Opinions are like....

[Mooseflyer]

.....but I still want to hear yours (opinion, that is ).
If you had the following job interests, where would you apply and why?

1. Longer trips - week on/week off is good, the whole month's duty in one shot is better (or best of all, the choice to bid either). Think "minimize number of commutes".

2. Cargo a big bonus, but not a requirement if #1 above can be met.

3. Int'l widebody trips.

4. Home basing a plus, or if not, a somewhat bearable commute from SEA.

5. Number of days off per month at least equal to or greater than number of days on duty. This is a requrement. (and a day "off" while away from home doesn't count)

6. A realistic payscale for an adult .

Obviously the top recommendations are going to be FedEx and UPS, but so far after a few years no interview call. Was interested in Cargo360, but seems a little shaky now (goodbye #5 above?). Opinions on World? Kalitta?

FYI, my experience is about 4500 C17 time with about 80% of that PIC/IP, plus about 300 some-odd hours of part 121 SNB FO time.

Thanks for your input ladies and gents....

 

[Junkflyer]

Obviously heavy cargo is what you're looking for, but I don't think anyone gives more days off than days on. Kalita is okay-17 days on per month, Southern is 20 on, not sure about World. Most of the these non-sked outfits typically work around 18 days a month usually in one shot.

 

[coffeedog]

I think World can have you out 16 and some fraction of a day. Second year pay ~$80/hr, A-fund retirement.

Looks worthwhile, but you'll have to see if it fits your criteria.

Good luck!

 

[sgu]

How about Cathay Pacific? You could be based at LAX or ANC.

 

[b707guy]

Hey Moose
Except for the widebody part of #3 and all of #5 (seriously, good luck with that one anywhere, but especially if you want #6 to hold up...), ATI sounds like your target. I just wish we had some indicator of our future here better than some winged herbivore running around yelling "the sky is falling". Other than that, I think I'd target Kalitta over Southern, but if you're interested in Cathay, go to their website. The site has a pretty good section on flight crew hiring, processes, everything you'd need to know. I seriously considered going for it last time I thought for sure we were going down, but somehow despite ourselves, we keep chugging. We're really shopping for some contracts, and if we get them we're going to have a busy training department once again. Really hope we don't pull what happened here last year and early this year with all the furloughs and downgrades. I can't afford to leave this place voluntarily unless it's for UPS or FedEx, and I've already had my shot.

You also might consider some of the fractionals. Good pay and benefits, generally newer equipment, and a biz-jet type rating might be a lifesaver in the future.

How was RUSH?

 

[Draginass]

You're going to have a really tough time getting that list satisfied. You'll be pretty unhappy with any of the scumbag freight outfits . . . the Kalittas, Tradewinds, Southern, Focus, etc. Those are 20+ day on type places with juvenile pay, bad personal treatment, junk equipment and more than their share of pretty marginal crewmembers. And that's just a start. Been there, done that. Don't advise it.

Cathay is a quality company with good pay.

 

[rhinodriver]

If UPS or FEDEX haven't called then Cathay probably is the best fit for that list. Pay is petty good and with the exception of some monthly duty pay that averages about $300 extra a month it is salary based. This means we really have no incentive to go to work. The only exception is if you are into overtime. The company makes lots of money and is expanding like never before so lay offs are unlikely (and have never happened before). Benefits are good. I'm starting my second year and have averaged about 12-15 days of work per month. Some of us are making the reserve thing work despite it being a foreign company. The commute to LAX may be tricky and you may have to spring for some tickets or hotel rooms now and then but most of the guys are commuters so it obviously is doable. All in all its not a bad place to work...

 

[Mooseflyer]

Thanks for all the insight gents, good info all around.

Rhino - I hadn't really given much consideration to Cathay as I somehow had it in my head that you would HAVE to live overseas, which doesn't really interest me (us). After a little more research, it appears that's not the case, at least for the FO position. Also, I've never known anyone who works there so it's never really come up. I've looked at the website, as well as done an extensive search here on FI (Bjammin posted all kinds of stuff). Sounds pretty appealing at first look. How do commuters make it work without CASS? Buy tickets every time? Apparantly Bjammin is also a reservist and makes it work as well. How many days per month does your unit expect you to participate?

B707guy - Rush was awesome. Outdoor theater with a little bit of rain (we had lawn seats), but we had a great time. Amazing how the sound is so close to the actual albums - very clean. BTW, thanks for the Diego picture too, very cool.

 

[rhinodriver]

Moose,

No need to ever take a base in HK if you don't want to (don't say that in the interview though). But one of the cool things is that it is available and a good way for guys to make some good coin if you ever become interested in doing it. Another neat thing is you can take a temp base anywhere in the world for 3 or so months and get the chance to live there for an extended holiday, then return to your normal base after the time is up. Personally I'll probably stay at LAX for my whole career. The only time you have to be in HK is for IOC (about 4 months) and your upgrade training.

The commuters do it with ID90 tickets. You are elegible on one world carriers in 6 months and the rest of the gamit in one year. There is the occasional full fair you may have to buy duing peak season but I'm guessing there are quite a few options from SEA to LAX.

Bjammin is a wealth of info. He is a T-45 IP in the training command. My unit flex drills so I have some flexability there. Right now I can think of 5 guys in the Navy Reserve including an XO of a squadon and 1 Marine Hornet guy. I can't think of any AF guys off the top of my head that are still drilling although we have recently had a U-2 and a B-1 guy show up. Basically we are all drilling around our Cathay schedule. Because we are based in the US they are supposed to honor USERRA but right now most of us just do our drilling around our work schedule. Nobody has been activated yet so we haven't really crossed that bridge although the company has said thay would just put you on unpaid leave.

The company needs folks right now and for right or wrong they seem to like mil types as the company was modeled after the old Brit AF mentality. I've heard of guys who waited for months to a year to get a call but mine came in 2 weeks and I was hired as a DEFO on the 744 with only 2300 hours (almost all jet PIC though).

Personally I really like it. As with all companies there are things that could improve but at the end of the day there are only 2 jobs out there that I would consider leaving for.... and they haven't called me just yet either!

Good luck!

 

[Mooseflyer]

Thanks Rhino. My unit is very flexible about drills as well, as long as you get them done and stay current. I just recently did my 2nd UTA "weekend" on an actual weekend in almost 3 years! I'd like to devote about 4 days/month to the unit though.

A few other ?'s if you don't mind:

1. How do you go about getting the ICAO ATP? I tried to start an app, but the computer wouldn't let me without checking this box.

2. Bjammin says he does a 5-7 day trip, twice a month - is this true for you as well? How many hours do you fly in a given month (not that it matters on salary I guess). What's your typical trip pairing look like?

3. Does everyone start on the frieghter later move to pax? If you have the quals, you come in as an FO, not an SO, correct?

4. Have any of the reservists tried requesting a segment of leave without pay for military duty? I'd like to be able to go on a couple of C-17 trips per year if possible.

5. What's the current outlook for time to captain upgrade?

6. Sounds like the interview is pretty challenging - what did you think? Had you previously interviewed anywhere else for comparison purposes?

Thanks again,
Moose

 

[rhinodriver]

4 days a month should be really easy to do with as much time off as we get.

Not sure about the ICAO ATP thing. It wasn't an online app when I applied. I had to kill a tree and send a hard copy. I'm inclined to say it doesn't matter and just tick the box but let me ask around. They go through a process with the HKCAD to get your license converted anyway.

two 5-7 day trips is about right. I've never had a month where I had three trips fall into the same month because you would be into overtime and the company doesn't like to do that. It makes for a fat paycheck though... Trips start in the middle of the night on the first night then are basically on your body clock the rest of the way. A typical trip would be.... Leave LAX 0200. Sometimes we stop in SFO or YVR depending on the night of the week. Then in to ANC about 0800 that morning. Leave ANC for HKG sometime the next morning depending on the flight you get rostered to. Into HKG early afternoon and about a 24-30 hour layover. Leave next day for ANC. Get into ANC, layover and leave for LAX early evening next day. Trip ends in LAX and you go home and turn off the phone for the next 6-9 days! You may fly the trip with the same crew or most likely it will be a different crew for each leg.

Most guys gameplan is do your 3 year freighter lock and then go passenger. Some stay on the freighter to do an early command but FO passenger pay is almost as much as freighter Captain pay and the schedules are much better. With your quals you would be a DEFO. Don't even check the SO box.

We have had one reservist take mil leave to do an AT. I don't think they were too happy about it but whatever. He took three weeks off if I remember correctly. But if worst came to worst we get 42 days vacation per year. I'm sure you could fit in a C-17 trip in there somewhere.

Time to command currently is 9-10 on the passenger and can be as little as 2 on the freighter if you have the correct experience.

Interview and training both are challenging but if a dumba$$ like me can make it through then I'm sure you can....

 

[rhinodriver]

Forgot to mention

Oh yeah... retirement age is going to change from 55 to 65 shortly. That will add about 3 years to command. Probably a wash as it will inevitably change here in the US too.

We also get paid per diem in cash at check-in at the hotel. I make about an extra $400 a month from this after paying for food (and even drinks).

The company and pilot body are also in contract negotiations. There is way too much in that animal to talk about here because there may be some pitfalls in it. Typical give this but I'm going to take that... Like I said before... At the end of the day it's a pretty darn good job.

 

[Mooseflyer]

A few follow up questions for anyone in the know about World Airways:

When was the current contract signed? Amendable? How does it compare to other contracts you've worked under?

Regarding home basing - how often can your "home base of choice" be changed, and how much notice is required?

How are your deadhead days considered for duty? Day on? Paid? At what rate?

Where do you typically deadhead to, or is it completely unpredictable?

Do you know if you're flying cargo or pax month to month? Day to day? Do you care?

How's the medical coverage?

Thanks again gents.....

 

[b707guy]

Got a shot with World? Hope all goes well! Can't answer specifically for them, but if you're truly home based, you can pretty much live where you want within reason. We have two guys living in Hawaii, one in Alaska, one in the Dominican Republic (or was at one point anyway...), one who lived in Thailand, and one in Germany. They occasionally had to cut some deals for travel, but generally, if you live anywhere near an airport with reasonable commercial service, you shouldn't have a problem. If/when you move, just inform them of your new airport. Never been a problem for us anyway.

 

[Mooseflyer]

Man b707guy, you're fast! I was in the middle of editing my post.

I don't have an interivew, but I'm considering sending my resume again. I was emailed about 3 years ago about an interview, but the timing wasn't right so I passed. Of course, circumstances change and hindsight being what it is......you know. I'm starting to think that whenever I come up with a career decision, I should just do the opposite!

 

[b707guy]

So what are you waiting for? Just send it in and see where it takes you! I should probably be sending one in myself, but for some reason, I'm hopeful for a future here. Call me crazy, but I can't walk away from the seniority and longevity I've established here while there's still hope (barring a miracle second chance with either brown or purple, of course...).

 

[dutch747]

A few follow up questions for anyone in the know about World Airways:

When was the current contract signed? Amendable? How does it compare to other contracts you've worked under?

Current contract was signed in 2006 and is up for renegotiations in March, 2009. It's a great contract, everyone is happy with it.

Regarding home basing - how often can your "home base of choice" be changed, and how much notice is required?

Yes, it can be changed, 72 hours notice. But the base you want to fly out of must have at least 2 major carriers.

How are your deadhead days considered for duty? Day on? Paid? At what rate?

DH, even from Home base, is paid at half your flight pay. They are considered duty and if you go over 16 hours without rest, you get half flight pay for any DH above 16 hours. Or you can demand a hotel.

Where do you typically deadhead to, or is it completely unpredictable?

Depends on your bid line and equipment. Most trips are setup where you start stateside and then fly overseas. But if you don't get awarded a bid line you may start anywhere.

Do you know if you're flying cargo or pax month to month? Day to day? Do you care?

The bid lines tell all. But I don't care. I prefer a mix just to keep it all interesting.

How's the medical coverage?

Medical is the best I've seen in the industry. United Health Care PPO and I only pay $129 a month for me and my wife and kids. No deductibles, $10 copays across the board, Max presciption out of pocket is $10.

 

[Mooseflyer]

Thanks for the info Dutch747. Would you happen to have a .pdf of your contract and a bidpack you could PM to me? I have many more questions, but most of them I can probably answer myself from the above documents. Thanks...

 

[Mooseflyer]

So what are you waiting for?

Well, I'd like to make sure it's a better fit for me than my current gig. Hate to waste everyone's time chasing a job I don't know much about - been there and done that before, wish I hadn't.

 

[Mooseflyer]

Would you happen to have a .pdf of your contract and a bidpack you could PM to me?

Disregard, got em......