QOL at Airnet?

[Ilikeairplanes]

I have a interview coming up at Airnet. I also have one coming up at ASA. I realize a regional is a better place to work, but if that doesnt pan out I will take the job at airnet(if hired). Im just wonder how the QOL is? Is it hard working that night shift? What is a typical night like? Are you so freaking tired you have to sleep all weekend? It seems that this single pilot night IFR twin time would look excellent on a resume.. Seems like a great place to build some quality time fast.

 

[Art Vandalay]

I realize a regional is a better place to work

You sir, are an idiot. Airnet is a good job.


Art V.

 

[Ilikeairplanes]

Yeah but you work nights and you dont make much money at all...

 

[bobs98tlr]

Yeah but you work nights and you dont make much money at all...

Sorry dude, but if you cant stay up all night while on the clock or your worried about being tired after your done flying then flying for a career may not be for you? Most people are tired after they work and working nights is just part of the job....the money??..thats gone dude, will be for a LONG time. Go to Airnet...

 

[threegreen]

but at the regionals you will get rich!!!

better yet, just keep fondling the gear handle in your be200.

 

[Ilikeairplanes]

So what are your typical nights like? Do the airplanes have storm scopes?

 

[Ilikeairplanes]

I love how challenging it is to get answers on this bored... You dont have to be a dick... Just answer my questions

 

[HAZ-MAT]

Take the job at ASA. The way you asked the questions on this thread I can get the feel for your personality and you would fit the mold perfectly over at ASA. See you on the Sinca 3 Pal!!

 

[CaravanMan]

I don't work for Airnet, but I do fly night freight. As far as the schedules go...yeah, they're at night. But you know what? You ADJUST to that. It sucks, but you have to sleep during the day. Flying at night can be pretty nice: less traffic, you get Direct nearly everywhere, nice view of the sky and shooting stars, and it's usually nice and smooth.

The run that I'm on right now has me leaving the airport around 7:30pm or so, fly 4 legs, done by about 8am. We have runs that are a few hours shorter too. As far as pay? Well, we all know Regionals pay shat the first year. A lot of cargo jobs pay equally shatty, but there are a lot of cargo gigs that will start you around $30k/yr, but generally you're going to need at least 2000TT and/or 500ME to get those.

As for QOL, well that does suck. I see my wife for maybe an hour each day and sometime, if I'm lucky enough, I make it home early enough to crawl in bed with her for a couple hours a night. From what I hear from everyone at the airlines though, the QOL can be equally as bad the first year. You never know how long you'll be on reserve and commuting (if you choose to) can be horrible.

Our planes all have stormscopes, but I don't know how many operators have them in their a/c. I'd rather have radar, but I'm not in the 'Van anymore. If you fly freight, you'll probably end up flying a beat up old turd of an airplane with no autopilot and no GPS and, if you're lucky, maybe an HSI. Fortunately, my company has equipped all our planes with VFR GPS, but I don't know how many companies do that.

Even though the schedule does kinda suck, I do enjoy flying freight. Single pilot, night, IFR and all the crappy weather that goes along with it will sharpen your skills. Like the others above me have said, you're not going to get rich no matter WHERE you go. Apply for what suits you best, do your time, then get out and find a nice, cush, high paying gig.........if you're lucky!

 

[Ilikeairplanes]

Thanks for the reply.. Im just trying to get a feel for what flying night freight is like.. I love flying at night. Thats why I applied there

 

[starcheckdriver]

Airnet has one of the best fleets in the 135 cargo world. 85% of our props are equipped with GPS and radar. 95% of them are known icing certified and have great de-ice equipment. I flew the props for 14 months and never had a complaint at Airnet. The maintenance is second to none, everything gets fixed when squaked.

Airnet pay is very good compared to first and second year regional pay. I grossed about $35K my first year and would have grossed about $38K my second year. However, I moved to JetRide Private Charter and am now making $52K plus per diem.

Yes, the airplanes are old, but they are the best maintained in the industry. Most have GPS and those that don't have two NAV/COMS with DME. The schedules vary but the flying is great regardless. It make you an awesome pilot and you will not regret coming here.

If you feel like single-pilot IFR is not for you, then steer clear of Airnet! Upgrades to the Lear are still running about 10-14 months depending upon how picky you are with base selection. Good Luck!

 

[jaybird]

i heard they make you fly through ice and thunderstorms.

 

[airludy]

I looked at the pay and its like 24k first year... How do you make more than that??

 

[txpilot1_99]

extra dough...

Overtime and 5th days are where most people make the extra $$. All runs are scheduled 4 days (usually Mon-Thur) and if your run flies on an extra day, it's all overtime.

 

[exchexflyer]

i heard they make you fly through ice and thunderstorms.

I used to work at Airnet and have been through a few thunderstorms and a couple of good winter storms. All I can say is that there is a huge learning curve. You will get valuable real life experience flying in all kinds of weather. As far as the "making you fly" statement which I will assume was sarcasm, in two years I only had two situations where I refused to fly through something. Obviously the flights were not canceled, I just left when I felt comfortable. To quote the dispatcher, "Just let us know when you are leaving." No preasure or anything. Now if I said I wanted to wait because my destination was 100 and 1/2 then that would be a different story but I think when the METAR says FC they won't mind if you wait a bit.

 

[HAZ-MAT]

Jaybird... We all miss you bud! Not too many people left from the group that you came thru with. Hope alls well.

 

[Onlyflyfreight]

i heard they make you fly through ice and thunderstorms.

AirNet does NOT make you fly through ice and T-storms!

I would argue that our flight department and dispatch office expect you (as a new guy/gal)to call in and tell them that you are delayed because of weather. When I started in the props, my experience was a little frost on the airframe and watching T-storms from the ground.

That doesn't mean that I'm plowing through squall lines and loading my airplane up with ice intentionally now that I have been doing this for a while.

What it does mean is that our company wants safe and smart pilots and AirNet understands that it takes some time to build up experience and confidence to manage weather.

As for QL.......... It is what you make it! We have a few dayruns, weekend runs, and a 8 on and 6 off schedules.
The question you have to ask yourself is: I'm I going to have a problem with sleeping during the day? Do I want to be out there alone with unforcasted clear ice, multiple 1800 RVR approaches a night, navigating T-storms? Not to say it happens every night but when you fly a 800 1200 hours a year the odds are that you are going to see some pretty nasty weather!

I have no regrets, it has given me a chance to find out what I want to do in aviation and what I don't want! Sure I have had moments where I was nervous, but I think that probably applies to all flying jobs. As long as you keep your head cool and make good decisions, flying freight at night is just as safe as any other flying job, just a little more fun And to me that is the the reason why I got into this job and it's one of the only few remaining reasons I keep doing it!

 

[SpatialD]

I don't fly for AirNet either. I fly on-demand freight from the right seat of a large transport category turboprop, on call 24/7, in all types of weather, mountainous terrain, in the U.S, Mexico, or Canada, fat man to my left snoring in his mic, for about as much money as I made flipping burgers in high school. AirNet would be a substantial improvement over what I'm doing right now. That said, if I had it to do over, I'd still take my present job over a regional right seat.

I agree with Art that AirNet is a good job. Not sure whether you're an idiot. Perhaps you are misinformed, or your priorities are different, or you're an idiot. I take it you haven't done much real night flying - the kind where you have no idea whether it's 0630 or 1830, but it doesn't matter anyway because you've still got two legs and half a continent to cover before you can even think about getting any sleep, or you wake up and it takes several minutes to figure out that you're on the road in a hotel, and several more minutes to figure out which hotel and what city (maybe you wake up and realize you're procedure turn inbound and 100 feet low)... QOL is for sissies.

Seriously, we've all got to pay our dues for a couple years. You can push buttons and twiddle knobs for a regional, and maybe get a left seat in 5 years, if you haven't been furloughed and the company hasn't gone down the crapper. Or you can go out and get your butt kicked for a while so that in a year or two you'll have the scars to prove that you're worthy of a good-paying job that isn't going to go away when fuel prices go up 7 cents. As far as I can tell, regional FO's have relatively few options outside their own company.

And look, if it makes you feel better, go get yourself a nice pilot costume and a rolling Swiss Army suitcase, pour on your favorite cologne, and just ride around on the local airport terminal train basking in the glory, signing autographs, collecting panties, etc...

Do the freight dog thing for a while. If it doesn't work out, some regionals will still be around, and you'll be even more qualified than you are now. I'm not saying I like what I'm doing, but I do recognize the value of the experience. And AirNet is one of the best cargo gigs around - I might even go there next myself. If you're comfortable rolling the dice on the next 5 or so years of your career, maybe a regional would make sense. But you might just end up flying cargo eventually anyway and wishing you had made the move earlier.

 

[idratherfly4283]

wait wait, did he just ask ifour airplanes have storm scopes???? this has to be a joke, and not making enough money, wow our average here at airnet is 31000, about 11000 better than your average regional. But i do have to say if you already have these thoughts, airnet is not the place for you. storm scopes... i am still laughing about that one. storm scopes are about as reliable as a caravan in icing.

 

[idratherfly4283]

So what are your typical nights like? Do the airplanes have storm scopes?

no no seriously storm scope??? i still can't get over this. well the strobe just blinked wow what a coincidence another strike!