I can only offer what I know, so take it for what it's worth. I'm at my second freight job, and I love it so far.
First job I hauled checks to the same places every night. I got that job when I met 135 mins, and never looked back to instruction. That was a good job because I flew my butt off, over 100 hrs a month, but at the same time, got familiar with the airports enough where I could really focus on flying the plane, rather than remembering where the FBO is. I was flying Barons, Navajos, and Caravans and made around 35 a year.
Second job where I'm at now, I'm a F/O (hopefully upgrading soon) on a Falcon 20 for an on-demand charter company. We haul everything from ear plugs (they actually paid for a 25G charter for one 7lb box of these, but I guess when a Nuclear Reactor power plant is on the verge of shutting down, pennies don't matter) all the way up to engines for auto manufacturers. We go to different places all the time in North America and it's good because I already cut my teeth on really flying, now I'm learning how to deal with high-congestion airports and airspace that I've never seen. I make around 50K here.
From hear I plan on going to another freight operator, but with bigger aircraft and a bigger scope. Hopefully Atlas or Gemini. Once I spend a few years there, I'll probably be qualified to go to UPS or FedEx. It takes time to get there, but it's doable.
Why did I pick freight over people?
1. I abhor the regionals, don't know why I just do. And before anybody gets their panties in a wad, I'm not attacking them, just saying they're not for me.
2. I like the laid back world of freight
3. When I drop the pax out of the plane by accident, they don't scream and sue.
4. No catty F/A's to deal with
5. Generally people crews look down on you as trash, and I think that's funny.
6. Lot's of time off. I worked 4 day's in December, 2 overnights, and 17 hours, your mileage may, and will vary.
7. We don't go to the same places everyday. I'd swallow a 12 guage if I had to do ATL-TOL-ATL-MCO-ATL-JKS everyday.
8. Old equipment, makes you feel like a man. (I keed) When you bring a steam powered airplane down to mins in Mexico not being able to understand a damn thing your being told off of a DME arc to an ILS, all off of two needles and DME, that's pretty neat. FMS? Yea, that's me the F/O
While FedEx and UPS are more stable by nature, that doesn't go for all freight ops. A lot of companies are hanging to the economy by a thread. What happens when people stop buying cars, another freight company just went out of business.
All in all, I love freight, and plan to make a career out of it. Hope I helped.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by SIU8ver go to the homepage at www.jetcareers.com and do a little browsing. After that, come on back and ask more specific questions. |
Do a little browsing
here. After that, come on back and answer more questions.