ABX Air Latest
03-09-2026 | 06:31 AM
#931
Chief Student Pilot
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 54
Likes: 16
As with so many things in life, it depends entirely on what you want and what you're willing to give to get it. Your mileage may vary, offer not valid where prohibited by law.
That said, there is more than one pilot who has left ABX and later encouraged their friends who remained not to leave ABX because the grass on the other side of the fence turned out to be not nearly as green as it looked from a distance. At least one of those individuals is currently at UPS.
It has been my experience in this screwy business that we all deal with exactly the same problems - some people just get paid more to do it. Ramp chaos, maintenance asking, "Can you MEL it?", stupid scheduling tricks - everybody deals with them. There is not likely to be any problem you would have at ABX that will be solved by going anywhere else.
The common theme that comes up around UPS is that you will be paid very well, but you will also work very hard for your money. We have a number of extended weekend layovers in the system. You're not likely to get those at UPS - you get paid a lot because you're moving a lot. I avoid the UPS flying we're doing, as do many others who commented that they would rather not work UPS schedules for less than UPS pay.
That said, there is more than one pilot who has left ABX and later encouraged their friends who remained not to leave ABX because the grass on the other side of the fence turned out to be not nearly as green as it looked from a distance. At least one of those individuals is currently at UPS.
It has been my experience in this screwy business that we all deal with exactly the same problems - some people just get paid more to do it. Ramp chaos, maintenance asking, "Can you MEL it?", stupid scheduling tricks - everybody deals with them. There is not likely to be any problem you would have at ABX that will be solved by going anywhere else.
The common theme that comes up around UPS is that you will be paid very well, but you will also work very hard for your money. We have a number of extended weekend layovers in the system. You're not likely to get those at UPS - you get paid a lot because you're moving a lot. I avoid the UPS flying we're doing, as do many others who commented that they would rather not work UPS schedules for less than UPS pay.
Not to mention, something to be said about the Z fleets and international being different than our schedules. The only really comparable flying are their domestic schedules
03-09-2026 | 12:24 PM
#932
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Just looking for some updated info on ABX.
I’ve flown ACMI before so I know there no such thing as an average schedule, but curious about the types of schedules available. I mostly am trying to avoid night hub turn type of flying, I realize that is probably the majority of the DHL flying and probably the UPS lines as well, but is it the majority of all ABX flying? Can it be avoided 8ish months out of the year?
What is the current upgrade time at ABX?
I’ve flown ACMI before so I know there no such thing as an average schedule, but curious about the types of schedules available. I mostly am trying to avoid night hub turn type of flying, I realize that is probably the majority of the DHL flying and probably the UPS lines as well, but is it the majority of all ABX flying? Can it be avoided 8ish months out of the year?
What is the current upgrade time at ABX?
03-09-2026 | 04:36 PM
#933
Line Holder
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 916
Likes: 2
From: Left, right & center
I mostly am trying to avoid night hub turn type of flying, I realize that is probably the majority of the DHL flying and probably the UPS lines as well, but is it the majority of all ABX flying? Can it be avoided 8ish months out of the year?
What is the current upgrade time at ABX?
It has been a while since we did any upgrades, so it's difficult to put a precise time frame on it. There is a captain proffer expected soon which will give a better idea of where we currently stand. My guess is that they will all be 2+ years. But with retirements increasing over the next two years and expansion happening, that time frame could be shortened considerably for those who are qualified and capable.
03-09-2026 | 05:22 PM
#934
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Minimum 14 days per month off, may be in a single block, two blocks or three blocks.
Being domiciled in CVG, everything starts and ends in CVG. With a few notable exceptions (LAX-SFO shuttle and BOG out of MIA which is usually scheduled for about a week outbase), DHL mostly goes through CVG at night. Most of the Amazon trips are several days to a week long and go point to point, hitting CVG only at the beginning and the end. A lot of them spend a day in CVG between trips. Since Amazon ceased being a strictly day flying schedule, it's a lot easier to get Amazon lines if you want them now. The company is actively pursuing new business, so there could be more variety in the future.
The current upgrade time is approximately "Do you have 1000 hours of 121 time and how many FOs in front of you are still bypassing upgrade?" years.
It has been a while since we did any upgrades, so it's difficult to put a precise time frame on it. There is a captain proffer expected soon which will give a better idea of where we currently stand. My guess is that they will all be 2+ years. But with retirements increasing over the next two years and expansion happening, that time frame could be shortened considerably for those who are qualified and capable.
Being domiciled in CVG, everything starts and ends in CVG. With a few notable exceptions (LAX-SFO shuttle and BOG out of MIA which is usually scheduled for about a week outbase), DHL mostly goes through CVG at night. Most of the Amazon trips are several days to a week long and go point to point, hitting CVG only at the beginning and the end. A lot of them spend a day in CVG between trips. Since Amazon ceased being a strictly day flying schedule, it's a lot easier to get Amazon lines if you want them now. The company is actively pursuing new business, so there could be more variety in the future.
The current upgrade time is approximately "Do you have 1000 hours of 121 time and how many FOs in front of you are still bypassing upgrade?" years.
It has been a while since we did any upgrades, so it's difficult to put a precise time frame on it. There is a captain proffer expected soon which will give a better idea of where we currently stand. My guess is that they will all be 2+ years. But with retirements increasing over the next two years and expansion happening, that time frame could be shortened considerably for those who are qualified and capable.
Great information! Thank you for taking the time to reply.
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