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On Demand Call Out Times

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SpartyOn

Active member
Joined
Aug 24, 2004
Posts
35
I’m currently looking for a job to stay locally in the DTW area. Some of the people I currently work with have applied to IFL. I know they’re a pretty good company but I have some concerns about the lifestyle. Could anybody tell me how many days you would realistically have off every month as well as scheduled off periods? Also I know they have a short call out time but I live about 30 mins from PTK and wondered if that could somehow work seeing as I’m not in a position to sell my house right now.

Thanks for the help
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/dmaynarich/photo/294928803965998763/2
 
I worked at IFL 10 years ago they wanted you in the bldg in 20 minutes for call out, someone correct me if I am wrong, but they also do not respect days off. If you get a trip coming up on days off that will not have you home for days off, you have to fly the trip. No make up days. Lots of turnover right now and that is why they are hiring.
 
You pretty much hit the nail on the head YIP, losing decent amount of captains too. There is no guaranteed days off, if the weekends are slow you can call in and TRY and get released for 48 hours. Most everyone lives within a 3-5 mile radius of ptk, if you are from that area you know how bad the traffic gets and theres no really quick routes to the airport. If I was that guy and already had the call out times concern I'd be looking into pinnacle, hell their upgrade is real fast right now though that can always change. Correct me if I'm wrong but 15-20 minutes seems to be the on-demand industry standard call out time, at the airport in 20 minutes, in the air in 60 from the call out.
 
No there is still a lot of fun, the flying is really neat. Going to new places all the time. It makes you a great pilot.
 
Good flight time :D
Bad QOL :puke:

Pilotyip & Dickburns have the correct gouge.
 
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well when your paying dues, cant really expect it to be all peaches and cream.
on-demand cargo
pros: great flying, better pay than most regionals, usually quick upgrade. not having to deal with pax. no need to shave or shower. showing up to work with a black eye and no one even cares.

cons: time off can be a question mark. old equipment. on-call. loading freight when its -20f.

i'd say goto a regional if you can survive on teh pay check. if not, see you in laredo.
 
Were 30 min call out times for the FO and wheels up within an hour. I think Seirra West is 30-45 min wheels up time with no benifit if they make it. They just get in trouble when you miss it. Atleast Cherry pays us almost $40 for wheels up within an hour.
 
Is Sierra West the same as Pac-West (I hear that callsign alot), sounds like that sucks big time for them.
 
Really we tain for 45 minute block out from pager alert, maint preflights the airplane. dispatch files the flight plan and fuels the airplane, crew just reviews the flightrelease and goes to the airplane. We also have a 10 minute hot crew launch.
 
dickburns said:
15-20 minutes seems to be the on-demand industry standard call out time, at the airport in 20 minutes, in the air in 60 from the call out.
Click to expand...

Good time! Why would anybody even consider taking a job like that! Seriously, do you guys that work these schedules enjoy it? If you do then great, and more power to you, I certainly couldn't do it. In the Corps I could make a 3 minute quick turn, but it takes me 20 minutes just to finish a shower these days.

I work in the on-demand charter industry but we have a 2 hour call out (and thats only when we are scheduled on standby). I always thought that was the standard. When I worked 121 charter, we rotated on a hot reserve aircraft with similar block out times, but that was a sporadic and scheduled event.
 
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They consider it because it pays better than just about any other entry level job. Then you trapped because you are making ao much money it is hard to leave.
 
In all honesty it is the worst job ever and I don't wish it upon anyone, like he said before you get trapped because of the money at first and it gets to a point where you don't want to keep bouncing sic job to sic job, rather just wait get the upgrade then move on when I have the time. Had I known how bad it was going to be I would have tried other flying jobs. But my company hires with considerably lower time than the other on demand operators so it was go fly a falcon with 800 hours or keep instructing, most low time pilots would do that I think. Then after about 2 years at it you don't want to make a jump anywhere, go low seniority somewhere again and wait and wait for a possible upgrade, whats worse the devil you know or the devil you don't know. It seems like the on demand operators down in Willow have the right idea though, they do have hard days off, USA Jet is 8 on 5 off if I'm right YIP? and Kalitta is 14 on 7 off I think also, last I heard from my friends there anyway, so you do get a little more free time there, and they seem to fly more than my outfit. Schedules like those seem like they can make the job much more bearable.
 
dickburns said:
Is Sierra West the same as Pac-West (I hear that callsign alot), sounds like that sucks big time for them.
Click to expand...

Their call sign in "Platinum West" I thought...after the owners wife, who is blonde.

Yea...The ondemand freight will make you a better pilot and put a little hair on your chest too. Who ever said it was spot on, the QOL sucks. There is no polishing that turd. Living your normal life can be a pain in the ass with that short of a call out. The money isn't half bad and thats how people end up getting trapped in the freight world.
 
Yeah Platinum-West, thats it thought it was pac-west for some reason, hey WMU, did you work out in ELP flying the cv640 out there, looks like you jumped to eagle with the saab and erj time, whats the story with those guys out in ELP, C&M? I know a few guys from michigan that went out there.
 
All the capts I've flown with here on the pax charter side complain about the 90 minute callout (+60 min to wheels up)... I just smile and think about my old 30 min call-to-wheels up which included flight plan filing, wx check, preflight, customs, and getting to the airport.

But then there are days when I wonder if I will ever actually have a real schedule, probably not... at least I can go to the grocery store now.
 
It used to be 30 min wheels up and 12k a year! That was before anyone had a cell phone, so I had to carry a quarter at all times in case they page me when I wasn't at home!
 
The business is not for everyone. It paid the bills for me and mine for 4 1/2 years. Tough life. Not for the family man or woman.
GOOD
-OK pay (compared to other entry level jobs)
-JET/TP PIC quickly
-You make good friends being with someone for 3 weeks at a time (helped me out later getting the job I am at now)
-You become a fantastic stick very quickly...if you are inclined to solve problems this is where you'll get your chance to do that.
BAD
-Most meals consist of a Snickers, Hot Fries, and a Grape Soda (you got by accident because the vending guy was in a funny mood while stocking the Coke machine in Del Rio)
-NO QOL
-Torn out old, dirty, smelly, squeeking, dingy, bucket of bolts they call a 1962 model serial #11 Falcon 20 Fan Jet

No complaints....if you can hack it for a couple years...go for it.
I personally wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. The experiences I had, the places I went, the people I flew with....it was one of the most memorable times in my life.

It will do one of two things to you...it will either drive you crazy....or it will do what it did to me....Build character.
 
FR8dognit hit the nail on the head. I usually don't mind the schedule or more specifically the lack there of that I have with Royal. We don't have a hard call out time, but they generally want you in the air within an hour. So if I'm at the airport within 30-45min that's pretty do-able. If I'm running late I just file on my cell phone while I'm driving in.
 
Only one problem, they don't fly the 3's anymore. Actually the only operator that I know of that still fly the DC-3 in the lower 48 is Basler.
 
Grow A Pair!

Fr8doginit is exactly right!

How much time do you have? For low timers...well beggers can't be choosers.

I did it for 8 1/2 years. Ouch...I turned into that guy I said I'd never be. J/K. Anyway, it's not for everyone. But in a way...well you just can't beat it. It made me the pilot I am today...and the times and experience, I can always look back and smile. What a helluva ride. Livin on GEM doughnuts, stale coffee, 3 day old beans in some crockpot in Jackass flats Nebraska. How 'bout some Taco Palenque at 3AM! If you know what I'm talking about...I'll buy you a beer anytime anywhere. We are a close bunch, but I'll fight you for the couch at GVA...scabies and all! I don't care if you're flying a falcon or lear for whoever...we are a member of the sleepless knights and we are all in it together. It does build character. And for those of us that have done it, for a year or 10, you'll always get our respect.

Those guys that say you can't do it, and 30 mins from the page is insane...well, they just never lived in that world....it's possible and it's not that bad once you get used to it. LOL.

Eveyone says whatever they did is the best pilots in the world....I'm partial to Freight dogs....they were the best guys I've flown with and I'll put my kids on any airplane a freight dog is on....well most guys anyway. ;)

There's noting like throwin on the spurs and eye patch and goin to work. I love it the guy that said you don't have to shower and shave...LOL If it weren't so true.

I love my AirBus and flying pax now....but I use my experience all the time that I learned from flying freight.

If you don't get killed, or violated...you'll learn A LOT!!!!

GROW A PAIR AND STRAP IT ON!!
 
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cruxx@9 said:
Fr8doginit is exactly right!

How much time do you have? For low timers...well beggers can't be choosers.

I did it for 8 1/2 years. Ouch...I turned into that guy I said I'd never be. J/K. Anyway, it's not for everyone. But in a way...well you just can't beat it. It made me the pilot I am today...and the times and experience, I can always look back and smile. What a helluva ride. Livin on GEM doughnuts, stale coffee, 3 day old beans in some crockpot in Jackass flats Nebraska. How 'bout some Taco Palenque at 3AM! If you know what I'm talking about...I'll buy you a beer anytime anywhere. We are a close bunch, but I'll fight you for the couch at GVA...scabies and all! I don't care if you're flying a falcon or lear for whoever...we are a member of the sleepless knights and we are all in it together. It does build character. And for those of us that have done it, for a year or 10, you'll always get our respect.

Those guys that say you can't do it, and 30 mins from the page is insane...well, they just never lived in that world....it's possible and it's not that bad once you get used to it. LOL.

Eveyone says whatever they did is the best pilots in the world....I'm partial to Freight dogs....they were the best guys I've flown with and I'll put my kids on any airplane a freight dog is on....well most guys anyway. ;)

There's noting like throwin on the spurs and eye patch and goin to work. I love it the guy that said you don't have to shower and shave...LOL If it weren't so true.

I love my AirBus and flying pax now....but I use my experience all the time that I learned from flying freight.

If you don't get killed, or violated...you'll learn A LOT!!!!

GROW A PAIR AND STRAP IT ON!!
Click to expand...


amen brother! proud member of the fraternal order of the sleepless knights. i get my hardhat and lunch pail and GO TO WORK! we get 45 mins to wheels up and often times we dont even need all of it. if we do its cause of a slow hotel van or a sleepy line guy fueling us. damn i love my job. yeah at times i get bitter but who doesn't. the coon and lear always put a smile on my face.
 
Hi!

USA Jet:
Falcon is 10 hard days every 28, usually 10 in a row or 5/5. If you're on the road they will: Buy your day (4 hours of pay-new hire Falcon FOs make $50/hour), Bank your day so you can use it later, or Airline you home (or wherever you want to go, as long as the price is about the same or less as airlining you to DTW).

DC-9 is 12 hard days every 28. If you're a -9 PAX pilot, you get 11 days off every 28 (1 extra day of pay to cover the lost day if you don't want to bank it) and you have a 2 hour callout.

Short-notice callout is 25". Often you get more notice.

Last Jun one of our Falcon FOs made $7K. Last month one of our Falcon Capts made $15K.

cliff
YIP

PM me with your email if you want more info.
 

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