TACAMO

Happy New Year to everyone, even to you B73H.

Snoopy747, you're a true gentlemen and a diplomat, my hat's off to you. As Schnides humorously put it, it's hard to resist when someone throws chum in the water beofre they going swiming...the first funny quote of the New Year.

Yeah, 757 you're right, we should throttle back "jack-hammering" B73H, but this uniformed person really should have stayed out of expressing their opinions after his round one posting. Imagine if you would, if I (being uniformed about the IPA and UPS mangement situation), made a ridiculus, insensitive posting on the UPS Thread that's going on without any due deligence? That would be "suicidal".

Snoopy747 is 100% right, a lot of pilots are frustrated and demoralized at the current state of affairs at the airlines. Many of my pilot colleagues are at the end of their ropes. It's difficult to see and hear good people with vast amounts of experiece still waiting for their call, only to be disrespected by the "uninformed".

Schnides: I took a sim-prep before my JALWays simulator check at Aero Services. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST TRAINING EVENT THAT I HAVE EVER HAD. Aero Services assigned this instructor, who by the way, couldn't speak English (I'm really serious here), he didn't understand or want to understand the sim-check MSP profile and callouts the JALWays check airmen wanted, FLight Director didn't work (I wanted to get used to the Dual Cue F/D in the 74 platform), the simulator broke down twice during my session and they had to stop the sim. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, Aero Service had the gall to try to bill me for extra time spent in the simulator during the broken down time. I told them to take a long walk, off of a short pier and walked out of their pathetic buliding. I ended up buying B-747 time with FTI in Denver, it was a a lot more money, since you had to buy 2 block hours, but it was well worth the effort. Moral to the story: Buyer beware, one gets what one pays for. Aero Services really SUCKED.

18Wheeler: Nice information.

Snoopy747: Flying contract with a Japanese Company (Jal is the parent company) is pretty good, but not without it's challenges. Yes, the initial training goes on and on, like the Energizer Rabbit, you feel after 7 months and after two Seasonal Changes that it's never going to end. I think (I could be wrong) but your 76 contract does all it's training in Japan? Mine was that way, but fortunately now our outfit does most of the initial portions in Denver. After training, the flyings good and the crews are pretty good. It's a mix breed of people from all over the world. We run only a certain portion of the routes JAL does, probably like what will happen in the 76 contract. Our crews are from several different hiring agencies, so that's a bit different. From what I heard, the 76 Contract you're contemplating also has domestic nationals mixed in with the foreign crews? Pays great and never has to worry about a missed paycheck. The equipment is well maintained and good attention to detail. I my case, I had to uproot my family to Honolulu, sounds great but not as great when you get here (School system, everyday high cost of living, etc..), but not as far as Japan, fortunately. We're in the 747 Classics so we have the PFEs, there's "always" talk about newer and more modern aircraft, we'll see. Our DC-10-40s retired out and unfortunately the PFEs got thrown into the streets (felt bad for them). I don't think you'll have as complicated of an issue with the 767 contract. I know there are now 4 different 767 contracts in Japan, but I think the one you're getting (the newest one), though the longest, is the best deal around. I like the lifting of the age 60 rule here in Japan, so long as they keep extending our contract (just got to be a good boy and not ***** too much).

The downside from what I experience where I'm at: It's a hard-core Japanese Company. Management can and often is anal and a bunch of hemmoroidal A-Holes. The Japanese Management Pilots (Captains) who occasionaly fly with us can be a pain. I'm on a contract with a training bond so you're tied up and locked in. Had several pilots wanting to jump ship to SWA and Continental, but couldn't without paying a hefty sum. Our local contract management company is at the "total mercy" of JAL. If they say, "crap", their reply is "how much and where". Obviously, they get paid by JAL, take a cut out of our wages, so that's to be par of the course. Our local company is nice with a smile, but that's about all you're going to get when you need something or have on issue. Our local flight managers are just "puppets", their nice people, but what else can they do? I wear glasses now that I'm older and would like to get the laser corrective surgery, however, the JCAB (Japan Civil Aeronautics Board) does not permit this and grounds for grounding the pilot (hence, you're out of a job). I take it, if get this surgery it's a breach of contract.

So there's good and bad to flying for the Samurai Sword or lack there of.

Any questions about Japan flying let me know.

PS> Nice to get back on track, though not as entertaining!

redwave

Is B73H "uniformed" or "uninformed"? Curious minds and all that! REDWAVE

TACAMO

"Uninformed", my bad...stayed up too late yesterday!

mach25

OK, B757200ER. I'll stand down on B73H unless he/she decides to stir the pot again. It is pretty funny and hard to resist. It's like the character Willie E. Coyote, he/she just doesn't know when to quit and cut your losses.

Schnides: when I seperated from the USAF, I went to Higher Power Aviation to get my B-737 Type Rating. My sim-partner was a helo pilot in the USN and went on to fly King Air's with the US Army. A really nice guy. He had less total time than your estimated TT when you punch out. But after he got Typed and a half year later, he got on with Air Atlanta Icelandic flying their B-747s. The last time I talked to him a few months back, he's enjoying it despite relocating and the typical issues of flying freight. So even with your helo hours, all may not be lost. Anyway, fly safe out in the sand!

18Wheeler: Thanks for posting the Southern Air information!

halfbank

18Wheeler, as I have said on the other Southern Air thread, thank you for the straight forward information on Southern Air. Every bit of it has been great and has given me a better insight.

I was curious about a few things:

1. What are the health benefits like (does it include dental and vision)?

2. What are your average costs per month for said benefits?

3. Do you accrue vacation and sick time at all (not that I ever use the latter of the two)?

4. Are you able to get time off for certain occasions (weddings, etc) or do you have to bid around those days (since they positive space you to and from a trip)?

5. Is there anyone actively seeking jumpseat agreements with other carriers? I saw Kalitta, World, Gemini, Fedex, UPS, etc. on the list for my company even though it is difficult if not impossible for me to ride on theirs, but I gladly take them along!

6. Not sure if it was asked already, but is CASS in the works for Southern?

I'm sure I'll think of a few more at some point but thanks in advance...


Hope all goes well for everyone on Miami!!!

B73H

Damn, you guys still ranting about the B73H? I have to say that some of the responses are getting hilarious especially you mach25. Ok, I won't stir the pot again Mr.mach.

FrankKC10

Just when I thought things are going back to smooth sailing, "DING", Here we go again!

B73H... Everybody is "trying" to cut you a break. What's your problem? If you don't post and try to get the last word in, everyone's just going to leave you alone to play with your Fisher Price Junior Airline Pilot Set. You must really enjoy being "crapped" on.

B757200ER appealed to the guys on "your" behalf (lacking no experience and awareness), and what you do, come back like a herpes virus and make a dumb remark.

Schnides/lafrequentflyer: The chums being thrown in the water again! Look out, here comes the German Cops!

370flyer

Thanks for all the information about Southern, I was offered to attend the interview, but decided to pass this time around as the the wage and lifestyle would not match what I require at this time (good luck to everyone going to the interview, I hope all of you succeed). I've also been offered a Contract to fly in Asia (I havn't decided to sign yet, I've got 2 more weeks to decide), so this thread has been extremely beneficial.

I've been just observing this thread from the background, some fine and funny reading and makes for a good discussion in the cockpit about the next generation of pilots and the effects of drugs inside the human body. I copied this thread and passed it around to some of the pilots in the crew room, and with 100% consensus among the pilots, "B73H must be a total Mental Midget". And as one of our pilot put it, "I'm really going to keep an eye out on the TCAS System!"

So with all that said and behind us, today, with peace at hand, everybody taking three deep breaths and moving on, per a members appeal, what's B73H do, put's in another "annoying" post on to the thread. When I was at UPT, there was always one "Gomer Pyle" in the bunch, I think we've all have come across one here and there. When I was IP at Columbus (not by choice), there was one person who instigated B.S. and created headaches for all.

I know that everyone is going to be "locked and loaded". I know that when just the name B73H shows up on the post, it's like locking in with my HARM missiles onto a SAM Site..

But here's what I suggest, let's just ignore this person (is it ex-communicate?). Obviously, he doesn't belong in this thread with his no experience and no knowledge about flying and the state of the airline industry. He has not taken any wisdom or given thanks, so very eloquently stated on mulitple occasions, by the thread starter Snoopy747 for his time and consideration to him. Some people just cannot learn the benefits of learning from an elder.

The more we respond to B73H, it makes him feel like part of this group, whose members has paid or continues to suffer and pay their dues to their professions. I truly believe that the more we respond to B73H, it gives him a false sense of reality of belonging to this fraternity.

What do you all say about just completely, 100%, ignore B73H regardless of the non-sense he posts?

There's a lot of good information that people has contributed which is a benfit to all. Let's don't let this one person screw up the entire thread. I know it makes for entertaining reading, but B73H isn't worth the time or effort to respond or rationalize. So let's just ignore him completely and hopefully he'll just go away.

So again, I'm hoping that we all just ignore B73H completly.

Thanks to all of you out there.

18Wheeler

1. Health benefits. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Health and Dental. No vision that I can see. Ha. I have not used it so cannot say how good it is.
2. Cost. Two plans. High-Single $129.89,family $391.12. Low-Single $88.40, family $224.69. That is per month for health and dental. I do not know what the difference is between the two. To complicated to write in this post.
Long and short term disability insurance is available. Depends on what you want and what you are will to pay.
3. Vacation is accruable to 10 days or 15 days after 5 years. Vacation is 10 days after the first year and 15 days after five.
Sick days accrue at 1.5 hrs per month to 120 hrs. That is flight hour pay.
4. If you want specific days off you need to bid for them or take vacation.
Whether trades with other crew members are possible I do not know.
5. Jumpseat. I do not know if anyone is trying to get any jumpseat agreements worked out.
6. CASS. Sorry I do not know if we are part of it or not, or whether we are trying to get into it.

mach25

Good point 370!

Thanks 18Wheeler for your time and efforts.

18Wheeler: A couple of us at our company who are going to the Southern interview this week, have a concern about being out on the road for say, 20 + days and becoming ill and bedridden (something more than a common cold) in middle of a trip ID at a remote location where no one sits on reserve. What is the company culture like...fly unless you're on your deathbed or you're fired? Will they "force" (unofficially, pressure through unspoken or unwritten means) an ill crew member to fly to complete the trip to a station that has another pilot on reserve or do they stand-down the trip (i.e. Lose Money for the delay and cost) until they can fly in a reserve pilot (sitting in ANC, HKG or Europe)?

Hopefully, something like this never happens to anyone, but what's the corporate culture like in situations like this?

I was just reading in a newspaper a few months back about a pilot with another ACMI carrier who was terminated last year for a similiar situation and is now suing the company for wrongful termination.

Much appreciated. Thanks again for your time.