pilotyip

Yea I looked all over for DUIs for our last class. Couldn’t find any had to settle for a USMC F-18 driver and a Navy S-3 driver. My next class is even worse I had to take Doctor from the the U of M and an agent from the FBI. We must be done doing something right our turnover is at our lowest rate in history. And when our guys leave here is where they go DAL, FedEx, and UPS. Here is on of our recent hires said about coming to the jet

Thanks again for everyones well wishes, good thoughts and offers of leads and employment. The response was so overwhelming I never felt like I was alone or unappreciated.

By the end of the year I had five, count them, five offers in hand that at the very least would have put me back where I was. Included in those offers was a Chief Pilot position for a very large Southern California charter company. I was sitting with my wife discussing our choices and I was troubled. For some intangible reason they all seemed so imperfect. After we talked for a while I came to realize that the common thread was that they were all in corporate aviation. I just couldn't do it, at least not just then. My heart was broken. All the hard work just to be lied to and have the rug pulled out form under us by some guy who was doing this as a hobby. It was time for something new but we needed it fast as funds were running dangerously low.

My former Director of Operations and adopted brother was cut loose when the wheels started coming off Jetset. He had similar feeling about corporate aviation and wanted to make the jump to the airlines but didn't have the luxury of time to land an interview at the big six. So, I suggested USA Jet Airlines where he interviewed and was given a class date as a DC-9 DEC within weeks. His experience was good and he was happy.

My wife said call Randy. I did and the weight of the world came off my shoulders. The prospect of a new adventure left me giddy. Four days after we spoke I was interviewing in YIP and in class three days later for DC-9 DEC Initial. The training took two months to complete and get on the line. No sooner than I completed IOE a bid came out for 727 Captain. As much as I wanted it, I didn't think I had a chance as I was the bottom of the seniority list. My buddy convinced me to to submit my bid anyway. What could I loose? I was awarded the slot and I start 727 school on May 25.

I can't describe the difference between this and corporate/charter. I'm not sure I can call on demand cargo, "airline flying", but it's close. The time off is incredible. I may have to find a new hobby or a second job. The flying is great. My coworkers, for the most part, are incredible, I mean incredible!. The work suits my alter ego, roll your sleeves up, get dirty, find solutions. I'm still having a little trouble figuring out when to go to sleep when I'm on duty. The commute sucks, having to have a crash pad sucks and the airport car sucks. But I expected all that.

When I first saw the DC-9, I had this feeling I was looking at a current day Millennium Falcon. It was dirty, cranky, cantankerous and sometimes ill mannered. But she had personality and could get the job done. She sat on the ramp like the grand lady she was. Scarred but dignified. Yep, quite the adventure.