Ram Air hiring VFR line pilots

[TFaudree_ERAU]

I don't think this has been announced here yet. I just noticed it on an AEPS posting.

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Ram Air Freight is currently looking for qualified IFR and VFR pilots to fill the June 11 Class. We are Part 135 air courier operator with several bases scattered throughout the Southeast. With a regular schedule of Monday through Friday, the majority of the routes being day/afternoon runs you will gain the invaluable experience of single pilot, multi engine, all weather operations and also get home every night, allowing you to have a “normal” life outside of your job.

We do not require any minimum multi engine time for application. Thanks to our 65% twin to single engine airplane ratio upgrades typically occur no longer than 4 months after the initial checkride, depending upon the employee’s flexibility to relocate and the current company needs. Initial training lasts a full week and incorporates in depth ground and flight training, during which Ram Air Freight provides housing.


For IFR positions, in order to qualify applicants MUST meet Part 135 IFR minimums, be actively flying and instrument proficient, and more generally be capable of reaching checkride standards within 6 hours of flight training. There is a 6 month training contract. For VFR positions, we require at least 800 hours and applicants MUST meet Part 135 VFR minimums, and hold a CFI.


Benefits include Blue Cross Blue Shield, dental insurance, Simple IRA retirement plan, jumpseat privileges. More information is available on Ram Air Freight - Specializing in Time-Critical Cargo and Ram Air Freight - Employment: Frequently Asked Questions. Send resumes to clinton.festa@ramairfreight.com. No phone calls please.
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Sounds exciting for those in the Mid-Atlantic states.

[surreal1221]

Jumpseat. . .on who, and via what system. . .agreements with what airline? SWA?

[pilot4500]

Ram Air has a jumpseat agreement with Southwest. And let me tell you something, we are in desperate need of pilots!

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by pilot4500

Ram Air has a jumpseat agreement with Southwest. And let me tell you something, we are in desperate need of pilots!

Do you guys hire into bases? That's going to become the trend!

[slushie]

I really want to fly at Ram Air.

PS looks like they washed the plane to make it look purty for the picture:

[pilot4500]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Do you guys hire into bases? That's going to become the trend!

When I was hired, bases were assigned once you completed training. However, we are short of pilots at all of our bases. If you have a preference on where you want to be based, you can request it. More than likely, you will be able to get it.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by pilot4500

When I was hired, bases were assigned once you completed training. However, we are short of pilots at all of our bases. If you have a preference on where you want to be based, you can request it. More than likely, you will be able to get it.

No, I don't have a preference . . . no desire to cut my pay in half here . . .

Just wondering if they have a policy regarding that yet. More and more companies are starting to hire into bases, at least sometimes. I makes sense . . .

[slushie]

Originally Posted by TFaudree_ERAU

...and also get home every night, allowing you to have a “normal” life outside of your job.

Is that a disqualifying factor for acceptance into the OOTSK?

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by slushie

Is that a disqualifying factor for acceptance into the OOTSK?

Not in the least!

[aviatormar]

I had a few questions about Ram Air to anyone who flies for them, present or past. How do you like them? What is your day like? How is training? How are bases choosen? How does the jumpseating work? How long is the upgrade to a multi? I currently work at a flight school in California, but I'm a Boston native. I have just about 1000 tt with no multi (I still have to get my comm/multi). So with those times would I start in the Lance then move to a multi? Are you guys hiring? What is the hiring process like? Thanks for all the help.

[GAPILOT]

Originally Posted by aviatormar

I had a few questions about Ram Air to anyone who flies for them, present or past. How do you like them? What is your day like? How is training? How are bases choosen? How does the jumpseating work? How long is the upgrade to a multi? I currently work at a flight school in California, but I'm a Boston native. I have just about 1000 tt with no multi (I still have to get my comm/multi). So with those times would I start in the Lance then move to a multi? Are you guys hiring? What is the hiring process like? Thanks for all the help.

Look under freight dawgs. Pilot4500 has about a 6 page post on life at Ram Air. That should answer all your questions.

[pilot4500]

Originally Posted by GAPILOT

Look under freight dawgs. Pilot4500 has about a 6 page post on life at Ram Air. That should answer all your questions.

[Douglas H]

Hi! I worked for Ram from Sept 2005 to Dec 2006. I was based in Concord, NC right after training for a month flying a Lance. I moved back to Raleigh, NC and completed two upgrades in the Seneca and C-402 before moving to Charleston, WV for the C-402 one month later. I flew an average of 96 to 110 hours per month and flew 1,340 hours in 2006.

Be flexible in your living arrangements to allow yourself to move where a twin run is open. Hanover, VA is a Seneca base that averages 5 to 6 hours per day for each run. It may be a quick opportunity as turnover at that base is high at times given the quick multi time building runs there.

I had a quicker upgrade (6 weeks to a twin run) than new hires today are expecting to see. If you have 1,000TT you will be assigned a VFR position. You will not upgrade to a multi until you have your multi rating and at least 1,200 hours TT.

The hiring process is likely still a phone interview and class offer. You will have 6 hours of flight training to prepare for your initial Part 135 checkride in the Lance. It is more than enough time and you will get "ride alongs" with line pilots to see how the runs operate.

With the hiring at the regionals, it is hard to find pilots who are proficient at single pilot IFR with no autopilot and a IFR GPS.

I am a regional FO flying the EMB145 and feel that Part 135 experience helps with any job you will have in the future. The experience and decision making are very helpful for your first post freight job down the road. You will never be a better handflying instrument pilot than you are flying freight.

My experience at Ram was quite positive. You are the PIC and need to act like one. Maintenance is good if you are proactive and communicate the problems. The DO is a former line pilot and never pushed me to fly in weather and/or aircraft that were unsafe. If you are concerned about weather, I suggest talking with the Asst Chief pilots or the Chief Pilot to become more comfortable with the weather choices you will be facing. Thunderstorms and icing will take some analysis to ensure that you have enough fuel, the best route and terrain, and alternates to safely complete the flight.

Feel free to PM me with any questions you have.

Good luck in your decision and career.

Doug

[SRA_kbad]

Originally Posted by Douglas H

Hi! I worked for Ram from Sept 2005 to Dec 2006. I was based in Concord, NC right after training for a month flying a Lance. I moved back to Raleigh, NC and completed two upgrades in the Seneca and C-402 before moving to Charleston, WV for the C-402 one month later. I flew an average of 96 to 110 hours per month and flew 1,340 hours in 2006.

Be flexible in your living arrangements to allow yourself to move where a twin run is open. Hanover, VA is a Seneca base that averages 5 to 6 hours per day for each run. It may be a quick opportunity as turnover at that base is high at times given the quick multi time building runs there.

I had a quicker upgrade (6 weeks to a twin run) than new hires today are expecting to see. If you have 1,000TT you will be assigned a VFR position. You will not upgrade to a multi until you have your multi rating and at least 1,200 hours TT.

The hiring process is likely still a phone interview and class offer. You will have 6 hours of flight training to prepare for your initial Part 135 checkride in the Lance. It is more than enough time and you will get "ride alongs" with line pilots to see how the runs operate.

With the hiring at the regionals, it is hard to find pilots who are proficient at single pilot IFR with no autopilot and a IFR GPS.

I am a regional FO flying the EMB145 and feel that Part 135 experience helps with any job you will have in the future. The experience and decision making are very helpful for your first post freight job down the road. You will never be a better handflying instrument pilot than you are flying freight.

My experience at Ram was quite positive. You are the PIC and need to act like one. Maintenance is good if you are proactive and communicate the problems. The DO is a former line pilot and never pushed me to fly in weather and/or aircraft that were unsafe. If you are concerned about weather, I suggest talking with the Asst Chief pilots or the Chief Pilot to become more comfortable with the weather choices you will be facing. Thunderstorms and icing will take some analysis to ensure that you have enough fuel, the best route and terrain, and alternates to safely complete the flight.

Feel free to PM me with any questions you have.

Good luck in your decision and career.

Doug

Nice post!!! Lot of info

[pilot4500]

Originally Posted by Douglas H

Hi! I worked for Ram from Sept 2005 to Dec 2006. I was based in Concord, NC right after training for a month flying a Lance. I moved back to Raleigh, NC and completed two upgrades in the Seneca and C-402 before moving to Charleston, WV for the C-402 one month later. I flew an average of 96 to 110 hours per month and flew 1,340 hours in 2006.

Be flexible in your living arrangements to allow yourself to move where a twin run is open. Hanover, VA is a Seneca base that averages 5 to 6 hours per day for each run. It may be a quick opportunity as turnover at that base is high at times given the quick multi time building runs there.

I had a quicker upgrade (6 weeks to a twin run) than new hires today are expecting to see. If you have 1,000TT you will be assigned a VFR position. You will not upgrade to a multi until you have your multi rating and at least 1,200 hours TT.

The hiring process is likely still a phone interview and class offer. You will have 6 hours of flight training to prepare for your initial Part 135 checkride in the Lance. It is more than enough time and you will get "ride alongs" with line pilots to see how the runs operate.

With the hiring at the regionals, it is hard to find pilots who are proficient at single pilot IFR with no autopilot and a IFR GPS.

I am a regional FO flying the EMB145 and feel that Part 135 experience helps with any job you will have in the future. The experience and decision making are very helpful for your first post freight job down the road. You will never be a better handflying instrument pilot than you are flying freight.

My experience at Ram was quite positive. You are the PIC and need to act like one. Maintenance is good if you are proactive and communicate the problems. The DO is a former line pilot and never pushed me to fly in weather and/or aircraft that were unsafe. If you are concerned about weather, I suggest talking with the Asst Chief pilots or the Chief Pilot to become more comfortable with the weather choices you will be facing. Thunderstorms and icing will take some analysis to ensure that you have enough fuel, the best route and terrain, and alternates to safely complete the flight.

Feel free to PM me with any questions you have.

Good luck in your decision and career.

Doug

Great post! I am current line pilot at Ram Air based in Concord, NC. I agree with everything you said except for one thing. You will feel pressured to fly in weather conditions that are not safe. You may have to delay flights or cancel them altogether because of severe thunderstorms or icing conditions. Flight Operations won't like it if you make a no go decision because you refuse to fly a Lance through a level 5 thunderstorm or an area of known icing. However, you are the PIC and it is up to YOU to make the final decision. They might not like your decision, but they will respect it.

All in all, Ram Air is a good place to work. You will be a better pilot after working here. Just remember that you are the PIC, and don't let anyone bully you into doing something that is unsafe.

[cfii2007]

Wow!!!