Flight Express

[rickyrhodesii]

Anyone out there working for or has worked for Flight Express, Inc.? I'd just like to ask a few questions!

-rick

[SteveC]

If you go ahead and post your questions now you might just save a step in the process.

[rickyrhodesii]

Thanks SteveC...

I understand there are three Hubs (St. Louis, Nashville and, Tampa) and many bases.

Where do you live...say if you had a family? Do you live in the hub city and commute to the base/domiciles?

Also, does Flight Express Hire pilots under 135.243 (b)?

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve, as pilot in command of an aircraft under VFR unless that person--
(1) Holds at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings and, if required, an appropriate type rating for that aircraft; and
(2) Has had at least 500 hours time as a pilot, including at least 100 hours of cross-country flight time, at least 25 hours of which were at night; and
(3) For an airplane, holds an instrument rating or an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category rating; or
(4) For helicopter operations conducted VFR over-the-top, holds a helicopter instrument rating, or an airline transport pilot certificate with a category and class rating for that aircraft, not limited to VFR.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

-rick

[Stone Cold]

Originally Posted by rickyrhodesii

Thanks SteveC...

I understand there are three Hubs (St. Louis, Nashville and, Tampa) and many bases.

Where do you live...say if you had a family? Do you live in the hub city and commute to the base/domiciles?

Also, does Flight Express Hire pilots under 135.243 (b)?

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve, as pilot in command of an aircraft under VFR unless that person--
(1) Holds at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings and, if required, an appropriate type rating for that aircraft; and
(2) Has had at least 500 hours time as a pilot, including at least 100 hours of cross-country flight time, at least 25 hours of which were at night; and
(3) For an airplane, holds an instrument rating or an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category rating; or
(4) For helicopter operations conducted VFR over-the-top, holds a helicopter instrument rating, or an airline transport pilot certificate with a category and class rating for that aircraft, not limited to VFR.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

-rick

Although I don't work for Flight Express, I have had some interaction with their hiring guy, Gary. You can get the answers directly from the horses mouth, at flightinfo.com. He posts under username John Glenn. Sorry, Doug, for saying the competitor's name. Maybe we can get him to post over here some time. He seems to be a good guy.

As far as my understanding, FE does not have any jumpseat agreements with any airlines, so you'd have to live where you're based (domicile). I know they did hire under the VFR 135 rule for a few months there, but that has stopped, I believe. They were requiring 1100+ TT for that anyways. And, one more thing, remember it is starting in the C-210 and upgrade into the Baron in 6-9 months. I believe they have around that long of an upgrade still. If you stick with them, I believe they have a 6 month bonus, not sure of the amount though, or if they're still doing it.

This is only my understanding and could be totally wrong, but hopefully it helped.

TX

[braidkid]

As my good buddy Joe stated above, because Fright Excess has no jump seat arrangements, you generally live where you are based. Bases are determined according to performance in ground school.

[rickyrhodesii]

Thanks braidkid and txpilot...i'll give the "other guys" a shot!

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by rickyrhodesii

Thanks braidkid and txpilot...i'll give the "other guys" a shot!

Check out this page - http://flightexpress.com/faqs.htm

Also, the requirements are listed here - http://flightexpress.com/pilot_emplo...eight_jobs.htm

They were hiring with I think either 1000 or 1100 TT back a few months ago, but that has subsided.

FE is more like a mom and pop organization than Airnet. There is no contract so you can get in and out quickly without that hanging over your head, but spending 12 months flying at Airnet wouldn't be the end of the world, especially if you're in a baron, navajo, and/or caravan. Most everyone has enough piston SE time to feed an army...if you don't need the multi than FE would be a good way to enhance your resume with some 135 IFR PIC time.

~wheelsup

[rickyrhodesii]

here's a quote from a fellow aviator (martincfi) at another site that was willing to help:

"iv'e been flying for FLX for almost a year now, and its a very good place to build experience, upgrades are a lilttle too slow at the time but in general its a great company to work for."

"we have our headquarters in orlando executive, and 2 more big bases in tampa and nashville, the we have scattered many other outpost and small bases, as st louis, jacksonville, opa locka, lunkin Ohio, jackson Mississippi, etc...you can check the website for all the places we operate to and from"

"when you get hired, you still need to do and PASS the groundschool and checkride, during that time (1 week usually) operations will say which bases "are and could" be open for when the checkride is done, now in the written test you have in the groundschool, the highest score gets to choose from "that list they give", the second highest score picks second and so on so on...
however, things change so rapidly that you could end up being sent to the opposite side of the country from where you chose according to your score....so they will tell you in the phone interview...come to ground school with your luggage "ready" to go "anywhere"....during ground..they pay for the hotel and also pay you 75 a day....so the deal is very good as you see"

"if you have a family you can request to be sent close to where you live...but then again it all depends on the need of the company, if at the beginning you are sent far away...they will try and do their best to have you come back closer.....they are pretty cool with tath.....but you have to have patience..."

"schedulewise, all runs are different in duty time, flight time and accordingly pay....expect to make in the low 19K to the mid 20K a year depending on that. i tell you what i do so you have an idea...i go on duty at 1530 and off duty at 0300....flight daily between 4 and 5 hours...and a "lot" of layover time doing nothing, but gettin paid of course....."

"i hope that answer your questions and if you have more feel free to keep asking....FLX is a great company to work for as i said before...."

[rickyrhodesii]

If you have any futher info on Flight Express, I'd definately appriciate it! Here's what i originally asked:

I'm really interested in working for Flight Express, but i have a few questions i haven't been able to find through the searching the forums.

From what i understand, Flight Express has hubs in Tampa, Nashville and St. Louis and many other "bases". When you get hired on, do you choose where you'd like to fly out of?

Where do you live...say if you had a family? Do you live in the hub city and commute to the base/domiciles every day?

What is the average day/or week life as far as scheduling goes?

thanks for any responses!

[wheelsup]

I don't have first hand experience working for flight express, however I did make their website and have a close working relationship with their hiring guru, Gary.

Originally Posted by rickyrhodesii

From what i understand, Flight Express has hubs in Tampa, Nashville and St. Louis and many other "bases". When you get hired on, do you choose where you'd like to fly out of?

Check out this page for where the domcilies are.
http://flightexpress.com/domiciles.htm

You will live nearby in one of those cities. I think the response to you at Flightinfo explained how you get to pick where you are based. The company furnishes a list of open positions and you depending on your ground school score where you want. If you don't get it, you don't get it. That's aviation, sorry. There is an opportunity to get to where you want it opens up while you are working at Flight Express, I'm not sure how the process works, but the general rule of thumb is don't count on it. Unless you plan to spend your career there (not likely) you will just have to suck it up and live where you are based for the year or so you are there.

Where do you live...say if you had a family? Do you live in the hub city and commute to the base/domiciles every day?

You will live in one of the bases listed here. It could be ANY ONE OF THESE CITIES, not just the 'hubs'.
http://flightexpress.com/domiciles.htm

Flight Express doesn't operate like a typical hub and spoke 121 airline. They fly point to point, hence you won't be going to the hubs most likely if you live at one of the other cities.

What is the average day/or week life as far as scheduling goes?

The duty day will vary greatly with the run you are on. Plan to spend several hours a day flying and 5-8 hours a day sitting at an outstation. You are paid for all this time, not just flight time. M-F is the general rule. From what I've heard most runs don't go overnight but terminate late evening or eary morning (a bit after midnight). Normally, the duty days are in the 10-12 hour range.

According to your profile on Flight Express, you've got about 70 hours? You are an EXTREMELY long way away from working at a 135 company. I understand you are trying to learn more about it now but they won't even touch you unless you have 1190 hours right now. Use that time to learn more about the industry in general, which will help you understand the different type of companies out there.


Good luck,
~wheelsup

[rickyrhodesii]

Thanks for the info wheelsup! It's amazing what kind of info is out here on these boards. It's great for an young aspiring pilot like myself.

Originally Posted by wheelsup

According to your profile on Flight Express, you've got about 70 hours? You are an EXTREMELY long way away from working at a 135 company. I understand you are trying to learn more about it now but they won't even touch you unless you have 1190 hours right now. Use that time to learn more about the industry in general, which will help you understand the different type of companies out there.

Yeah...I'm way ahead of myself! I'm just trying to find out as much information about this industry now, so it's not so hectic when it's time to find a job. I'm looking to attend FlightSafety Academy to finish up my certs and ratings and instruct somewhere after that...hopefully FlightSafety!

Thanks again!