Nashville Int'l Airport job

[Hawker1]

I'm looking at maybe getting a job out at the Nashville Int'l Airport this summer while I'm not in school. I just want to do something at the airport because I love the environment and I love airplanes. The catch is I dont know how qualified you have to be to direct planes to the gates or refueling or whatever other jobs there might be at the airport? Or even on the general aviation side of the airport? refueling or baggage or something?

Secondly, if I'm able to get a job at the airport, how do I go about getting hired? Do I go through the airport or a certain airline? I would love to just be out there learning stuff.

Anyone ever had a summer time job similar to this? If so, please explain what you did and how you liked it. It just sounded like something cool to do for the summer. Maybe I'm wrong. Let me know. Thanks.

 

[Hawker1]

Awesome that's what I want to do. Not sure if "pushbacking" is the correct word for it though. HaHa. How did you go about getting the job? Did you "pushback" the same airline each time or whichever airline needed it? Basically, did you work for one airline or were you able to do work for all different ones? What about work hours? Flexible? Set schedule? Weekly schedule? or what? Thanks.

 

[Hawker1]

I went into the Signature FBO

What's an FBO? BTW, thanks for the insight. Anyone else gotten a job at the Nashville airport? Thanks.

 

[aviatrix]

Fixed Base Operator............such as Signature Flight Support, or Corporate Flight Management (in BNA)
Good Luck!

 

[Beantown]

An FBO is where the general aviation and business jets go. This might be a better place for you to work. The work is a little different but the end result is the same (you get to hang around planes all day) At an FBO you will get to do a little bit of everything (fuel, marshal, tow, ect.), there is a little more direct contact with pilots (can you say networking) and many times it is an easer job to get. If they aren't hiring at Nashville International, go to one of the other local airports and see if they need any help. Plus the hours will probably be better. Good luck, -Bean

 

[Hawker1]

Thanks. Anyone ever done this through an FOB and could tell me what the pay is like? Also, I know that this is an echo, but are the work schedules pretty set at a place like Signature? Thanks

 

[jumppilot03]

Signature Pay

I have a friend who worked at Signature at MSP who was not

involved in aviation at all. He did it for a summer job while in

college. Pay at MSP for a fueler was $10 per hour. If I remember

right he was kept busy with all of the NWA and SCA flights in and

out of there. Hope this helps

 

[toneal]

whats an FOB?

 

[Hawker1]

Where's MSP? NWA and SCA flight? Which airlines are these? Sorry, not good with acronyms. Thanks for the info.

 

[350DRIVER]

Hawk-
I was in your shoes not too long ago and opted to work at the airport for the same reasons that you have stated. Working at FBO's can vary alot with regards to "pay" as well as the benefits. I had a few choices in Houston and decided to work for Delta Airlines due to the flight perks that they offered among other things. The downside was you had to attend training all over the place (LAX, SLC, DFW, ATL) to get qualified for the numerous positions. I was (RR) Ready Reserve so it meant more training to be able to work any position that Delta had in Houston. (only downside) I was very happy though since DAL was extremely senior in Houston and it was a very nice part time gig while I was in flight training. Pay was better at DAL than Raytheon and the other FBO's on the field (HOU) as well as the benefits and I wanted to be around the larger airplanes. The FBO's are probably much easier to get a job with present day due to the economic slump that the airlines are currently in. You still have your second tier low cost airlines that are still hiring though so it is worth a shot. I worked very briefly at a FBO and from my experience I would say Delta was a much better job overall. I have a few friends that work at FBO's and they are "attempting" to use the job solely as a means of "networking" and they are not very happy. Weather, low pay, few benefits, lousy schedules are just a few things that I hear in complaints.

If I were you I would seriously look into the airlines at your airport. Best way to cut to the chase is take a resume with you to the airport and ask a ticket or gate agent to speak to their station manager since he is the one that can hire you. I think you may enjoy the experience, perks, and best of all the networking which you will be able to do. Mom and Dad will also thank you for the "free" flight perks they will get-0

Secondly, if I'm able to get a job at the airport, how do I go about getting hired? Do I go through the airport or a certain airline? I would love to just be out there learning stuff.

Take a stack of resumes with you and talk to the airline's station manager and also fill out an application for employment. These are not the easiest jobs to get so it may take some patience on your part.


good luck

3 5 0

 

[tarp]

Hawker:

FBO is Fixed Base Operator which is the aircraft equivalent of a automobile service station (sells gas, services airplanes and greets passengers). There are two big ones at Nashville Intl.

Mercury Air Center
635 Hangar Lane
Nashville, TN 37217-2591
United States of America
Phone: (615) 360-8109
Fax: (615) 360-8154
Web site:
http://www.mercuryairgroup.com/newwebtrial/FBO_BNA.asp


Signature Flight Support
PO Box 17276
801 Hangar Lane
Nashville, TN 37217
United States of America
Telephone: (615) 361-3000
Fax: (615) 361-1857
Email: [email protected]
Web site:
http://www.bba-aviation.com/flightsupport/fbo/locations/BNA.html

There are also a couple of smaller flight schools (I think one of them is SkYHigh - spelling might be wrong). They may or may not need personnel to move/clean/service airplanes although now you are working on the small ones.

For the ramp jobs, you probably want to talk to the airlines directly. For example, Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) is the United Airlines "express" carrier at BNA (Nashville). As it just so happens they have openings for ramp agents at the airport (posted 2/7/03). Their website is:
www.atlanticcoast.com
and you want to click on "employment opportunities" in there. You will end up wanting to send your resume to:
[email protected]

The "big airline" at BNA (again this is the aviation abbreviation for Nashville) is Southwest Airlines (SWA). You could try searching their website or try to call the manager of ramp services at the airport.

The other players would be:

Delta
American
US Airways
Continental Express

Your problem is to find out if the "ramp" jobs are handled by the carrier, an express company for the carrier or a contract service. You will have to apply some shoe leather and ask some questions.

For example:

Delta is handled by DGS (Delta Ground Support) which is their own unit. i.e. these are Delta employees.

United is handled by ACA (Atlantic Coast) which is the express carrier flying under the "United" name.

And some airline could be using Signature FBO to handle their ramp.

You won't know until you ask. The best way is to "network". Go visit Mercury and Signature - if they don't have jobs, point to the terminal and ask "Who would I talk to at .......(fill in name of airline)....to find out about their opeings?" It's always the first step that is the hardest.

By the way some of the ramper positions require:
18yrs old
drivers license
ability to lift up to 100lbs (although ACA is 75 lbs)

 

[Hawker1]

Excellent info from everyone. Thank you very much. I'll definitely look into this as a summer job.

One more ? though, you "ramp" workers. Does this mean they only operate the baggage or do they do other things like pushing the aircraft back and directing them in and things of that nature? Thanks.

 

[350DRIVER]

Does this mean they only operate the baggage or do they do other things like pushing the aircraft back and directing them in and things of that nature?

In most cases the "ramp worker" does much more than just "load" bags into the bins of the aircraft. Most cases, YOU are trained and certified to push the airplanes back from the gate using the tug, trained and certified to operate the jet way and most every other aspect depending on that specific airline and what policies are in place. Keep in mind that many airlines present day contract the ramp positions out to other companies ex > Delta Staffing was brought in to do most of the ramp work in Houston (HOU). This is primarily done because it is much cheaper than having airlines employees do it especially at small out stations where the airline only operates limited flights in and out on a daily basis. It is much more economical for the airline to do this. (HOU) had a few safety problems with some people who decided to push a MD-88's tail into a building during push back, break off a pitot tube, and numerous other incidents so DAL certified quite a few of it's "regular employees" to assist and keep an eye on the daily operation. Before it was Delta Staffing another company was responsible for our ramp work and was given the contract, after numerous f$^* ups DAL in ATL canned them and brought in Staffing. So it really depends on the airline and the city that you will be working at.

IF working on the ramp is something that you really want to do to be by the airplanes then I would go to the airport and inquire about who does the ramp work for the specific airline of your choice. I am pretty sure Air Tran and others still do there own ramp work and do not contract it out there.

But to answer your question, you will do much more than just "loading the bags".. Obviously this is where you will start out and then you will be certified to do the other things like pushing the airplanes back from the gate. There is classroom time that you will be required to attend usually given by a lead supervisor, video's that you will be required to watch, you will also be given numerous tests that will be part of your file with the airline, then you will be given training on the tug or jetway which finally will lead to a final practical test. By the time you are "ramp ready" you will be good to go and know most aspects of what you are "expected" to be able to do. The airlines will not take many short cuts while training you since you are a key player around the safe operation of very expensive equipment.

I enjoyed pushing the airplanes back and being around them however in the summer months in Houston I enjoyed being at the gates in air conditioning MUCH more. ! ! -

Like I said in a previous post, go to the airport and speak to a few station manager's and inquire about what it would take to secure employment with an airline. Just keep in mind that some airlines present day contract there ramp work out and this may effect your flight perks as well as benefits since in reality you won't be working for that airline that you are doing the ramp work for. It is easier however to gain employment with the contract companies than it is with the airlines in most cases so it may work to your advantage if "ramp work" is really what you want to do.

Alot really depends on what YOU want and how much time you will be able to devote to this job. It did appear that Delta Staffing was much easier with regards to working around your schedule than DAL was, fortunately being ready reserve I always got a pretty good schedule which allowed me to attend college and do my flight training....

Any specific questions shoot me a PM and I will try to answer them.

g o o d l u c k

3 5 0

 

[wookiehasbeen]

hey hawk i started off my flying career by working at an fbo, one thing you have two think about is fbo's are usually more personal than working the "big" ramp. you get to meet and talk to the pilots and if you kiss enough @ss you can talk them out of a free ride in some cool airplanes.

 

[Hawker1]

Yea, that's a good way of thinking about it. Since, I'm wanting this job for the summer, say starting May, should I get ahold of someone at an FBO now? or should I wait a little longer before I ask for work? Thanks.

The FBO's at BNA are Signature and Mercury right?

 

[wookiehasbeen]

start now

hey hawker, go ahead and start talking to them now. check both mercury and signature in nashville, talk to jane gay in mercury, she will hook you up. or you said you were going to school in the 'boro so you might try smyrna air center, or if you now were john tune is, you could try over there at corporate flight, that is were i fly so good luck.

 

[Hawker1]

Thanks

Thanks for everyone's help! I'll keep you posted on how the job turns out. If anyone else out there has their .02 cents on this thread, let me know! Keep flyin' high!
- Hawker -