Originally Posted by United B-777
Howdie guys,
yeah, my question is pretty much already asked! I would appreciate a bit of a comparison between flying for a cargo airline and flying passenger airlines! Maybe some of you have experienced both. Maybe you can just tell me how it's like to fly cargo...
Cheers
I have flown both..............Started out on the PAX side and am now on the cargo side.
Just like the PAX carriers, in Cargo Seniority is Everything...........but I believe Seniority is even more important when flying for the cargo haulers.......speaking for FedEx.
Got almost 21 years total with 12 years in Cargo and 9 years with PAX.
I can say that I personally prefer the PAX schedules in the Junior domestic.
Being a JR domestic puke on the 727. Flying the all night schedules was very hard on me.........A junior Red-eye trip for a PAX carrier would be a mid level to slightly above avg trip with FedEx. Again this is a personal thing.........trying to sleep days when your body says it is time to be awake just Screwed me up..................Some guys here have no problem adapting to the body clock swaps.............Most are former Navy Squids used to sleeping under the waist catapult on the flat tops................
I always envied their ability to sleep anywhere through everything........I never could.
On the Senior side........If you can hold the Day trips with Double DH's the Cargo side (FedEx again) the flying is great.........No body clock swaps, good time off.
In the international...........The PAX flying is generally better. Launch over to a Intl city, layover and then return...........That was pretty sweet flying....sure you swapped the body clock but it wasn't too bad.
FedEx has a few of those type trips and schedules and it goes
very senior, but most of our INTL skeds are Long trips 8 -15 days in length. Commuters tend to like these more. Some are OK if you don't mind being gone for a long time.........but speaking for just me........it tends to really screw with my aging body. taking upwards of 3 to 4 days recovery time when I get home.
If you look at our seniority system as compared to Big PAX carriers.......FedEx's seniority spread is somewhat different. We have approx 4700 total pilots (+ or -) on the list.
Our Junior Capt on the 727 is around 3600 on the list! (76%)
Our junior MD11 CAPT are around 2500 on the list! (54%)
Our Junior A300 Capts are 2600 on the list! (55%)
We have FO's going to the right seat of WB less than 6 months after they are hired!
Why..............Part of the reason is our pay because we are not Aircraft specific......only 2 categories....Wide Body, Narrow body. The other reason (in my opinion) is being Junior at this company really sux. Being Senior, life can be very, very good.
The top FO's in every seat have seniority numbers less than 1000.........
Long rant but that is how it is...........The pay check comes twice a month and
currently the Big 3 Cargo fcarriers have
stability......but we all know that could change in a NY second.
Bottom Line with Stability and upheaval not being a factor....................
I would probably choose the PAX schedules as a general rule................but that is me.