say again

Breaking my back at work, making much less, sounds miserable.

ZR29907

This didn't age well..

727C47

I was a proud alumni of IFL circa the 1990’s when we were a DC3 , DC4 , piston Convair outfit , with a smattering of Cv580’s , more like a squadron than a line company , we were a mix of 20-30 something neophytes, and 50-60 something veterans , with an occasional 30 something throwback like me , thrown into the mix who loved round engines and tailwheels with a passion, it was and is a company that paid well for its level in the industry, the MX was tight, and we flew by the book . They are a 727 , CV580/5800 , Falcon , CRJ freighter op in this present moment , and they do it right, my former peeps grace the left seats at FedEx , Delta , and SWA , we loved our time at IFL , proud to be a part of the round engine last stand , that laughed in the face of modernity , common sense , and all practicality, yet thrived just the same . Cheers out

threeighteen

One major airline even has something called "crew meals" and pilot specific "sippy cups" for their coffee and I bet 75% of their pilots couldn't even fly an NDB approach in non-radar Mexico, fill out their own manifest, take-off data analysis report, GEN-DEC, or dispatch release even if they tried. Scheduled 121 is very pampered.

Birdsmash

Y’all have to do that? How do you find your way to the next airport without a magenta colored line to point the way? Truthfully though, I’m always a little jealous of the round engine pilots.

RyeMex

Four years on the Falcon 20 taught me how to fly. I’m amazed at how many pilots at my current job are afraid of hand flying or insecure in their abilities to shoot an approach to minimums without automation. I’m glad that I was at IFL instead of at a regional in my day. But I’m also very glad that I’m no longer there. IFL isn’t a great place to work, but it is a decent place to pay your dues.

captjns

Now for a true adventure flying round engines.... look at Everts Air Cargo. DC-6s and C-46s.

Boats and Hos

I've applied and wanted to get the skinny and met an IFL dude. He said that on one of the Convair runs (first pun), that they don't let you off the plane and you have to wait for 3 or more hours on the plane while they load and unload (second pun). You get a bucket, with a hole cut in the top, a trash bag inside and that is your toilet. Btw, you have to bring your own TP. It gets better! The doors are open and if you need to evacuate yourself, everyone gets to watch! Then your flying partner gets to go. You then fly to the next stop and then back to Mijami. The fragrance assassinating your nostrils must be something of legend. You know like an Air India flight!

I remember the Pizz up (third pun) at Amerijet in like 2009/10 where the issue was no toilets and long days. It got schity (fourth and last pun) but in the end they finally got toilets. I am wondering how IFL would react if the teamsters came knocking? Apparently, they have a bunch of airplanes coming with no toilets and would think it may become an issue.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Portable-...inch/820840698

https://www.walmart.com/ip/GPCT-Port...tool/932150447
This one is much better for pilots!

Elevation

There's a good many of us who can, did and still do our own handling, fly oddball NDB approaches and nurse crappy engines. I can speak for Rye, Myself and a number of others here.

The same thought process that gets people in our planes to think anyone coming from a plane with straight wings and propeller blades is somehow a lesser animal is the same process that gets people to look down on folks for asking for coffee and meals. We all want to think that whatever we do is somehow uniquely challenging and demands a superior quality pilot. In fact, it only requires superior quality training.

This is also the same thinking that will cause a person at a really good-paying company to look at you and think you're un-trainable because you fly an old airplane or work for a company that isn't seen on TV. Truth be told none of what we do is particularly difficult for an average aviator. It just takes the right training and experience to get there. The more I fly the less unique I feel. None of us, even our heroes are really that special.

Karma's interesting, though. I remember thinking the same thing about the same pilots when I was doing a bunch of flying that didn't really matter in stranger parts of the world. I even remember commenting about how regional pilots were wimps because I was flying every night in all weather with no autopilot all by myself. Now I'm the guy with the sippy cup, and people are having the same thoughts I had twenty years ago about me! Kinda neat, actually.

PS: Also most everyone I've flown with leaps at the chance to hand-fly. I don't ask them to do it (that makes them nervous), but I almost never refuse if they ask.

Elevation

Also, 20 years ago I was begging people at IFL for a job. Same at Royal Air Freight, Pentastar and a number of other places. Good to see you guys are still around. I remember some folks were able to make happy homes at IFL on the Convair and 727. Hope it stays okay for y'all.