Empire Airlines PDX Caravans
 

What sort of schedules/flying do Empire's FedEx Caravans/pilots work out of Portland?
Thanks!

It all depends on what bid line you are on.

Usually you leave PDX around 7:00 am; fly 30-60 minutes to an outstation. You spend the day doing whatever you like (golfing, fishing, working out, watching movies, etc) then around 5:00 pm you return to the outstation and fly back to PDX.

Usually it is a 4 or 5 day a week line.

That's a great read! When was it published?

You guys can bid on different lines? At MAC we get a schedule every month and that's it. Floaters can request to be send somewhere for a week but no seniority based line bidding.

Almost a month ago.

Thanks. I am the OP for it. I wrote it last month. I fly out of PDX for Empire. It's a great gig but its a 5-6am show, wait for cargo to load, then leave around 7-8ish. Stay at the out station. Then come back around 4-5. Most days I head home from PDX around 5:30 to 6:30pm. So it's a full 12-13 hour day. I got up at 3:30 this morning and am posting this as I flight plan for the day for a 5:39am show time.

We have just one opening left here in PDX but I think an offer has been made to someone this week. The opening is for my slot as I am transferring to a different station.

The gang at PDX is a great group. Most people have been there for over 15 years. The company's most senior pilot is based at PDX as well as the 135 chief pilot. Both great guys with decades of experience in the Van.

Empire is one of those companies where people tend to stay. Its not perfect but I would rate it high as a good job. The company HQ is stuck in the 80s for technology but our aircraft are top notch and well taken care off, all paid for by FedEx.

Oh hey, small world. We had an extended chat in the comments, I had some questions for you and you graciously answered them all. When I saw OP's question last week, your reddit post was naturally the first thing I thought of.

I enjoyed reading you reddit post, I'm also looking at doing part 135 single pilot freight. I'm coming from a part 91 survey background, do you have any tips on how to prepare for a part 135 IFR job?

Thanks again. I wish this site had more of that sort of thoughtful writing.

If PDX had a full compliment of pilots, would your schedule be a bit better? I don't mind a 12 hour day as long as I don't have to do more than 4 a week!
Are the GEG crews on the same sort of schedule?