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]

Good luck with that................................

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)

You can find many live, nonscripted cockpit videos of "freight dogs" [and pax ops] at: justplanes.com :ok:

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.

"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......

He could always try MK Airlines. ;)

How 'bout a Reality-TV show ?? Imagine the thrill watching a crew doing a nightly trans-pacific flight. For 12 hours.:}

Metro Man - Meeeow! ;)

Sisyphos - Now, that sounds like a real block-buster to me! :zzz:

I have an issue, the auto faucet in my new 747-400 freighter takes too long to get hot water flowing (2 seconds instead of 1), and the LED lighting I think is too blue. Can we do someting about this?

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

Shhhh DBW, don't tell the hoipoloi flying pax aircraft, they'll be clamoring to get on the -F lol

:)

"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, it would be kind of boring to film the 40 hour duty days, but easy to shoot the tool-boxes full of pencils..:sad:

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..:ooh:

Metro Man
 

What a pathetic, immature comment - grow up man;)

There is a movie excatly like you described... "Air America" with Mel Gibson. Are you looking to make Air America 2?
You should talk to 411A :}

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.:ok:

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.

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!

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.

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]

Reckon you might want to talk to the freight airlines first. Without their support you've got naff all chance of getting anyone on film. TSA rules etc?

Muppet
 

If anyone would care to check out the domain for the associated email (www.bellsouth.net) I think we can assume that this is some muppet on a wind up. It does not link to any recognisable website for a film company of any type.

I could just as easily set up an email drop on [email protected] .

Actually now that I think about it I'm looking to develop a film based on female pilots with large chests and how it could interfere with the c of g on freight aircraft.

Please send your photos to the above address. :}

Has anyone called that number to find out who this is, or what the deal is?
bellsouth.net is a legit internet provider in the US; that being a personal email address, not a company one. Probably some low budget, or college film project?!
Just curious.

Anyway, you're not gonna get anyone (who cares about their tickets) to consent to this, as it is technically illegal to operate "electronic equipment" during critical phases of flight. So all those youtube wonders are floating around in grey area!

There was a commuter airline in the US recently, where the crew got in trouble for a posted video of an approach and landing. Nothing crazy, straight forward, normal approach and landing. I don't remember what caused the tipp off, but the Feds "were looking into the operation of unapproved electroninc devices" during critical phase of flight.
Not sure how this turned out.

But I don't think anyone is willing to risk their jobs, or whatever, just for 15 minutes of fame.

On the other hand, though, I could see a bunch of wanna bees who might have gone along with a buddy, or people who got washed out, to give all their expert insight into the world of freight doggin'.

As for controversy, there is no more, no less than with pax ops. The only difference, other than our parking locations, is that our pax don't complain as much.

Check with this guy:

MySpace.com - CANEMAN.TV - 98 - Male - EARTH, California - www.myspace.com/canemantv

He is the ultimate, (but weird) freight-dog DC-8 Captain and more than willing to go on TV....:ooh:

Another one of his video stunts.. MySpace Video - CANEMAN.TV's Video Channel & Video Clips

If that is true, and he really flew for Emery Worldwide Airlines, then his words


get a whole new meaning: As far as I remeber Emery was was closed down with one of the reasons being poor maintenance. :eek:

Link

Check out Four Star Air Cargo in Puerto Rico, 1942 DC-3's, but they still have to comply with regs like everyone else. That is the closest you might get to a good show besides African bush.

Yea, freight companies have to comply with the FARs . . . the problem is a lot of the time they DON'T and the FAA doesn't give a damn unless there's an accident or incident. I'm convinced that there's often a cozy relationship many times between the company and the POI & PMI.

The truth is that the freight companies' quality varies widely. Good companies like FEDEX, UPS, Atlas, etc. do a good job of taking care of their airplanes and crews and complying with regulations.

If you want to see the real scum, take a look at some of the so-called 36th Street freight outfits flying out of Miami or the small freight operators flying the light twins, etc. The problem is the managements will NEVER allow you an unfettered behind the scenes look, nor will the crews, for obvious reasons. You'll find the most colorful crews working for these guys. Some interesting personalities and lots and lots of stories to tell.

Forget the rules ... a good concept here being wasted by not thinking outside the box.

If you're going illegal go the whole hog

Move your production company from the USA to some crazy latin american country , find some adrenalin junky pilots and a publicity loving sponsor with a need to do brazen imports into the US , put the pilots in rubber masks of ex American presidents (like in Drop Zone) and get them to fly stolen jets (with the registration number annoyingly digitally blotted out) into the US at low level with US border , national gaurd and anti drug forces trying to catch them.

Alternatively after moving your company south of the border you can buy some old biz jets, the planes could be loaded up with something harmless like ponchos or hats or something , you could sell it as an 'independent documentary' on the effectiveness of the US border security.

That's something that would be worth watching but dont plan on returning to the USA for a while.

Contact the guy that bought a Cessna Caravan in Thailand last year and tried to ferry it to Australia without filing a flight plan and then got intercepted by F-16s and forced to land in Singapore , maybe he videotaped the trip :)

Singapore keeps Australian terror scare pilot - News - Travel - smh.com.au

http://www.pprune.org/south-asia-far...intercept.html

Why? Oh Why?are there so many UUankers around?
Most of 'em should've been drowned at birth.

My point is this concept would never work for obvious reasons

The sector of the industry that operates like this is either a criminal minority who bully their staff or basically good people and previous lawabiders who have fallen on hard times and the pilots are trying to save their jobs also , none of whom wants a camera documenting it or get people to tell their stories that have nothing left to lose.

None of the above is good for aviation.

As for suggesting I should be murdered at birth , have a beer and relax a bit Norm.

smo-kin-hole, Doggin' actually means something a bit different in the UK, so I am surprised that, if you have been doing it for 6 years, you think it would be boring TV!! :eek: :}

well, you're brilliant aren't you
 

You may want to re-phrase your post, blatantly suggesting that the pilots would knowingly, willingly or unintentionally flying unsafe aircraft, etc. Basically saying they are knowingly fudging records, knowingly flying unsafe aircraft, or deliberatly being apart of such a racket. Do you realize what might happen to the pilots you're trying to recruit when you're "documentary" is finished? As I'm sure you'll do some creative editing to increase the shock factor and making look like the pilots or the outfit they fly for is anything less then professionally and ethically sound.