Do you fly your Freighter differently than a passenger Aircraft ?
 

To clarify my question, I fly passenger Aircraft only and attempt to give them the smoothest rise possible, ease gently into turns, etc, etc.


I usually make up for this with my landings.


I am not, for a moment implying that those Pilots flying freight are any less careful operationally, what I wonder is if there might be a tendency to be less concerned about turbulence or handling the Aircraft a little more aggressively ?


Is there ever an attitude of 'they're only boxes' ?!

My company operates both pax and freighters.

I think a "smooth" pilot (control inputs) shows skill and finesse. I admire smooth handling whether we're empty, full of freight or full of pax and try to be as smooth as possible at all times.

That said, personally, I'm less concerned about in flight turbulence with freight and not just from a comfort standpoint, but with pax you also have working FAs whose safety you need to be concerned about.

JMHO.

Agree with zerozero, you owe it to yourself as a professional to always fly as smoothly as possible, even if you're by yourself on a C-152.

:ok:

And from the other end of the spectrum... I have more "fun" in freighters.

I've done both pax and cargo. Flying wise no difference. As said before by others, to be gentle at the controls and to aim for smoothness and precision during flying should be in every pilot's blood.

Only thing I take advantage of is indeed the opportunity to care a little bit less about turbulence. You see those light chop conditions where you would search for a different level to give the passengers a better ride and to help the cabin crew during their service. Now, I usually keep my current level as long as the coffee stays in the cup ;)

Absolutely no difference. I have no more desire to upset a box full of dangerous goods than I ever had to spill Lord Posh's G & T in first class. Or even Darren Snotbag's Stella down the back.

All a question of doing the job properly.

Passengers or boxes, they get the same ride I do, and I like to be as safe and comfortable as possible! :cool:

I tend not to make so many PA announcements.....:)

What Is PA announcements :rolleyes:

er, public address.....

:D

And from what I've heard, boxes don't bitch.

But when they do, they bitch with a vengeance!

yeah, Racehorses can be highly strung.


(and the the nag I backed last week deserves to be)

Not freighter, but ferry
 

thank you mr cheese

glf

Your reply is not relevant Ga

NO, it's all the same for me.
I will admit that I tend to tolerate a "bumpy" ride a little longer for efficiency than I will with peeps in the back. That is about the only difference.
It is nice not to get constant calls from the back about temp, etc. and given the appearance and attitude of the F/A's I was dragging around before I switched to cargo, I will put up with a few "high strung" horses....even if they are nags.....

The only dedicated freight flights I have operated were full of pallets loaded with bombs and missilies :eek:

Reminds me of the old story of the loadmaster who removed all the pins with flags on them saying, 'Remove before Flight'. I don't know how much truth there is in it especially as it was allegedly one of our delightful ladies.

Very valid point about that HazMat. Flying all-cargo ac you're likely to carry a LOT more of that stuff. Sure, it's checked and re-checked and tied down and all that, but Lord's whatchmacallit drink-soiled pants are lot easier to deal with than the contents of a busted HazMat package sloshing around in the cargo hold...

I wouldn't even know what to do differently:confused: kind of a strange concept I have to say:hmm:

I usually plough through mod turbulence as pallets of cargo
do not complain about spilt drinks or being unable to sleep.
And junior FOs get more landings as the same cargo doesn't
give dirty looks and comments when the main undercarriage
invariably gets driven through the wings.

If I carry DGs and anything else likely to blow up only diff is
the FO stays as PNF...much to his chagrin.