Any UPS pilots?

[scoobs]

Check out the Air guard/reserves.They will pay for your ratings then you can decide.I am about to enlist as a loadmaster with hopes of going to UPT.If you like it build time and go to the airlines or corporate outfits.Or get a full time slot with you unit and have the best of both worlds.And in todays world there isn't much job stability.

[USMCmech]

[ QUOTE ]
I am just not sure what to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

For my unsolicited advice:


Keep working as a PA, get all your pilots liscenses, fly part time with whatever corprate or flight instruction job you enjoy.

I too thought I wanted to fly as an airline pilot. But learning about all the downsides of that world has changed my mind. I now dream about owning my small airplane shop, and flight instructing part time. For me being my own boss would more than make up for never getting to fly a 777.

[scoobs]

There are other jobs in aviation that pay well.If you like to teach look at being a sim instructor.At FSA they start at 70,000 with full benefits.

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
Check out the Air guard/reserves.They will pay for your ratings then you can decide.I am about to enlist as a loadmaster with hopes of going to UPT.If you like it build time and go to the airlines or corporate outfits.Or get a full time slot with you unit and have the best of both worlds.And in todays world there isn't much job stability.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Guard/Reserve isn't the easy life it used to be. If one is using it as a timebuilder, they're gonna be very disappointed when they find themselves in Iraq. Flying is but a small part of being a military pilot. The AF doesn't want pilots, they want future pencil pushers.

[JEP]

[ QUOTE ]
The AF doesn't want pilots, they want future pencil pushers.

[/ QUOTE ]

....And how your pencil pushing coming along MikeD? Or are they still letting you do a little flying?

[scoobs]

If its a heavy unit they have lots of people just flying.Yes they have those trips to the middle east but they come home every week.Also what can a newbie at UPS expect for schedules.What kind of reserve lines.And are international trip in the day?Do senior pilots bid reserve more?

[DE727UPS]

Newbies get reserve, or lines that are worse than reserve, if you can imagine that. Reserve is 8 on 6 off, or 16 on 12 off. Some international trips are in the day...I´m gonna guess 50/50. Some senior pilots who live in domicle bid reserve though I think it's safe to say reserve is junior in general. Some Newbies will be going straight to the right seat. Just heard today we are pulling some 727's out of the desert.

[Alaskaairlines]

[ QUOTE ]
Newbies get reserve, or lines that are worse than reserve, if you can imagine that. Reserve is 8 on 6 off, or 16 on 12 off. Some international trips are in the day...I´m gonna guess 50/50. Some senior pilots who live in domicle bid reserve though I think it's safe to say reserve is junior in general. Some Newbies will be going straight to the right seat. Just heard today we are pulling some 727's out of the desert.

[/ QUOTE ]

727's living on, huh? Is it just aircraft shortage? Whats the story with the 747? I'm seeing less and less each day at ANC........

[DE727UPS]

Don't know about the 747's....could be cause we are getting more MD11's. The 727's is supposedly because of the Menlo deal.

[scoobs]

Another ? for you guys.I was talking to a pilot who said he enjoyed flying at night over day.He said less traffic and smoother air.Even though he was a Fedex pilot he said that he flew 2-4 legs into a sort center,sleep for a couple of hour and do another 2-4 legs.Then he would get in at six or seven and sleep till one or two.Then he would get up eat see the sights or workout have dinner and take at nap before doing it again.Does this seem normal sounds good to me.

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
I was talking to a pilot who said he enjoyed flying at night over day.He said less traffic and smoother air.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree. Flew night cargo most of my civvie career, and now I practically live in the dark flying-wise.

...........Beware the Nightstalkers.....

[DE727UPS]

I'd say that sounds pretty normal. I was never able to sleep during the sorts. UPS won't set us up with bunks, like FEDEX and all the other freighters, but we have a huge room filled with recliners and many guys try to sleep.

Personally, I don't mind flying nights but would rather fly days, and with my seniority, I'm able to make that work out.

It's true, there is less traffic at night. You often get direct anywhere you want to go. Air being smoother? Maybe down low, other than that, I wouldn't say so. Freight isn't glamorus, but I don't care about that. There were a few guys in my class that were more into the whole thing of being an airline pilot...running around the terminal looking good in their uniform. Those guys didn't stick around.

I never thought I'd be a freight dawg all my life but, the more I fly on pax airlines, the more I think freight is great.

[SteveC]

[ QUOTE ]
...........Beware the Nightstalkers.....

[/ QUOTE ]

How the heck can you "Beware" when you can't even find the sneaky bastidges?

[DE727UPS]

HA....that's funny. One of my favorite shows growing up was "Kolshack, the night stalker"

That show rocked. I guess I should have known I'd be a freight dawg.

[scoobs]

I can understand about flying in the daylight.For me it I'm a night owl so I wouldn't mind it.Plus I would rather sleep in then wake up in the morning.Does UPS have DH lines?

[DE727UPS]

We have lot's of DH lines at the beginning and ending of the week. Those would be deadheads.

If you are asking about day flying, I'll guess about 20% of our flying is day flying.

[EatSleepFly]

[ QUOTE ]
Air being smoother? Maybe down low, other than that, I wouldn't say so.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know about that even. I've gotten the crap kicked out of me in the middle of the night below 11,000 ("oh hello floating approach plates...") on plenty of occasions. No Clear Air Turbulence of course, but just because it's dark doesn't mean it's smooth.

[scoobs]

Are DH lines senior since you don't have to commute?Also I heard the domestic lines on the 57/67 are the ones that will kill you slowly is this true.

[DE727UPS]

"Are DH lines senior since you don't have to commute?"

What? Can you say that a different way?

"Also I heard the domestic lines on the 57/67 are the ones that will kill you slowly is this true"

Yeah...we have a lot of really bad trips. I'm able to avoid it with my seniority. Hopefully, the new contract will fix some of the worst trips.

[scoobs]

I could be off my hinges from what I know about DH lines.I thought since they airline you to the plane you don't have to commute to your base.That way you can live anywhere and not worry about commuting.Please correct if I'm wrong.Also why are the domestic lines so bad?And why don't they change them?

[DE727UPS]

Okay. If I'm reading you correctly, you are asking if schedules with deadheads are popular. Sometimes, they build the schedule with commercial deadheads, which means you get a company paid commercial ticket to get to work. If you are a commuter, those sort of schedules are a better deal than company deadheads or no deadhead. At the same time, you only get the amount of money to buy the ticket as it is from your base to where you are starting your trip. For example, I'm about to have a commercial deadhead to PHX. It's only $100 for a ticket from ONT to PHX, so if it's more from GEG to PHX, I gotta pay the difference. Unlike, Fedex, where the company just buys you a ticket from where you live.

As a commuter, I look closely at whether a schedule has a commercial ticket at the beginnng and ending of a trip.

The best deal, though, is if you live in the city that has positioning and depositioning deadheads. For example, I live in Spokane and there is a day flight to and from DSM. You only work three days a week, but with the deadheads added on, it's five days a week, on paper. It's a great deal if you live in Spokane. It's still a fairly senior trip cause it's day flying, but I can easily hold it. Problem is, you work three weeks in a row on that deal and I'd rather work a week on, week off, rotation, even if I can't be home every night. Honestly, I'm home enough as it is.

Why don't they change the awful 757 schedules? Hummm....cause they comply with the contract. Until they don't comply with the contract, it will never change. It's all about productivity....how long you live and quality of life isn't an issue with corporate america. See why unions are so important?

[scoobs]

Thanks for the help.I didn't know that UPS was different.What aircraft have the best schedules for newbies?Or are they all like the 57/67?And do you plan on upgrading to captian anytime soon or do you like being senior?

[DE727UPS]

Best schedules? That would vary from what you like to see in a schedule. The 727 used to be considered the best because we had the shortest trips but that plane will be gone soon. The DC8 and Airbus have taken over the 727 flying. I really think, at the moment, the DC8 has the best schedules if you want to work as little as possible. But that could change at any time. If you like International flying, you'd say the 757/767 and MD11 have the best schedules. If you like day flying, you'd say the 757/767 and Airbus have the best schedules. At the same time, I'd say if you are junior on ANY fleet, you're gonna get some pretty bad lines or be stuck on reserve....but some people like reserve, so it really all depends. I heard the next class is going to have 16 F/E's and 9 F/O's. What you get should be determined by seniority which is by age, within the class. It's typical to sit reserve for at least six months.

I like being senior but I'm getting to the point where there are a couple niche situations I could see myself being a Capt in, even though I'd be fairly junior. One is if they bring all Airbusi into GEG for the two day turns, and if I could hold those lines as a Capt, I'd be stupid not to take that. I should be able to make a decision on that by this fall. The other is Hot PHX, where we crew a plane week on, week off, in the evenings. You only fly when another airplane breaks down in your area. I hear they only launch you two or three times a week. This duty goes fairly junior, as most guys don't like sitting around the airport for 8 hours waiting for a phone call to launch within 30 minites. Personally, I don't think I'd mind it so much as long as I had an internet connection. In the past, I could have held Hot PHX as a Capt. My decision on that will depend on if the schedules keep getting worse and worse as an F/O. Right now, because I'm very senior, I'm still able to do some easy day flying. If I even get in a situation, though, where my seniority doesn't buy me a very nice schedule, there is no point in NOT making the jump to the left seat. I think, for sure, I'll wait until this fall before making a decision.

[I_Money]

Don you want to go back to school? I thought you only did that every 10-15 years! More then that it is too much like hard work, and a realy job for your taste - atleast that is what I thougt.

[DE727UPS]

Yeah. School sucks. No doubt about it. But I'm gonna have to do it sooner or later and I'll make quite a bit more money in the left seat while not working any harder...that's the plan. 17 more years to go.