Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Flight Express vs RamAirFreight

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

Art Vandalay

Importer/Exporter
Joined
Oct 27, 2004
Posts
195
I have an opportunity to attend training with both companies, but would like some input as to which one everyone feels is the better company. I understand the pay at FLX and it seems pretty good compared to RAF. However, the opportunity for twin time seems it may be better at RAF.

Does anyone have opionions? The pros/cons of each company?

Thanks,

Art Vandalay, Importer/Exporter
 
In my opinion, Flight Express would be the best chioce. FE is a bigger company so you would have a larger chioce of domiciles, the pay is much better, you can make up to 36,000 a year, thats pretty good for flying checks in a 210. The Cessna 210 and Baron I belive are much better aircraft than a Lance or Seneca, considering I have time in all of them. I dont know to much about Ram Air, im sure it is a good company, but I worked for FE for two years and loved it, and the upgrade time for the Baron is very quick these days. Good luck on your decision.
 
Last edited:
Hello,
I'd also recommend Package Express out of Concord, NC. I worked there for a few months and it's a good place to work. Bases are as far north as Charleston, WV to Myrtle Beach, NC. Opportunity to fly the twin pretty quick too, but more than likely be flying a Cherokee 6/Lance the first six months or so. Good luck!

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

www.packageexpress.biz
 
I think it more depends on where you want to live. I understand that Ram Air is mostly east coast/Virginia while FLX is more FL/SE/Midwest. Also, it probably would take longer to get twin time at FLX but the 210 is a good aircraft.
 
Here's my 25 cents worth

The decision is ultimately yours, but I can recommend Flight Express. I've been there since July, and I'm generally very impressed.
The aircraft are minimally equipped, but well maintained. They tend to look a bit shabby, but hey, they're freight dogs. I'm starting to look pretty shabby too. Management worked hard to get me the base I wanted as soon as possible, and I know they've done the same for others.

The company puts a lot of responsibility on their pilots (we're all single-pilot PIC's), but they also give you full command authority. I've never been criticized or second-guessed for a command decision, even when it cost the company time or money.

The company realizes that this is a stepping-stone job, and they don't expect anyone to hang around after they build up some time. But having said that, we have a number of pilots who've been here 5 years or more. Flying single pilot PIC is very rewarding mentally, and some people really get hooked on it.
Now to the subject of pay. Don't get your expectations too high. Many of the runs are minimum pay runs. That's $75 per work day. Work it out yourself on a monthly basis, and ask yourself if you can live on that. Some of the runs have pretty short duty days, so there's time to get a second job and supplement your income. That's what I'm doing. The maximum pay runs (which are relatively few) can have you in the air as much as 6 or 7 hours a day. Every day. Five days a week. That's a lot of time in an airplane seat by yourself. Some people seem to thrive on it, but I don't think I could do it.
And then there's the experience. It's true what everyone says. Single pilot freight flying is great experience. I flew 8 ILS's in 3 days last week. By hand. Some of them close to minimums. I interpret the weather myself, choose my own strategy, and fly my own plan. I'm getting better fast. Flight Express isn't the only place to get this kind of experience, but it's a good place.

Finally, there's the issue of upgrade time. You'll start in a 210 at Flight Express, and then you'll move up to a Baron (unless you get another job first). Upgrade time is running about 6 to 8 months right now. I'm happy to be in the 210. It's a great airplane: a good solid stable reliable instrument platform, and it's easy to fly. It's also competitive in speed with most light twins. There's so much to learn in the instrument environment that it's a real plus to only have one engine to worry about. By the time I'm eligible for a Baron run, I'll be ready for the additional complexity, but until then, I'm plenty busy flying the 210.

So there's my 25 cents worth. Good luck wherever you go. Hope to see you on the line .

-- Beech_nut
 
First of all, sorry for the short reply, but I’m in ground school for the CRJ! LOTS of studying to do. I just left Ram Air and I have NOTHING but great things to say about them. I was with them for 11 months and I never:



- worked on Saturday or Sunday

- felt pressured to fly ( you are expected to fly to minimums, however)

- Worried about maintenance

- Flew at night (ok, in the winter some of my runs landed after dark)

- regretted it for a second



Fast upgrade time to a twin (sometimes right out of ground school), no night flights, weekends off. Great people to work for.



BTW, I know a lot of Flight Express guys and they seemed happy. Once again, like everyone has already said it boils down to lower pay but faster twin time at Ram Air.



I will always be grateful for the time I spent there.



Good Luck!
 
joe_pilot said:
First of all, sorry for the short reply, but I’m in ground school for the CRJ!
Just wait and see if the exclamation point is still there about the CRJ when you get your first paycheck!
 
FLX vs. REX.

I've met and know people who have flown for both companies. They all have said good and bad things about the two. My suggestion to you is this. See about Central Air; bypass those piston singles all together.
Cheers m8,
Krinkle
 
Krinkle,

Any info for Central Air? Website? When doing a search on google all I see is sites for air conditioners? Thanks for the help.

Art Vandalay, Latex Manufacturer
 
I'll add my vote for Ram Air. Spent 8 mos. there 2002-2003, at a time when there was NO movement in the industry. (Express Jet, Eagle, and others still furloughing, not hiring.) Despite that I was flying both Senecas and Barons in the senior base (RDU) within 3 mos. of being hired. With all the movement now the upgrade into a twin is ridiculously fast; a friend of mine who starts IOE today at CHQ spent 3 WEEKS in the Lance before holding a BE58 run in RDU.


Ram had a great group of guys/gals to work and party with, good mx, IFR-approved GPS in every airplane (except the "banana boat"), and management that did not pressure you to do illegal things. (You ARE, however, expected to fly to minimums. No "I'm not comfortable flying in 200-1/2 in a single". If not, wtf are you doing here?) The only real downside is the pay, it sucked then and still isn't great.
 
The Banana Boat's got IFR GPS now as well, believe it or not.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top