something to brag about. I live in a small midwest town with a low cost of living and the MCDonalds has a sign up that reads "8.50 an hour to start".

So what's your point? 10 is 10. It's advertised. I thought at this stage of a pilot's career it was about the hours (particularly multi PIC). Has something changed?
__________________

 

[John Glenn]

I think it is just you!

Hmmm..maybe its just me...but if your flying a 20 mil aircraft and you are NOT making 125 dollars a day...then I would be interested in selling a BIG RED Bridge in SF....cause obviously you'll buy anything....like ...we cant afford to pay you more than 100 dollars a day for a duty day...as the operating costs are to HIGH.....

Cowboy, you are in over your head here. You are giving advice to freight dawgs?
Are you STILL looking for a job? I remember your avatar said somthing about having the mins and please someone give me a job. So where's your resume? If you think you can do this and have the mins, show up Monday the 18th at 10am. No appointment needed. No SIM required, plus we put you on salary day one.

Personally I find your views entertaining. As hard as these guys have worked to get where they are, you might not want to dispense your brand of wisdom unless you can walk toe-to-toe with them.



Just my 2 cents

 

[wheelsup]

John Glenn, check your PM's and voice mail @ work.

~wheelsup

 

[Flyin Tony]

I wish I had the 135mins I would be over there now

 

[John Glenn]

How close are you?

Stay in touch. We have all been there!

 

[millhouse21]

I used to work at FLX and can second everything anybody said here. They do expect you to move on some day and don't mind giving you time off for interviews. Yes, I did have to reschedule one but I was at a single-pilot base so they had to TDY a pilot down and put him up in a hotel. If that doesn't sound like much, just think how well most freight outfits would respond if you just suggested that you might need some time off for an interview. I know more than one guy at other, less reputable companies who were fired for interviewing somewhere else.

I also miss some aspects of flying freight but watching the weather in Arkansas and Missouri this time of year makes me appreciate my current job!! Thanks to everybody at FLX. You guys do things right.

 

[JB74]

I wish I had the 135mins I would be over there now

No kidding, and I live just outside O-town.

 

[Way2Broke]

Flight express has some killler runs. I know a guy that works about 3 hours a day and makes 19-20000 a year. Just like with any cargo gig in a small plane you had better be ready to fly in almost any kind of weather though. It looks like a good place to go if you are a CFI that needs to build twin time. There are other places that you do not have to fly a single for so long before going into the twin though, but some of them want twin time before you get the job. They are desperate for pilots! Good luck, and have fun being a fr8 dog!

 

[darkvw]

Wish I had even close to what they want, sounds like a good place to me. I'm still working on my hours so I can fly when they figure out here that I'm past retirement.

 

[HarbourPilot]

Don't you think you should use the sim ride for an initial evaluation, here your going to put pilots on the payroll, there going to take a seat in training, and all the copies and paperwork that need to be administered to him or her. And candidates dont even have to pay the $300 to start training. Oh and then provided they pass the ground training (Good Luck!) now give some free time in a 210. After all that is finished you realize the candidate needs more work before he can start flying single pilot IFR 135. Like someone said FLX is not a flight school. Sounds like a big waste of resources. The simulator evaluation is a useful tool, thats all im saying!

 

[John Glenn]

Whew, I know.

Don't you think you should use the sim ride for an initial evaluation, here your going to put pilots on the payroll, there going to take a seat in training, and all the copies and paperwork that need to be administered to him or her. And candidates dont even have to pay the $300 to start training. Oh and then provided they pass the ground training (Good Luck!) now give some free time in a 210. After all that is finished you realize the candidate needs more work before he can start flying single pilot IFR 135. Like someone said FLX is not a flight school. Sounds like a big waste of resources. The simulator evaluation is a useful tool, thats all im saying!

Point(s) well taken. The use of the SIM is the norm except if broken. However the industry's demand on us for pilots and additional runs compel use to modify and/or change the procedures.

I recall a day when you needed more than 600/100 (banner towing the main portion of that total) to fly right seat in a 1900. Now some of those fortunate individuals are being hired by the RJ boys. I have 210s and Barons and need 1100 for VFR and 1200 for IFR.

Not too long along the SIM was down. None of the 7 candidates took a SIM ride but all 7 made it through the training and are flying with us. Just like those candidates that are scheduled to come in this Monday, we are all taking our chances. Aviation is changing everyday and we are working to move along with it.

When you mention wasting resources, I can only say there are no guarantees. There is no guarantee that when we SIM someone and they pass, then flight train, and they pass, and send them to there domicile, and they arrive only to leave 24 hours later. Resources are something that the industry seems to be in short supply of.

I am the one that said we are not a flight school. We're not. I also said, you must pass the training to fly the line. By the way, we just got 3 more new runs. I need pilots who can fly 135. I hope everyone who comes in on the 18th does indeed pass.

Sad part is, when resources are plentiful that means the industry is in a slump (again)!

That's what I'm saying.