Fractional Question

[BFLYINGHIGH]

I have my future sights set on a fractional job. My question is "would cargo flying with a lear or a regional job be a better stepping job?" At this time I only have an interview with the cargo company comming up, but I am possibly expexting a call from a regional that flys RJ's. Just thought I might get some input from some current Fractional pilot's. Thanks.

 

[NJA_Capt]

Your resume might be more attractive with Regional experience. Both avenues have proved helpful, and freight pilots from reputable operators are pretty highly regarded for their instrument abilities. That said, the regional environment gives you a better chance of face to face interaction with passengers. The downside to the regional avenue is the lack of "customer service" experience, but it is more than you get in a freighter.

Tough call, but the regional probably offers more, especially the EFIS experience.

 

[NightCargo]

Go regional

Well, having come from a night cargo background, here is my .02 (and probably worth less than that).

Both avenues offer their pros and cons, so here are some from the cargo perspective.
Pros:
Good instrument skills;
Building PIC time and associated decision making skills (when applicable);
Lots of flight time quickly;
Ability to deal with all kinds of weather (because you are in it all the time);
Some cargo operators have a good rep with some fractionals;

Cons:
Don't have as much of a chance to develop the "customer service" mentality;
You may develop some bad habits that you will HAVE to break;
Don't have as much CRM and crew experience (depends on the operator);
Usually no glass cockpit/FMS experience;

I learned a lot by flying night freight and wouldn't trade it for anything. Something else to consider: In my interview at Netjets, they asked what kind of customer service experience I brought to them from my cargo job . . . . would be alot easier to answer from a regional pilot perspective.

Having said all of this, I would take the first good job offer I received either from a cargo op, or a regional.

Good Luck!
NightCargo

 

[BFLYINGHIGH]

thanks

Thanks for the info. It sounds just like what I was thinking. Although the cargo company I am looking at doese have a pax side that I could get into. Maybe the best would be to start at the cargo side and transition into the pax side to get the customer experience. And yes I think I will take the first offer. You can never depend on a second one comming through.