Seeking Freight Dogs
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Louisville
Seeking Freight Dogs
Hello,
I work for Creation Films LLC, a documentary production company based out of Louisville, Kentucky. We are developing a television series based on Freight Dogs. Much like the ice truckers and Alaskan crabbers, Freight Dogs have a dangerous career yet an interesting one. Many have to deal with decaying aircraft, shoddy maintenance, flagrant and safety-rule violations. We are seeking Freight Dogs who are interested in being a part of this series with interviews as well as video clips of your travels. We hope to hear from you.
Creation Films
7 Theatre Square
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 581-8160 (phone)
(502) 581-8161 (fax)
[email protected]
I work for Creation Films LLC, a documentary production company based out of Louisville, Kentucky. We are developing a television series based on Freight Dogs. Much like the ice truckers and Alaskan crabbers, Freight Dogs have a dangerous career yet an interesting one. Many have to deal with decaying aircraft, shoddy maintenance, flagrant and safety-rule violations. We are seeking Freight Dogs who are interested in being a part of this series with interviews as well as video clips of your travels. We hope to hear from you.
Creation Films
7 Theatre Square
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 581-8160 (phone)
(502) 581-8161 (fax)
[email protected]
Joined: Apr 2004
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 189
From: Dorset UK
Not sure where you get your info from.
Freight operators have to comply with the same regulations as passenger airlines with regard to maintenance of aircraft and flight crew training and qualifications!
Don't make a story out of something that is not there!
Dixi (20 years a Freight Dog)
Freight operators have to comply with the same regulations as passenger airlines with regard to maintenance of aircraft and flight crew training and qualifications!
Don't make a story out of something that is not there!
Dixi (20 years a Freight Dog)
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,627
Likes: 2
From: UTC +8
You can find many live, nonscripted cockpit videos of "freight dogs" [and pax ops] at: justplanes.com 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Close to space
Well I dont think you will get any joy from US or EU operators, because the authority will pull AOCs quicker than you can say "Should we be taking off with that light on?". I suggest you try with some operators of Russian aircraft in Africa, you might get some good stuff there.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 857
From: Here 'n' there!
"Many have to deal with decaying aircraft, shoddy maintenance, flagrant and safety-rule violations. We are seeking Freight Dogs who are interested in being a part of this series with interviews as well as video clips of your travels."
As others have said, Freight ops are just as Regulated as those with Pax and, where there are issues, crews will be working hard to resolve matters in a professional manner - not by jumping on some sensationalist "fly-on-the-wall" programme. After all, why do all the current "Airline"-style programmes focus 100% on the problems encountered by check-in staff and troublesome Pax? Because the flight deck is sooo boringly mundane that the viewing figures would plummet if the cameras were concentrated on the aircrew! Unfortunately for your venture, cases of stroppy cargo are actually quite rare - though the "Strangest Freight" thread makes for an interesting read - so, not really much hope there for you either.
Sorry to pour cold water on this but I really don't think you'll have much luck with this venture - certainly with current Operators. Now, stories from flying back in the 50's and 60's - that would be interesting for us pilots - but, again, probably not good for the viewing figures! A one-off programme? Maybe. A whole series aka IRTers or Deadliest Catch? Mmmmmm......
As others have said, Freight ops are just as Regulated as those with Pax and, where there are issues, crews will be working hard to resolve matters in a professional manner - not by jumping on some sensationalist "fly-on-the-wall" programme. After all, why do all the current "Airline"-style programmes focus 100% on the problems encountered by check-in staff and troublesome Pax? Because the flight deck is sooo boringly mundane that the viewing figures would plummet if the cameras were concentrated on the aircrew! Unfortunately for your venture, cases of stroppy cargo are actually quite rare - though the "Strangest Freight" thread makes for an interesting read - so, not really much hope there for you either.
Sorry to pour cold water on this but I really don't think you'll have much luck with this venture - certainly with current Operators. Now, stories from flying back in the 50's and 60's - that would be interesting for us pilots - but, again, probably not good for the viewing figures! A one-off programme? Maybe. A whole series aka IRTers or Deadliest Catch? Mmmmmm......
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: USofA
Many have to deal with decaying aircraft, shoddy maintenance, flagrant and safety-rule violations.
Oh and the private bunk rooms, not enough blankets and pillows I mean WTF!
Ride a freighter sometime and you will quickly come to the conclusion it's the pax industry thats flying the old outdated aircraft...
DBW
18 Year Freight Dog
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: MAN/Wherever
"Freight Dogs have a dangerous career"
Well, yesterday, down in deepest, darkest Africa well, Addis actually, I did trip twice. Once on the 4 by 2 being used as a chock and the other over the GPU cable, spilt my godamn skinny latte, is that dangerous enough for you??
Well, yesterday, down in deepest, darkest Africa well, Addis actually, I did trip twice. Once on the 4 by 2 being used as a chock and the other over the GPU cable, spilt my godamn skinny latte, is that dangerous enough for you??
SkyGod
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 108
From: Palm Coast, Florida, USA
Well, it would be kind of boring to film the 40 hour duty days, but easy to shoot the tool-boxes full of pencils..
Seriously, there is some clean freight outfits flying modern -400s, MD-11 and B-767 stuff where the hot water heater works and the blankets are abundant.
On the other hand, plenty of scum-bag freight stuff still going on:
I worked for a few of them and last one, Tradewinds Airlines is just about out of business now.
Could tell some stories there and there is even some ready made film of a crash we had in 2006: YouTube - Tradewinds Boeing 747 Rejected Takeoff Crash
Head down to MIA and ride around with a few of the carriers doing nightly runs on South America and you should find material enough to fill a couple of hours footage: Overweight takeoffs out of Quito or Bogota are always interesting if an engine or two fails, but even with all 4 running you can get terrain warning...That will wake ya up at 4 in the morning..
Seriously, there is some clean freight outfits flying modern -400s, MD-11 and B-767 stuff where the hot water heater works and the blankets are abundant.
On the other hand, plenty of scum-bag freight stuff still going on:
I worked for a few of them and last one, Tradewinds Airlines is just about out of business now.
Could tell some stories there and there is even some ready made film of a crash we had in 2006: YouTube - Tradewinds Boeing 747 Rejected Takeoff Crash
Head down to MIA and ride around with a few of the carriers doing nightly runs on South America and you should find material enough to fill a couple of hours footage: Overweight takeoffs out of Quito or Bogota are always interesting if an engine or two fails, but even with all 4 running you can get terrain warning...That will wake ya up at 4 in the morning..
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Close to space
You never know, people may just take to it. I have to say I am bloody surprised that I just never ever.....ever get sick of watching those crab pots come out of the water full of crab.
A show about what we do when we are down line.......now you have yourself a show partner.
A show about what we do when we are down line.......now you have yourself a show partner.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 387
Likes: 1
From: Scotland mainly, rather than at home.
You're all wrong. Being a freight dog is indeed tremendously exciting and not at all boring. Dangerous too. For examply the most dangerous part of my job is re fuelling our pint sized turbo prob freighter, you have to get on top of the wing to do it. For safety I have taken to only doing this when the aircraft is on the ground. Apart from that, the rest is, I'll admit pretty mundane at times.
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Not over the Rockies anymore.
Helldog,
I find I'm worn out watching pods full of crabs coming up one after another. Cause I think I get in now!!
However, a camera pointed at an open cargo door, with one LD container coming out after another, uuuuuuhhhh, the excitement just thinking about that.
Wow-I hope this show takes off!
I find I'm worn out watching pods full of crabs coming up one after another. Cause I think I get in now!!
However, a camera pointed at an open cargo door, with one LD container coming out after another, uuuuuuhhhh, the excitement just thinking about that.
Wow-I hope this show takes off!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Tralfamadore
Not gonna happen...
Federal regs do not allow irrelevant conversation any time below 10,000 feet where the fun is....and nobody is going to allow you to film flagrant FAR violations. Somewhere there is a video of an idiot doing 200mph in a Supercar on public streets. He sold the video online and they simply bought a copy and locked him up.
Been doggin' for 6 years and I can tell you that the battles in your head are far more frightening when the risks keep climbing, but that makes for crappy TV. Roam around the forums, you'll find plenty of stories. Now and then some cretin posts a roll or buzzjob on youtube. Then they get fired.
Check out "Right Now" on youtube. Its pretty good.
Been doggin' for 6 years and I can tell you that the battles in your head are far more frightening when the risks keep climbing, but that makes for crappy TV. Roam around the forums, you'll find plenty of stories. Now and then some cretin posts a roll or buzzjob on youtube. Then they get fired.
Check out "Right Now" on youtube. Its pretty good.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Louisville
Freight Dogs
The series will be in the vain of "Ice Road Truckers" and "Deadliest Catch," both of which are successful because of the personalities of drivers and waterman featured in the program. We are looking for the same in "Freight Dogs."
We would like to conduct interviews with "Freight Dogs." We are also looking for home video of pilots talking about their experiences and at the controls of their planes. These videos will help us in selecting who to include in the series. If you wish to be apart of this project or could help us out in any way it would be appreciated. You can contact the address below if you have any further questions.
Thank you for your time.
Creation Films
7 Theatre Square
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 581-8160 (phone)
(502) 581-8161 (fax)
[email protected]
We would like to conduct interviews with "Freight Dogs." We are also looking for home video of pilots talking about their experiences and at the controls of their planes. These videos will help us in selecting who to include in the series. If you wish to be apart of this project or could help us out in any way it would be appreciated. You can contact the address below if you have any further questions.
Thank you for your time.
Creation Films
7 Theatre Square
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 581-8160 (phone)
(502) 581-8161 (fax)
[email protected]