How has Mountain Air Cargo changed?
 

I have been reading some information about MAC and some of their changes to the company in the last year and I was wondering what they may be. I was reading that they quit doing in base living if I'm correct. (I may have put that wrong) what does that mean exactly?

Also while I'm here, I plan to possibly come to this company after flying regionals in a couple of years. Based on my flight hours and experience, how are part 121 pilots coming to the company treated? Is there any incentive for military helicopter pilots on top of that? Is it straight to the Caravans? Possibly ATR? I see they offer an additional 20K for moving to places like Duluth, buffalo and north Dakota with a one year commitment. Is this an additional 20k for the longevity of working at that base? Is it possibly to make more than say 65k or 45k for the year working on PTO weeks ? What does a FO schedule normally look like? Night shift? Off on weekends? Home everyday?

These are just some of the questions I have. The purple runway program looks attractive (I know it's not a guarantee to Fedex). But all the same cargo so far appeals to me. Thanks in advance.

Dear God, WHY?
:confused::eek:

If you're at the regionals for a couple of years, you're probably a captain and half way into a flow through with a major.

Do you hate yourself?

I agree with the post above! Dear God why?!?! Are you high or just drunk?

:confused:

Well I guess I should have expected that. Is it really that terrible? Is the jump from passengers to cargo that bad?do cargo people hate their lives? From what I've gathered most people that fly cargo seem happy and what i have gathered about MAC is that the people that work their are happy. Call it early researching if you want but you dont know until you ask.

I don’t think they are saying it’s terrible, but more so judging you for basically making a lateral move without good reason. You will be going from pax regional to cargo regional. Why would you do this at a point when you could apply and most likely get hired to fly bigger planes at an ACMI for more money? (Not including Atlas they pay regional pay with crap schedules to fly big metal)

I guess I was more so seeking it as a stepping stone to something like FedEx or UPS. Cargo industry from what I have researched seems to do pretty stable as far as how the economy is affected. I'm just starting out in all of this. I have plenty of time before I need to make a decision about my next move. If my thought process in all of this is jacked up well then I guess I'm about to learn something. Here to be educated. And yes what I have gathered about atlas is they basically suck. Employees seem unhappy.

http://www.gojetairlines.com/careers...-to-GoJet.aspx

They have a flow to gojet. That’s all you need to know about this operation. Some have actually flowed to gojet as the qol decreased at mac. Who seriosly needs a flow to a regional?

And people are not happy there. Massive turnover lately.

How has Mountain Air Cargo changed?
 

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Dude!! MAC has closed most of its bases in the last week... If you don’t like money or QAL apply now to them before they are gone forever.. Hurry up Call them today!! tomorrow might be too late...

I don’t know what has really changed other than a new CEO just in the last few days. You could probably look at the financial records on the website and see one reason why he may have been set free. I am first year FO, transferred from a regional, and I love this job. I am a based pilot and I love it. The company can be disorganized and you have to stay on top of everything. I have no issues with pay, scheduling, etc. just basic communication is difficult but is bearable. I am going to double my salary this year or come very close for a first year FO on the ATR. I can’t complain when I am sitting at home with my wife and kid every day. Are things worse than what they were in the past? From what I hear, yes. People have to work a lot to cover all the flying. That stinks. It’s hard to attract people here because there isn’t a lot of flying. If you like good QOL as a based pilot, and by Based I mean make sure there is enough lines for you to hold that base and not float, then you would love it here. If you have kids and wife and you float, life won’t be easy.

Oh in response to Kennedy’s, they closed the Caribbean 208 runs. They did close one ATR run, but then a new run was added so therefore, no loss. Also, keep in mind the new Cessna 408 aircraft will show up sometime. These are FedEx decisions not MAC. It is reorganization of aircraft and who will operate what. I am not wotried.

As you already being a regional airline pilot and coming to this company you were offered an ATR slot? Is that to be expected? What base are you out of? Yes the idea of being home each night (if that is indeed a possibility) is very attractive to me. What do you mean by "people have to work a lot to cover all of the flying"? Are you meaning less flying and more of the other additional duties? How much flight time do you get per month?

Your post made me laugh. But in all seriousness can you please tell me why exactly this is a terrible place to work?

Yes you can expect the ATR. Apply for the ATR, get the ATR. To keep my identity secret I will tell you in a private message. However, anyone who actually works there will know who I am. Anyway, the company used to be a place for guys who didn’t want to fly could come get a paycheck and fly everyone once in a while. You basically had to call the company and beg to fly. People really liked that. Home all the time and got paid. Not a bad gig if you ask me. Now we are short pilots so people are flying a lot more than usually. Or at least asked too. We work 3 weeks on and 1 week off and people get the call to work on their week off. A lot of people don’t mind because you get paid to do so. Extra money. Not a bad gig sometimes. We as pilots want to see the company prosper. At least most do. However sometimes there is junior manning. Flight time. I work about 90 minutes a night and I am by 430 to 530 in the morning every day. Go in late evening. I work my weeks off so I usually travel then. I think I flew 35 hours a month for the past 3 months. Of course I don’t care that much. It is really a special type of flying. You have to not want to build time quickly but the money you can make is pretty good unless something changes in the near future. Highly doubt it though

SJU is gone after 40 years... SLU as well. Miami now has been transfer to IFL Group and BQN will be soon.. TLH has been transfer to baron and Rumors has it that Greensboro and Buffalo too.. Mountain Air has been facing a lot in the last couple of years from firing DOs Chiefs HR Pilots etc.. From being Fedex’s number one Feeder now down to the the bottom and least favorite... They used to be real picky and nasty to pilots in the past and now they will recruit anything out there that can fly.. or at least say it can fly.. Training department not really the best out there.. They got one guy in Houston that believed he works for Nasa.. He knows more than anyone out there.

But other than that is not a bad place.. Pay is ok (not great) average benefits.. Good MX overall. You might be a lucky person and have a good schedule or not so lucky and hate your life floating everywhere.. If someone out there is looking to get into FedEx and UPS the easier way is to fly for a Pax Regional.. and do your homework Job fairs etc.. I understand newbies defending it.. It feels great flying a plane painted as FedEx. It’s a great purple flavor Kool aid drink but at the end you are just working for a management company.. Trust me I was there..

Not exactly true. Allocation of aircraft is based on overall performance, and reliability. That said, the reason Empire will receive another ATR in their fold... or IFL will be given a trial ATR and possibly C208 to prove themselves.

As I recall, due to poor performance, Empire lost an ATR to MAC due to issues in their house.

New Management at ATR are going to have to ply catch up ball in order to remain in the game, or otherwise.... well you get the picture. There are a lot of great people at MAC and deserve better than what RN delivered.

Is the C 408 going to be operated 135 or 121?

135. From what I have heard MAC use to be a great place to be, not so much now, but QOL is still good on the 208's. The ATR side is hurting for pilots. Also the SIC program is starting for the 208 this summer with the hopes of keeping the ATR staffed once the SIC reaches ATP mins. If you live in one of the MAC bases it's not a bad gig TBH.

From my understanding, part 135 can continue to fly after age 65 opening up a few more options. The C 408 SkyCourier looks impressive! Be interesting to see the captain pay rates and if they'll staff with SICs. It's probably a single pilot aircraft but the right seat could certainly be a farm for newly minted commercial pilots to build experience and go to the C208 as a captain.

I keep hear IFL will get ATRs. Is this confirmed? Are they even going to be able to staff them? No one wants to fly short hops in turbo props except for guys like me. I don’t think moving planes from one place to another will attract pilots. Doesn’t make sense. MAC will have to improve and it will take time.

Is it stupid to think that because they are buying a new aircraft that the company is doing well ? I also am interested in going cargo at some point and I thought that this could lead to bigger and better. It's the schedule that is a selling point for me.

Mountain doesn’t own the aircraft. FedEx does. Then based on performance and other factors, they get distributed. If you’re a based pilot and actually flying out of your base, it is a great gig. If not, it may not be.

I will take Neo to see the Oracle.

Considering this route after I hit 500 as a CFI. As far as hours/mth for FO in Caravan any input on this? I’m thinking a floater position would be fine. Thanks for any feedback.

Can anybody give me a little objective insight on the life at MAC as an ATR floater captain? Please don’t tell me how I’m better off at the airlines. All bets are off right now.

it’s a great place if you don’t want to fly very much and get paid a lot for not working. However, being a floater captain you are most likely going to be gone for 3 weeks (weekdays) home for a day or maybe 2 over the weekend and the back out. Be prepared to sit reserve a lot and be a fill in. If the company gets back up to full staff you will fly even less. Up to you want you want.

sorry you get 1 PTO week every 3 weeks. I worked at an regionals airline before here and I like it a lot more here

Right now I’m not paid much to also not fly much. 16 hours last month 8 hours the month before... Looking to move on and eventually be at FedEx which brought me here. I would love to apply to the ATR as a street captain living somewhere in NC. Are you usually out flying Monday-Friday with Saturday and Sunday home during that 3 week period?

Also, there’s that purple runway program, but I couldn’t help but wonder.. say you’re qualified before the 36 month period in that program. Has anyone been hired into FedEx from the MAC feeder sooner with or without the program?

You will most likely not get a base in NC at all. You will become a floater pilot. There are not that many runs and we have a lot of pilots sitting around right now. If you float, you will be out on a Sunday back on a Friday afternoon depending on where you live and worse case you will be home on Saturday. You may have one day and you will be back out on the road. Again, this all depends on where you live and what run you get assigned.

As far as Purple runway, I am pretty sure the 36 month is a contractual requirement by FedEx. I wouldn’t expect to get there any faster. Right now we may be conducting interview but no classes are being done right now as far as I know. Not really sure when it will pick back up. With the rest of the market shutting down, everyone is staying so attrition is gonna stop

Anyone know if they will be hiring in the next few months in the myr or ilm base? FO or capt? 3000TT

I live there. Just looking for something close by my home so I can spend some more time with the kids. What’s the quality of life and schedule like?

I am almost positive they will not be any time soon. Both bases are full but you can always ask. They are really only looking for people who want to be based in the Hubs. Or if you want to be based in MN or LA.

QOL is best if you live in base. I live in base and I am home everyday and work 4 days a week. Depending on your base is what run you will get. Some runs are 5 days a week. some have 8 hour duty days some have 15 hour duty days. Some start in the evening some start early in the morning (2-3am). It just depends. The ILM base leaves at about 5:30 I believe and you stay the night in RDU and come back early in the morning. That run is 5 days a week. MYR has changed a little and I am not sure what it will be like later but that run was a 14 hour duty night.

Any idea the type of routes out of IND? I sent in my resume and was wondering how it went on out of IND. Also any ideas if they will hire out of there in the near future?

Currently there are three scheduled ATR runs out of IND. Two are early morning other is early afternoon. All are currently 4 day runs and home daily. They also try to keep two standby crews as well as reserves. Feel free to PM for additional information.

Everytime I visit the webpage (even before COVID-19) I never saw any pilot positions there. Do they not post them there?

I would love to live in base and spend more time with the family depending on location (got to be able to afford it) what bases are available so that I can be a based pilot and not a floater and where can I see the list for the based?

they just posted for IND based Capt and FO positions. Better to follow on social media if you got it

I can see the Captain Post on facebook but don't see where they have posted about FO positions?

lol.i have been without social media for years. Dont regret it. Life is better this way

I don’t blame you at all for not having it.

i will see if I can find a posting for you.

thanks for your help. Does it look like they are hiring just caravan positions? I am interested in ATR. Currently holding multiengine restricted ATP with CL65 type and about 900+ hrs TT. 250 PIC and a military helo guy. To the caravan I go?

What is the schedule like in DLH on the ATR? Runs? Duty day?

Thank you!