killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
I remember you telling me about flying a load of tuxedos once. That cracked me up...dunno why, but it was funny.
Part 135 as a career?
- Thread starter Inverted25
- Start date
Flysher
Well-Known Member
Yea, the senior guys on the old pay can, but a new captain will never touch that much.
Also at this point, making captain at Airnet seems pretty hard if not impossible.
I've flown a single seat cover for a mercedes in a metroliner.... I've flown empty boxes.. I've flown a 5lb box with some sort of valve in it... ad-hoc cargo is a very strange business
ppragman
FLIPY FLAPS!
Gonzo
Well-Known Member
He is alive. You down in ELP.
ppragman
FLIPY FLAPS!
\Who do you fly for?
Its all about being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people. Once I got furloughed I went back to my FBO to pump gas. Ive been working my ass off trying to find a 135 gig (as SIC since I only have 700TT) but the turn over for any semi-decent jobs are so low your only hope is to hire a hitman. There are some lucky sonsofbitches flying really nice metal but they knew someone or were in the right spot talking to the right person. I hope your luck is better than mine! (No 
there either). As for pay, if you get said job 135 is better than 121 in most cases.
there either). As for pay, if you get said job 135 is better than 121 in most cases.I think i've met you before one time in Toluca. I remember talking to a Lear captain who mentioned he once flew one single bolt that fit in his pocket. I think it may have been ameristar...
Inverted25
Well-Known Member
Well Mav dont take this the wrong way but with only 700TT it will be a miracle if you do find a job since SIC programs are going away. But I do know of a few 135 hiring if you have 1500TT. Luckily for me I have been forunate and through contacts I have a great CFI gig lined up starting May that will get me alot of hours and I got two guys out of the airport that the cherokee I fly is based out of who own high performance singles for busniess and want me to fly for them. So I should be in pretty good shape this coming up year. Like I siad before I got three years left of college before I'm looking for a 135 gig and by then I'll have well over 2000 hours so I will be more than competitive. Mav do you have your CFI. If you do I would suggest that you start looking for a CFI gig because Id make a sure bet you wont find a 135 job till you meet the mins.
Which 135 gigs are you talking about?
gomntwins
Well-Known Member
You sure can make a career out of 135 freight. I know of many people that have or will be career 135. Generally speaking, the people that seem to be the happiest with that decision are the FedEx feeder guys... the people working for corporate air, mountain air cargo, empire, etc. I don't really understand how much competition there is between those companies, but it seems minimal. The pay raises are steady generally, FedEx owns all the planes so they have a vested interest in you not being an idiot (you're still freight so you'll see your share of weather- but from my experience, them canceling a flight due to weather is a lot more 'acceptable' than by many other operators), and overall those pilots seem to be happy.
Personally, I fly UPS 'feeder' freight- scheduled routes. It's all contract work. It's a great job, I love it, and I'll probably continue doing it for a few more years. But, because it is all contract work any company can lose their contract at any given time (usually requires a 30 day notice- but that ain't much). Many companies have lost many of their runs in the past... Suburban air freight lost many of their runs to Ameriflight last summer. So, it happens. That's one of the drawbacks of working at some of the smaller (and even bigger companies-- Ameriflight lost their Billings routes to Alpine not that long ago) scheduled 135 operators. It is nice though... you know when you'll be at home 95% of the time (there is always the chance of a charter or you getting diverted due to weather... so there never is a 100% guarantee of being at home). But, overall it's a lot of fun. I know a few people that will make this a career, but it is less stable than the FedEx feeders.
Unscheduled freight is a crapshoot no matter what. It goes with how well the economy is doing. Lately, it has been pretty rough for the unscheduled companies. Some are doing well... many are not. The economy will pick up, but until then it's going to be a little rough for many of those operators. Also, with the unscheduled freight, there are no guarantees you'll be home much.
Good luck figuring it out. It's a fun road... but it does get boring flying the same route every day.
Personally, I fly UPS 'feeder' freight- scheduled routes. It's all contract work. It's a great job, I love it, and I'll probably continue doing it for a few more years. But, because it is all contract work any company can lose their contract at any given time (usually requires a 30 day notice- but that ain't much). Many companies have lost many of their runs in the past... Suburban air freight lost many of their runs to Ameriflight last summer. So, it happens. That's one of the drawbacks of working at some of the smaller (and even bigger companies-- Ameriflight lost their Billings routes to Alpine not that long ago) scheduled 135 operators. It is nice though... you know when you'll be at home 95% of the time (there is always the chance of a charter or you getting diverted due to weather... so there never is a 100% guarantee of being at home). But, overall it's a lot of fun. I know a few people that will make this a career, but it is less stable than the FedEx feeders.
Unscheduled freight is a crapshoot no matter what. It goes with how well the economy is doing. Lately, it has been pretty rough for the unscheduled companies. Some are doing well... many are not. The economy will pick up, but until then it's going to be a little rough for many of those operators. Also, with the unscheduled freight, there are no guarantees you'll be home much.
Good luck figuring it out. It's a fun road... but it does get boring flying the same route every day.
scooter2525
Very well Member
pac valley perhaps...