Cargo pilot life
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Not over the Rockies anymore.
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As far as not having flight attendants, that's actually better.
I'll explain: You get to chase and b...g other airlines flight attendants, pi$$ing off their flight crews, and then go on your way. No awkward 12 hour flight back if something goes south (in bed)!!
I'll explain: You get to chase and b...g other airlines flight attendants, pi$$ing off their flight crews, and then go on your way. No awkward 12 hour flight back if something goes south (in bed)!!
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: UK
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I've spent the majority of my career (22 years) flying passengers, long haul & short haul, mainly in the charter industry. Had some great fun at times, and done some varied & interesting work but overall give me a freight pilot's job any day! I do miss the hosties if I'm honest... but that's just about all I miss!
Been flying freight now for over 7 years and seen a huge turnover of pilots in the company I work for, mostly from guys who just want to get a variety of experience under their belts. .
Unless you're one of those who really can't cope with night work, you should find freight flying less fatiguing than working in the passenger industry. You probably won't need to set an alarm clock ever again, and in my case I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually worked into discretion over 7 years. My flights hours average about 300 PA (far less than the hours I used to fly).
It's horses-for-courses; life is "one big-book", and you'll need to cram as many interesting chapters in that book as you can!
Been flying freight now for over 7 years and seen a huge turnover of pilots in the company I work for, mostly from guys who just want to get a variety of experience under their belts. .
Unless you're one of those who really can't cope with night work, you should find freight flying less fatiguing than working in the passenger industry. You probably won't need to set an alarm clock ever again, and in my case I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually worked into discretion over 7 years. My flights hours average about 300 PA (far less than the hours I used to fly).
It's horses-for-courses; life is "one big-book", and you'll need to cram as many interesting chapters in that book as you can!
Last edited by sapco2; 1st May 2009 at 14:47.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Sin City
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Code:
Playing keepy-uppy with a football on the top deck.
Speaking of freighter crew, I arrived a 744F from a prominent european carrier and saw the 2/3 of the flight crew wearing polo T-shirts when they came down. Do any of you guys have a relaxed dress code when flying ? I mean, nobody's gonna see and complain. It makes sense to wear something comfortable for the flight when you are the only one's aboard.
And based on my experience, freighter flight crews are the most down to earth flight crews I've ever met. No airs, no stiff courtesies. Just my observation. This goes regardless of airline or nationality. It's like comparing truck drivers to limo drivers. Is it more "liberating" flying freighter than pax ?
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southeast U K
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One should try to maintain some sartorial elegance at all times.
Even if one is simply hauling fruit and flowers around.
It's no excuse to adopt a sloppy attitude to appearance.
And one should buy a hammock to rig across the aircraft if one
is over-come by fatigue at any point.
Can't do that with a cabin full of SLF.
Even if one is simply hauling fruit and flowers around.
It's no excuse to adopt a sloppy attitude to appearance.
And one should buy a hammock to rig across the aircraft if one
is over-come by fatigue at any point.
Can't do that with a cabin full of SLF.
Why in God's name do you want to BUY a hammock when you can have a cargo net for free and you are less likely to fall out of a cargo net.
Mind you, in my Belfast days we had a six-bunk bedroom downstairs so neither hammock nor net was needed.
Mind you, in my Belfast days we had a six-bunk bedroom downstairs so neither hammock nor net was needed.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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A different slant.
The public`s perception of cargo pilots` abilities hasn`t recovered from Top Guns` Tom Cruise being threatened with having to fly " plastic dog turds out of Hong Kong ", as a substandard pilot who`d better shape up.
Well, apart from never having seen a turd courtesy of a plastic dog, it is still the case.
As an old boss put it " this a very gutsy job".
Not for everyone the hours, the broken sleep - hotel guests dragging suitcases away bumping doors just before normal office hours begin and partying once finished - but it can be very rewarding professionally operating over areas that are closed until morning.
The sort of planning and airmanship that the bulk of pax crews really don`t need to worry about, albeit perfectly competent with.
I think l`ve run out of apostrophes.
Well, apart from never having seen a turd courtesy of a plastic dog, it is still the case.
As an old boss put it " this a very gutsy job".
Not for everyone the hours, the broken sleep - hotel guests dragging suitcases away bumping doors just before normal office hours begin and partying once finished - but it can be very rewarding professionally operating over areas that are closed until morning.
The sort of planning and airmanship that the bulk of pax crews really don`t need to worry about, albeit perfectly competent with.
I think l`ve run out of apostrophes.
Top Dog
Join Date: May 2000
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Dress code
From car thru ops thru security/immigration.. uniform, tie, polished shoes etc. as soon as on board, all off and dress according to temperature... shorts/t-shirt for example. Closed up & ready to go, sweatshirt, PJ bottoms, flip-flops.. Arrival... depends.. will usually offload as dressed (PJ bottoms etc), then monkey suit on to go through customs etc etc to the hotel
Once spent 30h loading a 74F in BCN due to various incompetencies (not all Iberia's fault), no way I'm going to even try and look pretty in such a situation.
Once spent 30h loading a 74F in BCN due to various incompetencies (not all Iberia's fault), no way I'm going to even try and look pretty in such a situation.
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Ok a Loadmaster piped in so shal I.
As a young man I Spent 5 years as a MX Rep on both PAX and Freight.
Boiling a batch of asparagus out of the 200k lbs we pulled out of Peru for a special crew meal.
Sleeping, eating, streching out, sliding a plastic spoon in the door pressure seal to have a cigarette to not offend the non smokers.
Waking up in a t-shirt and boxers and eating breakfast in the cockpit to the best view possible of a sunrise.
Alot of the pilots I worked with took the stuffy uniform off for an 8-10 hr flight and we became just a crew of guys that enjoyed the serenity of living the life of a bird that flys FREE of the constraints of land based expectations.
For me getting married put a kink in that chain, but the trade off was worth it.
For a young or un married man... Freight flying is great..
Having to do pax charters was horrible in comparison.
Having said that I have to thank the loadmasters and pilots who were there for me to hold a flashlight during the odd time I actually had to work.
Hope this added to the tribal knowledge of the ACMI freight WORLD.
Boiling a batch of asparagus out of the 200k lbs we pulled out of Peru for a special crew meal.
Sleeping, eating, streching out, sliding a plastic spoon in the door pressure seal to have a cigarette to not offend the non smokers.
Waking up in a t-shirt and boxers and eating breakfast in the cockpit to the best view possible of a sunrise.
Alot of the pilots I worked with took the stuffy uniform off for an 8-10 hr flight and we became just a crew of guys that enjoyed the serenity of living the life of a bird that flys FREE of the constraints of land based expectations.
For me getting married put a kink in that chain, but the trade off was worth it.
For a young or un married man... Freight flying is great..
Having to do pax charters was horrible in comparison.
Having said that I have to thank the loadmasters and pilots who were there for me to hold a flashlight during the odd time I actually had to work.
Hope this added to the tribal knowledge of the ACMI freight WORLD.
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I retired from a long career with airlines - 1969 through 2008...
PanAm until 1991 - 707/727/747 - Then contract pilot (747) worldwide.
xxx
My favorite contract has been flying cargo with Cargolux 1992 for 6 months.
Superb operation. Was on their older 747-271C airplanes. Based LUX.
All pilots I knew flying such type operations (747F) were by far quite happy.
Examples - JAL Cargo, NCA, KAL, SIA, CX, LH Cargo...
xxx
Happy contrails
PanAm until 1991 - 707/727/747 - Then contract pilot (747) worldwide.
xxx
My favorite contract has been flying cargo with Cargolux 1992 for 6 months.
Superb operation. Was on their older 747-271C airplanes. Based LUX.
All pilots I knew flying such type operations (747F) were by far quite happy.
Examples - JAL Cargo, NCA, KAL, SIA, CX, LH Cargo...
xxx
Happy contrails
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Freight
I did pax 135 commuter airline work in a turboprop. I nearly died of boredom. After the first six months, I didn't even need an approach plate. Then they folded and I wound up in a C402. I learned ALOT about single pilot IFR in a very short time. Now I do the same job in a jet across three countries.
If you dislike terminals as much as I do and can't see yourself dealing with passengers and you are a hands-on outdoors worker instead of a uniform-wearing pilot, freight is fun. But the night shift will age you prematurely, and the planes are old and sometimes underequipped. At least it stays interesting.
It really doesn't matter all that much after awhile what you are in. Quality
of life and your family matter more. Create a life as well as a career.
Simple, but not so obvious. And not so easy.
If you dislike terminals as much as I do and can't see yourself dealing with passengers and you are a hands-on outdoors worker instead of a uniform-wearing pilot, freight is fun. But the night shift will age you prematurely, and the planes are old and sometimes underequipped. At least it stays interesting.
It really doesn't matter all that much after awhile what you are in. Quality
of life and your family matter more. Create a life as well as a career.
Simple, but not so obvious. And not so easy.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Nobody likes terminals, and the associated bulls**t, but, alas, that is what the bulk of crew have to put with and no choice.
Most have to wear uniforms.
Most have to compromise on quality of life.
The problems began when accountants offloaded onto bookeepers, `cos they were now too important to be bothered by minutia.
The old story about the cost of everything and the value of nothing is set to live long.
Most have to wear uniforms.
Most have to compromise on quality of life.
The problems began when accountants offloaded onto bookeepers, `cos they were now too important to be bothered by minutia.
The old story about the cost of everything and the value of nothing is set to live long.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Times are a change'in. . . . . Gone are the pre 9/11 days when a limo would take you directly to the foot of the freighter's boarding stairs from your hotel . . . . Nothing like blasting out of LAX on a bright sunrise morning while enroute to the South Pacific, and tuning in the ADF so as to listen to traffic reports of all the congested hordes, behind and below, beginning their mundane commutes to their desk jobs. . Count the blessings, what a life on the freighters! . . . . Complaints of annoying change ups, and uncertain schedules also added spice, if a game was made of it. . . . Even younger days of flying old converted aircraft - where the corroding toilets were replaced with trash bag lined cardboard box's filled with kitty litter, was an adventure - especially in retrospect when experienced with today's modern freighter. Too bad such a career could not last forever
Join Date: Nov 2004
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I am relatively low hour'd in the UK who is flexible and want to work for a small / medium size freight operators to get proper commercial experience needed and be realistic.
Had some advise of trying small operators flying heralds etc from experienced pilots, but many of those operators seem to have gone at least in the UK. So perhaps thinking the medium / larger players like TNT.
Who are the best operators around to try these days in EMEA and Asia or perhaps website that lists them
Had some advise of trying small operators flying heralds etc from experienced pilots, but many of those operators seem to have gone at least in the UK. So perhaps thinking the medium / larger players like TNT.
Who are the best operators around to try these days in EMEA and Asia or perhaps website that lists them
Haven't heard that name in errr... a long long time. 