QOL at Airnet?

[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!

 

[Ilikeairplanes]

I ment to say radar... I have rented a plane once with a storm scope and yes it was a piece of junk

 

[rubicon789]

QOL... You figure out what your body needs, my weekends are just like your except I sleep till about 10-11am

As for you the flying, well lets just say it's probably the most fun you will every have. Once you get to the big jets it's push the button and watch time. As a USAIR Capt said to me Tuesday night over the radio.

Tower- USAIR123 you will follow the Kingair # 3 for departure
USAIR-you mean the BE58
Tower- Yes, sorry they all look the same at night
Me- I am just a little guy
USAIR- Yea, but your having tons more fun
Me- Yup
Tower- HAHAHA

Yes, you will fly through sh!t and think to yourself wow... you will shoot multiple approaches down to mins. 1800 RVR at night during thunderstorms.
1/2 mile seems like VFR. Some A/C have radar a few do not, but the radar only scares you more so just turn it off. So to answer your question, yes I love my job, wouldn't trade it for anything right now. I think everyone should have to freight dog for a while, it will definatly humble some "Mavericks". Good luck I would choose Airnet over ASA anyday, but the choice is up to you.

 

[starchkr]

OK, so most of you, except HAZ-MAT, missed jaybird's sarcasm...man i feel old here now, i remember you asking me for interview advice jaybird...and that was a long time ago.

As far as Airnet or ASA...I don't mean to sound like an A$$, but from your original post, you would be better suited at ASA. Regionals always like the guys who think they(the regionals) are the stuff, and then think that if they cannot get that high and mighty regional job they will suffer through a year or so at a freight company to build their multi PIC so that the high and mighty regional will look at them next year. Unfortunately it's true, and i have seen many come through here with just that thought process, and they never enjoyed the job for what it was...fun.

Rubicon is right, 1800RVR or 1/2 mile is nothing anymore, it is actually refreshing when you get to do it. Soemtimes you go for a month or so without shooting an approach, and you have a little party for yourself when the weather goes down.:beer:


Yes stormscopes SUCK...but most a/c have radar...and as has been said, most of the time it is better to leave it off, pick a spot and close your eyes and ride it out.

Pay is good here...as has also been said, you will make more here your first year than any regional...just don't let USC328 talk to you and say otherwise...Purv, what's up?imp:

Overall, great place, and good pay. Schedules are all different, so there is no way you can judge QOL before you get onboard and get to choose your run (so yes, you do get to decide your own fate as far as QOL here).

 

[milehigh6080]

Sometimes you go for a month or so without shooting an approach, and you have a little party for yourself when the weather goes down.:beer:

Haha, sweet- I was worried that I was the only guy who did that.

 

[Guillotine007]

I ment to say radar... I have rented a plane once with a storm scope and yes it was a piece of junk

radars are for chumps...how are you supposed to sleep with that stupid thing glowing? why deviate when you can penetrate?

storm scopes are about as reliable as a caravan in icing.

aaawwww yes....the caravan haters. you aren't allowed to rip on caravans unless you have at least 500, no 200, no 100, no 20, how about ONE hour in it. when you get your one hour, then you can come back and tell us about it in icing. and no, the sim in wichita does not count. and no, flying out a van out of BHM doesn't count either.

 

[USC328]

Starckr: Was that you I was flying with from DSM-APA with Colin and wife in back? Remember how we almost boxed ourselves in those walls of T-storms on climbout? Where your eyes closed then? That explains it. You are the one that said go left. I was the idiot that folllowed your directions. I'll have to remember that one for the interview question of: "When did you follow a Captain and realize you made a mistake later?"

Anyways, from an ex AirNet guy who now flys at a regional. CHOOSE AIRNET. Best flying you will ever do. It will teach you how to be a captain. First time you make a mistake as a CPT, you won't have an FO, FA and 50 witnesses. You can make mistakes all night long at AirNet and no one will know. Well, unless your Guillotine. AirNet was a big family in my opinion. I miss the basketball/knockout games in the CMH hanger. I miss the poker games in CMH. I miss hanging out with everyone and knowing everyone. Including most fuelers, ramper, pilots and management. AirNet was like a family. I miss the Captain decisions of flying the props. You will be more of a Captain in a Baron than you will be at a regional. Dispatch tells you where to go at AirNet, the rest is up to you. Flight planning, filing, fuel requests etc. Regional CPTs at my company cannot even reset a circuit breaker on the ground without talking to MX. Plus all their performance info is handed to them for everyleg and flight plans filed. They just have to decided Diet Pepsi or Water when the flight attendant asks before departure. (I'm being sarcastic, don't flame me for that one.)

Anyways, the people, mx, dispatch etc at AirNet were awesome. If your good to them, they will be good to you. We always joked around nightly and I really enjoyed the job. I was on a first name basis with mostly everyone and not, "Who are you?"

Hope that helps your decision making.

Purvis

 

[troll565]

Purvis,

Get a life dude. Stop posting about AirNet crap. How can you afford internet access at $19/hour pay?

 

[CheeseDick]

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

do you wake up in the morning or late in the evening and compile a list of idiotic points to try to make? Was it worth three posts?

And you can use a storm scope to assist in identifying radar echoes, it just requires you to think a little bit, I realize that could be a challenge for you.

I just hope you learned something by playing gear monkey for the past three months.

lol am i rite??

 

[idratherfly4283]

u r rite!

 

[USC328]

Purvis,

Get a life dude. Stop posting about AirNet shoot. How can you afford internet access at $19/hour pay?

Starckr asked me a question and I responded. Yes I can afford internet, I'm not THAT poor. I'm pretty good with finances. Also, what else do you expect me to do on reserve? I've worked a 2 day trip (overnight in SBA, took a bike ride along the beach, never got to do THAT at AirNet) this month and now nothing scheduled until the 17th. And even that is a trip I am picking up on my day off for extra money, so I CAN AFFORD INTERNET and still stay in touch with ya all.

Purvis

P.S.-If you don't want to read my posts, I won't be offended if you scroll past them.