Flight Express interview

[YODA]

FYI capt. poopypants, I spent three years at FLX and I can certainly tell you that in the beginning things were good and the MX on the 210's was good, the MX on the Barons was a different story. I was NEVER late, NEVER used a sick day, NEVER had a problem with management, NEVER left a bag on the ramp, NEVER damaged an airplane, I was not even close to being a pain in Ernst's a$$, as a matter of fact, after two years I don't even think he knew my name! I also NEVER got a vacation day, the only two days I got off in three years was one day for the birth of a child and one day for the funeral of a family member! I have no problem with the company, it was a good experience but you have to spend a little more time there to understand where some of these people are coming from. You also have to understand that after two years of service and getting rejected for a day off for something important or a vacation that is granted and than taken away at the last minute does get old. As far as squawking a broke airplane and getting a new one, you must be in ORL or another MX base because that does not usually happen at the other domiciles, they were pretty good about having a spare though (if there was one available). Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to bust your b***s, however, most of what TheBigCheese said is true exept for what was said about the DO, that was a little harsh. As far as IHF, he is a good friend of mine and all he did at FLX was his job and a **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good one at that, he had no problems with management that I ever knew of. Hopefully things are a little better around there and the group of pilots are happy. Aside from some of the minor issues, FLX was a good time and I certainly hope the company manages through the new changes in check processing and continues to press on.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

FLX 803 is not good, duty is from 2:30pm to 3-4am, 13 hours. I am calling Director of Ops. on Monday to tell him I cannot do this run... I hope I get a short run or I am leaving the company... Glad to hear your doing good!

Some words of wisdom from a guy who has done everything from CFI to the Majors.

Get out of aviation now, you are not cut out for it and it is clear to anyone that read your post.

13 hours is a normal work day for a pilot. Most of my days at the Major ran 12 to 14. Regionals are the same. Corporate can run 22 to 23 very often, freight was 12 hours 5 nights a week 4pm to 4 am.

As a pilot you will hardly ever see a job with less duty time, you will hardly ever see a Christmas or Thanksgiving off, Forget about birthdays and anniverseries. They are not a part of the profession that you chose as your career. They never have been, nor will they ever be. You are paid to fly an airplane when it needs flown, Period!

If your goal is the airlines, Expect to be away from home for 20 to 22 days(And Nights) a month, no matter what you have heard from a neighbor or read in the papers.

If you decide to stay in the profession. QUIT WHINING.......Because as of now, you have been informed about the real world of being a Professional Pilot.

 

[T-Gates]

Some words of wisdom from a guy who has done everything from CFI to the Majors.

Get out of aviation now, you are not cut out for it and it is clear to anyone that read your post.

13 hours is a normal work day for a pilot. Most of my days at the Major ran 12 to 14. Regionals are the same. Corporate can run 22 to 23 very often, freight was 12 hours 5 nights a week 4pm to 4 am.

As a pilot you will hardly ever see a job with less duty time, you will hardly ever see a Christmas or Thanksgiving off, Forget about birthdays and anniverseries. They are not a part of the profession that you chose as your career. They never have been, nor will they ever be. You are paid to fly an airplane when it needs flown, Period!

If your goal is the airlines, Expect to be away from home for 20 to 22 days(And Nights) a month, no matter what you have heard from a neighbor or read in the papers.

If you decide to stay in the profession. QUIT WHINING.......Because as of now, you have been informed about the real world of being a Professional Pilot.

Well said, It bugs the hell out of me to see people get into this industry with little or no research and then b!tch up a storm when things aren't as rosy as they predicted.

 

[Capt.PoopyPants]

FYI capt. poopypants, I spent three years at FLX and I can certainly tell you that in the beginning things were good and the MX on the 210's was good, the MX on the Barons was a different story. I was NEVER late, NEVER used a sick day, NEVER had a problem with management, NEVER left a bag on the ramp, NEVER damaged an airplane, I was not even close to being a pain in Ernst's a$$, as a matter of fact, after two years I don't even think he knew my name! I also NEVER got a vacation day, the only two days I got off in three years was one day for the birth of a child and one day for the funeral of a family member! I have no problem with the company, it was a good experience but you have to spend a little more time there to understand where some of these people are coming from. You also have to understand that after two years of service and getting rejected for a day off for something important or a vacation that is granted and than taken away at the last minute does get old. As far as squawking a broke airplane and getting a new one, you must be in ORL or another MX base because that does not usually happen at the other domiciles, they were pretty good about having a spare though (if there was one available). Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to bust your b***s, however, most of what TheBigCheese said is true exept for what was said about the DO, that was a little harsh. As far as IHF, he is a good friend of mine and all he did at FLX was his job and a **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good one at that, he had no problems with management that I ever knew of. Hopefully things are a little better around there and the group of pilots are happy. Aside from some of the minor issues, FLX was a good time and I certainly hope the company manages through the new changes in check processing and continues to press on.

Hey YODA
Your not busting my ball$, Like I said I have never had a major maintainance problem, but I know there have been problems. And yes it is still impossible to get days off. Flight Express certainly has it's problems, but compared to some places it is a cake walk. My big problem is with guys who spent a few years here when the industry was bad and would have struggled to find a job elsewhere, suddenly grow these huge nuts and do whatever they can to bad mouth this company. IHF has been one of those guys. When you began working at FLX were you expecting to be there for 3yrs? I doubt it. I also agree that if I was here that long I would be pissed about not getting days off. I wouldn't come on some message board and bad mouth the entire company telling people that management hates the pilots and the DO is a washed up drunk. I have also agreed with IHF that Doug is not a good guy, but that doesn't mean when I leave the company I'll tell new guys to avoid Flight Express. You yourself Have Posted "Not a bad company, but good luck getting a day off". That is a realistic view of Flight Express. Not that airplanes are braking up in the sky, not that every airplane has been bellied in five times. All I would like to see is realistic posts, not personal attacks on a company that is a nothing more than a stepping stone in a professional pilots career. Not a career in itself.

 

[YODA]

Capt. Poopypants, I could not have said it better myself. Good luck and fly safe, don't let Doug push you guys around. I never had a problem with him but I also gave him just as much sarcasm and crap as he dished out to us. It was kind of fun.

 

[Capt. JD]

Capt. JD

Sounds to me you are a whiney little B$%ch. You should be happy to just have a flying job with 1300 hours. Having a scheduled run is a huge luxury that you are seeming not to appreciate. Try on call 24/7 365 with a call at midnight and your day is just getting started. I am sure " Pilot Yip " could shed some light on this. Just remember boxes don't complain!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my 5th flying job... The last one I had for 2 years, Aerial Imaging Pilot (www.landvue.com) I was on call 24/7 365 a year, traveling around the U.S. in all weather, to do mapping for government & companies.... Don't talk to me about dedication. I wanted a job with a good schedule so I can have a life, AKA so I can score some hotties like I use to in college... Your the type of guy that would only say this on a computer, I am the type of guy that would mental grip you apart in public just for my amusement, watch how you talk to people...

 

[Capt. JD]

Well said, It bugs the hell out of me to see people get into this industry with little or no research and then b!tch up a storm when things aren't as rosy as they predicted.

I just want a route where I am on duty less at this particular company, Flight Express... If they cannot accommodate me on that, no hard feelings, I will give my bonus back and leave on good terms... Although it sounds like the Director of Ops. wants to help me... I never though things would be rosy as you say, but a 70 hour work week, come on! You work that hard and your life is over before you know it... There more to my life then flying airplanes, that not the only thing I want to accomplish before I check out...

 

[Bryan D]

Your the type of guy that would only say this on a computer, I am the type of guy that would mental grip you apart in public just for my amusement, watch how you talk to people...

Are you talking to me? Are yoouu talking to me? You must be talking to me, I'm the only one standing here.
-DeNiro

 

[Capt. JD]

haha

Are you talking to me? Are yoouu talking to me? You must be talking to me, I'm the only one standing here.

So what if I am? hahaha... What are you going to do about it, except take it...

 

[I Hate Freight]

Missing Posts?

What happened to my posts and TheBigCheese's posts in this thread?

 

[Freight Dog]

I just want a route where I am on duty less at this particular company, Flight Express... If they cannot accommodate me on that, no hard feelings, I will give my bonus back and leave on good terms... Although it sounds like the Director of Ops. wants to help me... I never though things would be rosy as you say, but a 70 hour work week, come on! You work that hard and your life is over before you know it... There more to my life then flying airplanes, that not the only thing I want to accomplish before I check out...

Hey Jelly... it's called "paying your dues." You won't get any sympathy from anyone especially those who moved on, and believe me, there are a lot of people involved with interview processes at airlines and other jet operators reading this board... Sure, the run may suck. Your schedule may suck too. You keep getting assigned the turd-of-the-fleet bird. Weather just f**king BLOWS. "Well, boo-f**king-hooo." We've all done it. It's one thing to just vent, but it's another thing to be a little b*tch that can't hack an honest freight dog night. You are still paying your dues. You're getting experience because if you weren't, you wouldn't be at FLX. Suck it up... it's not a career job. It's a stepping stone.

Sure, you may get a different run at FLX, but believe me... the DO is not doing you any favors by switching you to another run because you'll carry that same attitude to the interviews, and to your probationary year IF you get through the interview process.

My advice to you is to suck it up, do your run, get your flight time, quit your b*tching, stay safe, and look at this as an awesome experience that you will look back on very fondly some day. I look back on my freight flying days as some of the best time in my flying career. You will too.

Good luck to you..

 

[labbats]

Sounds like someone got my old run. I'm willing to bet that with these outbursts you're not the favorite guy around that hangar. Grin and bear it man. The MX guys and pilots at Tampa are very cool and you could learn a lot from them. Keep your nose clean and be thankful for a good run. I switched from 810 to 803 because it was easier. Try that one out for some perspective, or most other runs for that matter. You fly back and forth along the same route. That's easy, and the controllers in both Miami and Tampa approach will route you around anything you need.

I can relate to the long nights and lack of a personal life, but so can most on this board. No one likes a whiner. A talk with Ernst will get you a lot farther and a lot more respect than some block lettering on this board.

Good Luck

 

[thebigcheese2]

Fright Excess

Long hours, low pay and no respect are the GOOD qualities for working at Fright Excess.

"Is that smoke I smell?"

 

[Beantown]

Capt. Poopypants, I could not have said it better myself. Good luck and fly safe, don't let Doug push you guys around. I never had a problem with him but I also gave him just as much sarcasm and crap as he dished out to us. It was kind of fun.

Hey Yoda, Hows the new job working out for ya? Hope things are good. -Bean

 

[thebigcheese2]

Mgr. Dude at Fright Excess Is A Douchebag

Dougza douchebag.

 

[Capt. JD]

Month on the Line...

The flight experience for me has been great for me lately, now that I feel I got more of a grip on this flying job... I am getting use to flying at nights. I did talk with Ernst, he is a good boss... I should not have vented my first weeks feeling on this board. But whatever, the responses gave me some insight that were funny for me to read at least...

 

[PropsForward]

I should not have vented my first weeks feeling on this board....

Got that right!

 

[flyndesk]

Ernst is a good boss?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

YGBSM.........

 

[photopilot]

Ernst is a good guy. He and Janet have gone above and beyond to help me out so far. As far as Capt. JD, give the dude a break. It can be a shock to the system to step into freight flying. Especially when you are used to a less demanding schedule. I know I was a little overwhelmed at first, until I got used to the schedule, and learned my run.