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Life at Ram Air Freight ?
- Thread starter tathepilot
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- Watchers 6
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tathepilot
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2003
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Col. Angus
For the pilots
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2003
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- 18
Ram is to be enjoyed!
I worked at Ram Air in 1995 and 1996. It is without a doubt the best job I have ever had.
Before Ram was three years of instructing.
After Ram came:
1 year as a J32 F/O
2 years as a J32 CA
6 months as a CRJ F/O
2 years as a CRJ CA
6 months as a CE-750 SIC
2.5 years as a CE-750 PIC.
Ram is still the best. Why?
1. An honest, no-nonsense boss that does not B.S. and truly wants you to be happy (so the checks get there). He expects no-nonsense from you. Simple. Go on the road and never, ever, hear from HQ unless there is a major problem or time for recurrent. The closest thing to pure flying you will ever do.
2. Excellent maintenance. Considering the operating environment and mission, maintenance was excellent. The problems I had (blown heads, leaks) were due to the rough handling of one notorious substitute pilot, not maintenance.
3. The only criticism I ever had was the pay was criminal at the time. One run from RDU to Rocky Mount or some place paid $6. Yes, six bucks. I understand the pay is more civilized and even comes with an insurance and 401(k) plan. My old boss has made a career of managing RAF and he’s done a great job of it.
4. There was never any direct pressure to do flights you did not want to. It was explained to me that he’d rather I land and refuel and fly around the squall line than cancel the flight – all so he could at least tell the clients that “yes, the checks are late, but they’re in the air.”
RAF was and is never intended to be a long, term career, but it is a great place to work and hours plus proficiency will come fast. In the years after Ram you will laugh every time you fly a hand-flown single engine approach to minimums, followed by a missed approach. You will say to yourself, “Just like in the Lance (cheetah) at Ram!”
The only serious note of caution is something that we referred to as “Cheetah Madness.” Back when Ram flew the Grumman, pilots waited from six months to two years to upgrade. The airplane was so friendly and IFR proficiency came so fast that pilots quickly suffered from “Cheetah Madness.”
A condition in which a pilot becomes oblivious to hazardous conditions, leading to repeated instances of being the only aircraft flying in severe icing, RVR 600, and category 3 hurricane conditions.
Indeed, Ram pilots earned the reputation of being pathfinders for RDU approach in the 80s and 90s when it came to determining the suitability of rides for passenger aircraft. I think those days are pretty much over.
So…. avoid “Lance Madness” and “Baron Madness” and have a great time! I only wish that I could have afforded a camera!
I worked at Ram Air in 1995 and 1996. It is without a doubt the best job I have ever had.
Before Ram was three years of instructing.
After Ram came:
1 year as a J32 F/O
2 years as a J32 CA
6 months as a CRJ F/O
2 years as a CRJ CA
6 months as a CE-750 SIC
2.5 years as a CE-750 PIC.
Ram is still the best. Why?
1. An honest, no-nonsense boss that does not B.S. and truly wants you to be happy (so the checks get there). He expects no-nonsense from you. Simple. Go on the road and never, ever, hear from HQ unless there is a major problem or time for recurrent. The closest thing to pure flying you will ever do.
2. Excellent maintenance. Considering the operating environment and mission, maintenance was excellent. The problems I had (blown heads, leaks) were due to the rough handling of one notorious substitute pilot, not maintenance.
3. The only criticism I ever had was the pay was criminal at the time. One run from RDU to Rocky Mount or some place paid $6. Yes, six bucks. I understand the pay is more civilized and even comes with an insurance and 401(k) plan. My old boss has made a career of managing RAF and he’s done a great job of it.
4. There was never any direct pressure to do flights you did not want to. It was explained to me that he’d rather I land and refuel and fly around the squall line than cancel the flight – all so he could at least tell the clients that “yes, the checks are late, but they’re in the air.”
RAF was and is never intended to be a long, term career, but it is a great place to work and hours plus proficiency will come fast. In the years after Ram you will laugh every time you fly a hand-flown single engine approach to minimums, followed by a missed approach. You will say to yourself, “Just like in the Lance (cheetah) at Ram!”
The only serious note of caution is something that we referred to as “Cheetah Madness.” Back when Ram flew the Grumman, pilots waited from six months to two years to upgrade. The airplane was so friendly and IFR proficiency came so fast that pilots quickly suffered from “Cheetah Madness.”
A condition in which a pilot becomes oblivious to hazardous conditions, leading to repeated instances of being the only aircraft flying in severe icing, RVR 600, and category 3 hurricane conditions.
Indeed, Ram pilots earned the reputation of being pathfinders for RDU approach in the 80s and 90s when it came to determining the suitability of rides for passenger aircraft. I think those days are pretty much over.
So…. avoid “Lance Madness” and “Baron Madness” and have a great time! I only wish that I could have afforded a camera!
Yep, Ram is a great place to be right now. Movement is ridiculously fast, a buddy of mine was holding a Baron run in RDU after 2 months this spring/summer. (Those of you who were there 2001-2003 know how insane that is!) I spent 8 months there 2002-2003, still miss the schedules and the people. You'll get great IFR skills, fly airplanes that all have GPS, and generally have a blast. (And, yeah, there will be the loading checks in the rain/sleet/snow, de-icing by hand, deviating a little too close to level 4 and 5s using your eyeballs.... but it's still more fun than instructing!)
Rez O. Lewshun
Save the Profession
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2004
- Posts
- 13,422
spitfire1940
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2002
- Posts
- 162
upndsky
Freightdog 4 Life
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2001
- Posts
- 304
If I had just one complaint about Ram during my time there, it would be the pay.
Runs pay between $60 to $90/day. If you're "out-based" -- that is, anywhere other than RDU -- you'll make $80-$90, plus you'll also be in a twin. So it's in your favor if you are flexible and willing to move to where the good runs are. If you are based in RDU, you'll start in the Lance at $60/day. Newhires are placed where they're needed, but usually start in RDU. Again, it all depends on timing. And just like the airlines, everything is based on seniority.
After six months, you get a 10% raise. At 1 year, you get another 10%. After 2 years, you get paid max pay ($90 + 20%) no matter what the run normally pays.
Airnet pays more, but they also work longer hours in general. Our runs start around 2 p.m. and get done by 7 or 8 p.m., so the hours are really good for a freight company. At Airnet, you'll probably be seeing the back side of the clock more often.
Yes, the pays sucks but look at it as a primer of what's to come. I was at Ram for nearly 2 years and took a pay cut to come to my present employer.
Runs pay between $60 to $90/day. If you're "out-based" -- that is, anywhere other than RDU -- you'll make $80-$90, plus you'll also be in a twin. So it's in your favor if you are flexible and willing to move to where the good runs are. If you are based in RDU, you'll start in the Lance at $60/day. Newhires are placed where they're needed, but usually start in RDU. Again, it all depends on timing. And just like the airlines, everything is based on seniority.
After six months, you get a 10% raise. At 1 year, you get another 10%. After 2 years, you get paid max pay ($90 + 20%) no matter what the run normally pays.
Airnet pays more, but they also work longer hours in general. Our runs start around 2 p.m. and get done by 7 or 8 p.m., so the hours are really good for a freight company. At Airnet, you'll probably be seeing the back side of the clock more often.
Yes, the pays sucks but look at it as a primer of what's to come. I was at Ram for nearly 2 years and took a pay cut to come to my present employer.
spitfire1940
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2002
- Posts
- 162
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