Hi!
If U pm me with email I'll send a lot of info:
1. On anywhere from 1 to 31 days (my max). If you're a falcon guy, it averages 9 on/5 off. -9 freighter guys avg. 8 on/6 off. The lates bid had work schedules as long as 17 days on for freighters. If you're a -9 pax guy, you'll basically be on for 6 days or less.
2. About 3/4 of the guys live near YIP (Willow Run Airport). While housing is expensive, lately it's been cheaper. The guys who live here say there's good schools for their kids, but I have heard that some school districts are better than others. The guys who live here average about 20 nights at home. In the last year, it's been over 25 nights at home.
3. There is no typical cargo trip, just airports we go to more than others. Most frequent: YIP, LRD, SHV, LIT, MCI, ELP, MMIO, CYYZ, GYY, FWA, FNT, MMHO, DAL. We also go irregularly to MIA, LAX, MDW, ATL, SAT, DFW, EWR, TEB, JFK, BOS, PHL, and about 1000 other airports. Most of our flying is in a N-S corridor between MX/TX and the Upper Mid-west/Southern Canada, which is the auto parts corridor. Less regularly we fly all over N. America. My last trip was YIP-DAL-SDF-YIP carrying a whole plane load of Blackberries for RIM.
4. Go to:
http://jsfirm.com/
to see our ads. It's 500/100 for the Falcon, and 1 year of -121/mil for the -9.
5. U can find the interview process on:
http://www.aviationinterviews.com/.
The company, like most non-scheduled companies will NOT pay for the trip. They will pay for the hotel and lunch.
6. Some of the employees are happy and send emails to the CEO, which are all read and considered. Others think it's good or OK and are here for the duration. Others think it's good or OK or hate it and are looking for a better job. Still others hate everything about the company, but are staying and not looking for other jobs. I think the employee satisfaction is about the same as at most jobs, except for the top tier of jobs like FedEx/UPS/SWA/BA/Lufthansa, etc.
7. The guys that like it here are some combination of:
Relatively good pay and a flexible schedule
Lots of money (if you live in DTW and sell a lot of days off)
Like flying to a variety of places
PAX guys that like having a 6 month schedule and flying NCAA teams, Shakira, Politicians, going to the Bahamas for a week, etc.
Being home 20-25 days a month, flying 50 hours or less, and generally not working too hard
8. If you're on freight with a 25" call out, you have to be there in 25" if you're called out at short notice. Lots of guys haven't made the callout and they're still here. Guys have gotten in trouble for not making the callout. If you're a PAX guy on reserve, it's a 2 hour callout. If you're a freight guy, about 20%? of the callouts are for 25". My last trip they told me to be in Ops in 45", for a takeoff in 1'+15".
Good Luck!
cliff
YIP
PS-IFL is in the same business, and I heard they are pretty good to fly for.