why 135 freight?

gomntwins

gomntwins

Well-Known Member
I've been curious about this for awhile... why are people wanting to fly 135 freight now? I'm a current 135 freight pilot... single pilot... been doing it for years. When I got into it this job the opportunities were nill. I wanted a regional, but freight was the first thing beyond instructing that I got... and I was burned out with instructing. I love my job, but if I was put into the current hiring position (everybody's hiring with very few hours), I doubt I would've stuck out 1200 hours of instructing. I like 135 freight now, but years ago it wasn't what I wanted to do. I keep 135 it to get to the 1000 turbine mark... the pay is good... and I do like it. That's why I'm here. But why are low time pilots still waiting until 1200 hours to fly single pilot in old pistons when they can get a job flying an RJ with 500 or less. This is meant as no disrespect for anyone with low time who wants a job with a regional nor as disrespect for a higher time CFI trying to build 1200 hours to get their dream freight job. I'm just curious. Is it the pay? The possibility of quick Turbine time? Or is it the experience you build? Or do you just not want to fly for airlines? why do you all still want to fly 135 freight?
 
A mix of all the things you listed. I want the experience. I want to fly single pilot. I want to fly old airplanes for a while... and I really don't want to fly for the regionals.

It happened for me a couple years ago when I was working the ramp in BUF... I fell in love with the Airnet operation and have wanted to do 135 freight since. Currently CFI-ing and will be for another 2 or so years until I get the 1200.
 
I'm just curious. Is it the pay?
Partially
The possibility of quick Turbine time?
Partially
Or is it the experience you build?
Partially
Or do you just not want to fly for airlines?
Partially
why do you all still want to fly 135 freight?
Because it seems like fun. i ultimately want to fly corporate or perhaps for a freight 121 (UPS, FEDEX). Airnet has always appealed to me as well ever since i did that ride along and by next Feb. i should meet the 1200 mins. 135 freight seems like a good way to learn a lot about flying, and build some great experience for my career and interviews
 
I'm currently instructing with around 1000TT 500ME and I've just got no interest in a regional and plan on going freight around 1500TT. Everything- the pay, the corporate culture and "office job in the sky" feel of an airline job, the passengers, the ridiculous politics (compare the freight section to the regional section of any pilot msg board- regional pilots are often like children)... To me, there is literally *nothing* attractive about a regional job.
 
Don't want to take an almost 2/3 pay cut from instructing. 1/3 is as good as it gets. Regional pay is so unattractive if even for a couple years till it gets better, it's that much more in debt I'll be. No thanks.

After flying with retarded students for a year I want to fly by myself. I honestly think that these Chinese guys at my school are missing something upstairs...responsibility, motivation to study and teach themselves, motor skills, english, sometimes IQ. After we discuss something basic like flipping a switch or how to do something on a checklist and they repeatedly make the same mistake afterwards, I like the idea of no one next to me.

The piston planes are probably kept better than my school so no big deal there, though turbine is always preferable.

Also want to go into the corporate side.
 
Had I not been close to 1000 hours TT when the regionals started hireing anybody with a pulse I might have gone that route. However I was within striking distance of 135 mins, so I decided to stick it out.

Also, I do not want to be one of the guys who washes out of 121 training for a jet. I know I can handle the caravan, while I improve my instrument skills and gain much more experiance with real world conditions. After a year, I'll be much more prepared for the airline schoolhouse.


Also I like the idea of flying by myselfwith nobody looking over my shoulder. If I want to sing Elvis music while shooting an ILS, who cares?


The pay is silghtly better than a regional, but not enough to make a huge difference.
 
Just be careful about what 135 operation you choose, I know of real horror stories of some frieght operators that would withold pay, Mx issues was all in your head, and Captains that tried to make a game of treating newbies like crap (Cussing them out etc.) until they "earned" thier respect. I know of one guy who quit (resigned) for personal reasons or so he told the owner after they met over the issue.
 
I fly 135 freight because I can't get hired at a 121 freight airline yet.
Don't really wanna do anything else but haul boxes. I reaffirm this position every time I jumpseat and spend more then 4 minutes inside a passenger terminal. I just hope I can get to the next level without having to fly those odd shaped talking boxes you guys call passengers.
 
The schedule. Last Sunday was Veteran's Day, so Monday was a day of not flying with pay. There is an unconfirmed rumor that I will not be flying this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and for the Thanksgiving Holiday and still acquire 2 days of Holiday pay. Every single weekend and major Holiday off, at over twice the pay of a comparable regional job. Alot of my friends are getting married throughout this Fall and Early spring. It's nice that I don't ever have to worry that I'll miss the wedding ceremony.

There's benefits to the regional route too though; to each his own.

OOTSK.
 
The 135 background solidifies the instrument flying skillset and decision making ability. Flying single pilot freight was a great choice for me personally.

The old school mentors I have had the experience of flight instructing and Part 135 single pilot freight and said it was a great path to prepare me for the next level.

I also liked the pilots I met and flew with over the years, the comadrie and the efficiency of the flying i.e. flying fast in the terminal and airport environment.

I still think it was the most challenging and fun flying I have done yet.
 
#1: For the same reasons that I wanted to be an infantryman instead of a "candlestick maker" in the Marine Corps.

#2: It was the hardest type of (civilian) flying out there.

#3: It was the most fun flying I've ever done.

#4: I learned more than I'll ever learn in any other flying job.

#5: I flew with the coolest people I've ever met in aviation.

#6: I flew some of the most fun airplanes I'll ever again get to fly.

#7: I had the coolest schedules in aviation.
 
mtsu_av8er said:
#1: For the same reasons that I wanted to be an infantryman instead of a "candlestick maker" in the Marine Corps.

#2: It was the hardest type of (civilian) flying out there.

#3: It was the most fun flying I've ever done.

#4: I learned more than I'll ever learn in any other flying job.

#5: I flew with the coolest people I've ever met in aviation.
#6: I flew some of the most fun airplanes I'll ever again get to fly.

#7: I had the coolest schedules in aviation.
Click to expand...

well that's pretty conceited of you, seeing as it was all single-pilot and the only person you flew with was yourself..... :sarcasm::D
 
ljg said:
The schedule. Last Sunday was Veteran's Day, so Monday was a day of not flying with pay. There is an unconfirmed rumor that I will not be flying this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and for the Thanksgiving Holiday and still acquire 2 days of Holiday pay.
Click to expand...

You too? Is Friday a paid holiday for us? I thought we just get paid for handbook holidays.


nevermind I realized you normally work on fridays right?
 
FatBastard said:
Just be careful about what 135 operation you choose, I know of real horror stories of some frieght operators that would withold pay, Mx issues was all in your head, and Captains that tried to make a game of treating newbies like crap (Cussing them out etc.) until they "earned" thier respect. I know of one guy who quit (resigned) for personal reasons or so he told the owner after they met over the issue.
Click to expand...

Who did you fly for?
 
ackeight said:
You too? Is Friday a paid holiday for us? I thought we just get paid for handbook holidays.


nevermind I realized you normally work on fridays right?
Click to expand...

Ackeight, Friday is a company observed holiday. Check your company email for a message from HR Lady dated Nov 2nd, or actually I'll just cut/paste it to your PM. Happy Turkey Day.
 
gomntwins said:
I've been curious about this for awhile... why are people wanting to fly 135 freight now? I'm a current 135 freight pilot... single pilot... been doing it for years. When I got into it this job the opportunities were nill. I wanted a regional, but freight was the first thing beyond instructing that I got... and I was burned out with instructing. I love my job, but if I was put into the current hiring position (everybody's hiring with very few hours), I doubt I would've stuck out 1200 hours of instructing. I like 135 freight now, but years ago it wasn't what I wanted to do. I keep 135 it to get to the 1000 turbine mark... the pay is good... and I do like it. That's why I'm here. But why are low time pilots still waiting until 1200 hours to fly single pilot in old pistons when they can get a job flying an RJ with 500 or less. This is meant as no disrespect for anyone with low time who wants a job with a regional nor as disrespect for a higher time CFI trying to build 1200 hours to get their dream freight job. I'm just curious. Is it the pay? The possibility of quick Turbine time? Or is it the experience you build? Or do you just not want to fly for airlines? why do you all still want to fly 135 freight?
Click to expand...
It's not a regional
 
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