Yeah, that is what I am thinking I should look hard at Ameriflight. As for Cessna single engine time I am just trying to build time to qualify for hiring at Ameriflight or some freight company like that. I know they require like 1000 hours and a couple hundred ME. I know a UPS pilot who has one I can rent to aquire that time.

Do you know what Ameriflight pay scale is like?

 

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...eriflight.html

 

You fly for UPS now after working 10 years as a package handler?

 

What is the average duration from FO to Captain at Ameriflight? Once you're flying PIC how many hours per year can you average?

 

They only have a few F/O's on one equipment type that is small in number. I bet they don't have more than 10 or 15 F/O's in the whole company. It's a 135 single pilot operation flying PA31's, B99's, B1900's, and Metro's. How much you fly varies a lot depending on which run you get. With seniority, and the ability to pick and choose your run, I'd guess you could fly 600 hours a year, and that's PIC turbine for the majority of Amflights aircraft types.

 

Well, I hope I am the next UPS driver hired as a pilot! By the time I am eligible I will have invested 15 yrs with UPS from package handler, car wash, to driver. I spent 4 yrs prior to that as a controller in the Navy. Went to college while I was part timer with degree in Aviation. Only when I started making decent money driving did I start flying lessons. So I am flying the wings off my Cessna 150 aquiring ratings and taking a leap in 3 yrs at 37 to build twin turbine time. The problem is I have a wife and kids so I need decent pay during transition. I have a job waiting with a local frieght company but not great $$. I know it won't be 75K like I am use to as a driver but...my fellow pilot friends say it is a required step.

Open to suggestions.

Sscottky72

The minimums requirements are what you need to be looking at. See what UPS wants and then tailor your decisions to meeting those requirements.

Most civilian guys start with flight instructing, flying checks, etc. (I consider you civilian as far as your flight experience even though you spent time in the mil.) Then they get hired at a regional airline and spend some time there building the magic 1000 hours of PIC time. After that all bets are off, many go to majors, some go to charter outfits, other regionals, fractionals, etc.

By the way, the job with a freighter company you mentioned is that a future flying job?

Here is what I'd have done...I don't think you should go the normal route of flight instructing in order to build time for the regionals - mainly because you’re starting your flying career kind of late AND also because of the time you’ve spent at UPS so far (which I think WILL help you later during your interview).
You need to “accelerate” your progression somehow. Right now you need to fly your butt off until you get all the ratings and until you get hired at ANY regional that will hire you, some have very low minimums. Don't be picky, take the one which calls you first.LINK

As soon as you get hired with one, let's say TSA fly as much as you can so you build up your multi/total time and then jump the ship to the regional where you'll upgrade the fastest, let's say Colgan. I know, you're not going to be loyal at this point but that's ok because you already proved you can be very loyal be working at UPS all those years; right now you need to be little selfish and get your flight time.

Some other places that come to mind is Gulfstream Aviation, Pinnacle, etc. Remember, your quality of life will suck!!! but you’ll be a captain there before you know it and that is THE ONLY thing that should matter (besides your family of course )

If I were you, I’d try to get some student loans, or maybe even loan some money from family members and focus on flying. When you get hired at a small regional, let's say Colgan, it’ll probably be about a year or so before you upgrade. Then it’ll take you year and a half or so to build your 1000 hours of turbine pic time. As soon as you have 1000+ hours start applying with Gemini, Atlas, Kalitta, World, or anyone who flies heavies. You might luck out but you might have to wait for a while before that happens, however right now you need the transoceanic experience just to apply with UPS.

Hopefully this requirement will be gone in the near future but it would be easier for you to get an interview with that kind of experience.

Sorry about the lengthy reply, but basically I am trying to tell you that even if you focus on flying 110%, it’ll be years before you can apply. It can be done however, and if you and your family are willing to sacrifice for a while, focus on getting the 1000 turbine pic and on the heavy experience. Ideally you would wanna build pic time AND heavy time all at the same time, but unless you know someone at the smaller cargo outfits, it’s probably not gonna happen.

Either way, good luck to you!

 

By the way, the job with a freighter company you mentioned is that a future flying job?
Ideally you would wanna build pic time AND heavy time all at the same time, but unless you know someone at the smaller cargo outfits, it’s probably not gonna happen.

Either way, good luck to you![/QUOTE]


Yeah the freight company is a future flying job possibility. The problem is they fly primarily piston ME which does me little good for my primary objective.

I so much appreciate the information! The more info and advice I can get the better at this point. It's just that I have invested soooo much time with UPS at this point that I would be a fool to not finish my career with them flying. I would love to get there by 40 is my objective. That gives be a little under 6 years!

So you think I would be wise to skip the Ameriflight route and start off with low time regional requirements? I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to log PIC time for 3 years if I went the regional route as opposed to the cargo route.

 

What about your single engine turbine time? Are you saying that it does count? I was under the impression that only twin turbine time counted toward the 1000 hours.

 

Would crossing the Atlantic in a King Air (C-12) once count for the oceanic experience in their eyes? St. Johns to Lajas to Rota Spain. I don't know anyone on property

C-12 2700, C-12 PIC 1700

 

Yeah the freight company is a future flying job possibility. The problem is they fly primarily piston ME which does me little good for my primary objective.

I so much appreciate the information! The more info and advice I can get the better at this point. It's just that I have invested soooo much time with UPS at this point that I would be a fool to not finish my career with them flying. I would love to get there by 40 is my objective. That gives be a little under 6 years!

So you think I would be wise to skip the Ameriflight route and start off with low time regional requirements? I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to log PIC time for 3 years if I went the regional route as opposed to the cargo route.

I am not saying don't go to Ameriflight because frankly I know absolutely nothing about them, I’m sure it’s a great outfit. What I am saying is go to a place where every hour in the airplane counts toward your ultimate goal. If the company you’re thinking about is flying multi-pistons, well you’ll be wasting your time doing that as last time I checked UPS requires TURBINE pic time.

Now, flying the multi-pistons might help you go somewhere else where you can attain the turbine requirement UPS has, but why would you want to do that if you can go straight to a turboprop/turbojet operation?

Also, another thing that’s very important to consider is how much flying you’ll be doing. At many of the regionals, people time-out at the end of the year, in other words they hit 1000 hours. That should be your goal as you want to get on with UPS yesterday and not tomorrow. If you find an operation where they fly 500-600 hours a year, I'd stay away from it because it'll unnecessary prolong your stay there.

About 12 months ago I told a very good friend of mine to quit Chautauqua and apply with a heavy operator if he was serious about UPS or Fedex. He’d been applying and updating his resume with UPS for many years seemingly to no avail. He was a captain there with 7+ years worth of seniority, had great schedules and was making descent money so the decision was not easy. Well, finally in December of last year, he started training with an MD11 operator, (don’t wanna say which one as he’s still there ) Anyways, he was called for an interview shortly after he finished his ioe AND was hired! Last I heard he’s supposed to start in May. Basically he made sure his resume showed what UPS wanted to see and it worked out for him; big gamble of course but unless you play, you'll never win!

I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to log PIC time for 3 years if I went the regional route as opposed to the cargo route.

Not sure why you say that? Some regionals, Pinnacle for example, want you to have 3,500 total time (recently lowered to 2,500 TT I think?) before you can upgrade. Is that what you’re talking about? Not being able to upgrade because you do not have enough TT?

If so, remember I said go to ANY regional that hires you and then fly 100 hours a month until you meet the minimums for the regional that has the lowest upgrade time and NO total time limits – then jump the ship – no time for you to be loyal.

Basically, until you have 1000.0 hours of turbine PIC time AND transoceanic crossing experience you cannot even apply. Therefore, look at Ameriflight and look at other regionals, etc and pick the one (or the ones) which will bring you that experience the fastest! Remember, you’re little older than most when they start the time building process but that’s OK, you just need to expedite things a little if you can…