going from regionals to cargo

[flagshipper]

I am seriously considering leaving the regionals to go back into the cargo world. Most people i talk to think I am crazy since alot of the places I am looking to work people leave to come to the regionals all the time and not the other way around. Just wanted anybody's opinion who may have made this jump and what they think of it

 

[Airpiraterob]

whats an average capitol schedule like? widely variable? on/off?

 

[say again]

do what makes you happy.

 

[flybrowntails]

T-gates:
is your new job an FE or FO position?
(either way you will love the 72--great airplane)

fbt

 

[pilotyip]

USA Jet

USA Jet has picked up a few regional pilots. With prior 121 MEL they are making Captain in about one year. The starting pay for a DA-20 F/O is $34K/yr. But you gotta live in Detroit.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

It's an FO slot, CCI hired PFE's mostly...

I haven't been this excited about an airplane in a long time...can't wait. Didn't think someone of my generation would be able to ge a shot at the ole 72.

You'll be hired as an fo. They only hire PFE's with their a&p certificate. We do have a couple of low time pilots who are sitting in the engineer's seat, but they are nothing to worry about; they only fly as pilots "on the side" and are in the process of building hours. They intentially interviewed to be engineers and that's what they were hired for, but you'll definately be hired as an FO. Capital does not hire into the left seat like some other airlines do. They try to keep things fair, and besides, the contract prohibits it (I believe).

Yes, a junior pilot may be asked to fly a little overtime, but that's only if all of the other senior pilots turn it down, and people love to get overtime here because it pays so well. I've only been asked to work overtime once, and I turned it down because of personal obligations I had to do on my "off" weeks, but somebody else quickly jumped on it.
The schedule is 2 weeks on/2 weeks off. Basically it's the best schedule in the world. In response to Flagshipper's question, yes, it is worth it to move back to freight. You work half as hard and make more money. You only go to work 12 times a year (based on a 2 on/2 off schedule. You're only going to work once a month). So if you're a regional pilot commuting to/from work, you will spend alot of your time begging for a ride and fighting the airport crowd, dealing with TSA hassles, etc. This is your off time. Why waste it commuting? With a company such as Capital Cargo, you are home based. The company flies you commercially to and from your trip. They use Legacy Airlines. I've only been on AA, Delta, NorthWest and Continental. (Im sure they travel you on others as well, but I've only been on these 3).

We're having alot of captains retiring, lots up upgrades, some pilots quitting, etc. The FO list moves up quickly. Upgrade time is probably before 2 years depending on growth.
Our main cities are TOL, BOS, SAN, FLL, PHX, ELP, GDL, YYC, HRL, CLT, AND MIA. Those are the airports you'll overnight in. Like t-gates said, you'll usually fly 4 legs a night. For instance Bos-Roc-TOL-Den-San. TOL is our HUB where the sort takes place. The intermediate cities (in the above example, Roc and Den, you don't even get off of the airplane.)

 

[PCL_128]

So if you're a regional pilot commuting to/from work, you will spend alot of your time begging for a ride and fighting the airport crowd, dealing with TSA hassles, etc. This is your off time. Why waste it commuting?

This is the biggest reason I've decided to try getting on at a place like Cappy. The commuting is killing me at PCL, but I certainly will NOT move to DTW, MEM, or MSP.

Flagshipper, you're not the only one thinking of making the move. When T-Gates was thinking of making the move I told him he was crazy. Turns out he was right. He left to go fly cargo about a year ago and he's been happy ever since. Wish I would have been as smart as him at the time. Never too late to make the right move though.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

This is the biggest reason I've decided to try getting on at a place like Cappy. The commuting is killing me at PCL, but I certainly will NOT move to DTW, MEM, or MSP.

Flagshipper, you're not the only one thinking of making the move. When T-Gates was thinking of making the move I told him he was crazy. Turns out he was right. He left to go fly cargo about a year ago and he's been happy ever since. Wish I would have been as smart as him at the time. Never too late to make the right move though.

We have a fair amount of turnover with first officers. One guy just quit last month because he couldn't handle the schedule. (night flying is hard on some people) We have alot of guys from the regionals interview because they're wanting a change from the regional lifestyle, pay, etc. Once at the interview, some of them turn the job down, mainly because they don't want to be away from home for 2 weeks straight. How is that any worse than being a commuting pilot living in ATL for example and being JFK based, flying 4 day trips with only 2-3 days off in between and trying to j/s home.
Another good thing about Capital is that there is no reserve. They'll put you on a line right after IOE.

 

[PCL_128]

You've hit the nail right on the head. I'm a commuter out of ATL to DTW and the commute is pretty tough. Typical schedule for me is 4 on 4 off right now and I usually burn a day off trying to commute to work. When I upgrade I will be stuck with a 5 on 2 off schedule most likely which means I will only get 1 whole day at home between trips. Beats me how that's supposed to be any better than being gone for 2 weeks straight. Personally, I'm single so the idea of getting all my work done in one block and then getting 2 straight weeks off sounds great. It's the constant commuting back and forth every week that takes its toll on me.

 

[flywest]

At one time I also wanted to do the regional thing, but changed course with all of the instability. I currently fly night cargo (I prefer nights actually) and I am trying to get an interview with Capital. Right now I am trying to make myself look more attractive to the powers that be in the chief pilot/hiring office. Anybody have any tips on how to get an interview at Capital Cargo? I don't know anyone on the inside so I've mailed a resume and tried to fax one, but nothing so far. Do they go to any career fairs? I'd be willing to take the trip to Orlando to personally hand in my resume if it would help. I currently have ~2600TT, flying as a 135 SIC in a lear. Any suggestions?
Sorry for the thread hijack, but there seemed to be a lot of Capital guys here.
Thanks for the help!
FlyWest

 

[RedEye1]

SIC time impresses NO ONE.


YOU HAVE TO HAVE PIC TIME.

 

[Stinkbug]

More questions about CCI

Do you fellas at Cappy feel that it has potential as a career airline? Does the company share their business philosophy and plans for the future with you? Is there a seniority list? Also...I thought you had to be MCO-based. I guess I was mistaken? Also, I did a search on pay with not much success, and they're not listed on airlinepilotpay.com. Would you guys mind sharing with us the pay for FO's and captains? Thanks for the info, and congrats T-gates on your new gig.

 

[flyinyourShorts]

You pretty much HAVE to know someone on the inside to get a job at CCIA. I tried hard to get on there for three years, with a GOOD insider trying to get me in, and FINALLY got in a class. We don't advertise alot when hiring is going to start, internally and externally. They seem real big on that, and I don't see it changing anytime soon because the needs are more than met when it comes time to get more people. So find somone you know there and network!

I don't know of any hiring minimums, and each class seems to have a very wide range of time and experience. They do like to hire freight dogs, but they wouldn't turn down a good regional pilot with a recomendation. I also haven't met anybody that got hired on recently that didn't have that recomendation.

I won't quote exact pay rates, but a first year F/O(including per-diem and a little overtime)will make over $50k. We pretty much only have PFE's, and no real reserve so when your done your out on the line. Trips are mostly four leggers, but only four nights a week. Some of the long lines are two legs then to the hotel for a day(or two). So, it's just enough to keep it interesting.

You are home based, and the company is very upfront with it(unlike Kalitta). They buy you a ticket to and from your home airport to where your flying from. I think the two week on two week off schedual is great, and it's one of the reasons I have tried so hard to get on here. You just can't beat two weeks where you don't have to do anything!

CCIA will be a long term thing for me, and I plan to be here unless something happenes to the company. 99% of our work is for BAX, and your livelyhood hinges on them staying in business. But for someone that dosent have a degree(like me), and can upgrade in the not so distant future, it's a heck of a deal. In the future we might see bigger and newer aircraft, but in the meantime i'm more than happy with the 727.

For the life of my I can't see where people think the regionals are so good over freight. This is my 6th year of flying for a living, and in those 6 years flying freight I have NEVER had a job that paied under $30k a year! Also I have never been a F/O at any job until I got this one, so all my time is PIC time. Half the places I have worked for have been shady, but a couple of them have been excellent with a good QOL.

Some people don't like freight, but the smart ones swear by it!

 

[kevdog]

I have never worked for a regional but have for two 121 supplemental cargo companies. To me (I am 30) regional pay is inhumane. If you can deal with the night schedule, which IS tough on certain people, freight is a great way to go! FO starting pay is usually about the same as 5-7 year Captain pay at a regional and it seems you can upgrade on a 727, 767, DC-8, DC-10, MD-11, or A-300 in about the same time as at a lot of the regionals. Out of the 2 cargo companies I have worked for, people have gone to United, US Airways, Delta, Abex, AirTran, FedEx, and UPS to name a few. It is great not to go anywhere near TSA and the terminal, and not have to commute to work via jumpseating, if you have to commute at all. Even now, a lot of airports don't even check you in, just walk through the shipper to the ramp and plane from the hotel van. Boxes don't complain, but the one downside to freight is you have to get your own beverages.

 

[Stinkbug]

I'd still like to know what they pay their captains.

 

[flyinyourShorts]

I'm not going to type out the payscales, but if you check out Express.net on airlinepilotpay.com, it's about the same. Our garuntee is a little more, and that's minus per-diem and company bonuses also. Like alot of things here the payscale dosen't get posted outside company very much, but it's not bad for working only half the month.

If the new contract is EVER put in place, we're susposed to get a pay raise.

Also for stinkbug, there is a seniority list, and it's pretty well stuck to. Things like upgrades and overtime are based on it. Also you are home based(per the contract), and airline travel is provided to and from work. They won't buy a ticket from just any small airport(like El Dorado, AR), but chances are there is an airport near you that they can get tickets out of.

 

[flyinyourShorts]

Remember, it's pronounced El Doh RAY doh

Other places that have a special corner in my heart....

Kissimmee
Yipslanti
Columbus(LCK Airport Area)
Indy(go Postal!)
San Juan
Subic Bay
Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon)

Shouldn't you be studying anyway?!

 

[Rhoid]

I'm not going to type out the payscales

Why? are you embarrased about your payscales? I would be if I were you. Look how they compare to the two premier ACMI carriers, ABX and Astar. I don't think your pilots make anything near they do.

Also, I keep hearing of more consolidation in the heavy freight sector that BAX is in. Just look at what happened to Menlo and all those contractors who will be looking for work at the end of the year. I know of a former DC-9 captain at ABX that got fired to putting a DC-9 in the approach lights, he got hired directly into a 727 captains seat at CCI. What does that tell you? They aren't known in the industry as "Crappy" for nothing!

Good luck with your "career" at CCI. I guess for someone without a degree it's the best you can do.

 

[ERfly]

Why? are you embarrased about your payscales? I would be if I were you. Look how they compare to the two premier ACMI carriers, ABX and Astar. I don't think your pilots make anything near they do.

Also, I keep hearing of more consolidation in the heavy freight sector that BAX is in. Just look at what happened to Menlo and all those contractors who will be looking for work at the end of the year. I know of a former DC-9 captain at ABX that got fired to putting a DC-9 in the approach lights, he got hired directly into a 727 captains seat at CCI. What does that tell you? They aren't known in the industry as "Crappy" for nothing!

Good luck with your "career" at CCI. I guess for someone without a degree it's the best you can do.

Hemorrhoid makes his return...

 

[flyinyourShorts]

I think you need some Preparation-H.....

I think you are embarrised to come out and say who you really are oh mighty, all knowing, freight hemmroid!

You seem pretty convinced that ABX and DHL are screwed in the long run. Like any other ACMI operation for DHL, one day they might decided to pull the plug. Just wait until the hub consolidation.

You might think it's crappy, and your entitled to your opnion. But, as you "work toward the majors" remember to look up and see us "crappy" pilots flying over your head.