Looking into Cargo

[Flyingtoohigh]

After reading some positive posts about flying cargo I decided to check out the websites of several carriers including Airnet, Baron Aviation, Flight Express, etc. and saw that most minimums were at least 1000TT with many reaching higher.

Have most of you built time as a CFI prior to flying freight as the majority of non-military airline pilots have done?

Is there another entry-level cargo position with lesser minimums that I have overlooked?

Also, rumor mills have repeatedly told me that freight airplanes are maintained less... urgently. I'd like to clear this one up for my own personal interest. What is the opinion of the maintenance in general of the cargo aircraft you fly?

 

[hydroflyer]

I built up a large part of my time instructing which I think is a good road to take even though some will try to avoid it at all costs. One nice thing about instructing is you spend so much time instilling good habits in your students that hopefully it will help you maintain those habits as well, especially with instrument flight. One example is checking the compass often. Before instructing I hardly ever checked it during a flight, now I check it so often that I may not even notice a precessing heading indicator.

Unfortunately with the large amount of pilots available, it isn't likely that you will find a position with lower minimums than what you have already found. Most places seem to really want solid IFR skills. They want to train you for their company flying, not teach you IFR skills you should already have.

As far as maintenance goes, it depends on the company. Some indeed have poor maintenance and others such as Airnet and Flight Express have pilots who praise the maintenance quality. Best thing to do is ask pilots from each company about the quality of maintenance and try to get hired with those that have the best. It will make working for that company a lot easier down the road when you don't have to worry about your airplane. Hope this helps.

 

[starcheck1]

135 mins.

The reason all the minimums are high are due to part 135 single pilot IFR mins..... 1200 total, 500 x-country(doesn't need to be 50nm), 100 night and 75 inst. Unless you can find a two pilot operation or VFR only (good luck), thats what you are going to need to have for time. Airnet used to have an SIC program for lower time pilots but not anymore. You can still apply with lower times though...

I built time as a CFI for 2 years...not such a bad way to go.....if you dont need the $$ to survive.

About maintenance...if you are flying a poorly maintained plane its only your own fault as far as our company goes ...since if its broke or questionable...just write it up and it will be fixed. Im really happy with the MX program here. Some planes are better than others as far as avionics go....but you adjust.

 

[WrightAvia]

hey...i just heard that two pilots at freight runners have poor pilot skills and one of them is going to be let go for being a weak pilot. Throw your resume in there.

As far as cargo planes having inadaquate maint? That's funny...it depends on where you go. I flew pax at one 135 operator and their maint was horrible...even though the planes were great. I now fly boxes and the planes are maintained meticulous. Go figure!