longhauler

I would forgo the type. I think the 400 at WOA is not going to newhires at the moment. Find someone you know at WOA and have them submit your resume. That will get you an interview quicker.

MJP8251

OrionFE and Longhauler,
I have my resume in with Kalitta also. I have 2 ex P-3 FE friends that fly with you now that love it and really got my interest that I could still fly after the Navy. I should have jumped ship a few years ago when they did, but they promoted me to E-8 and sent me back to NAS backyard after a geobach tour so I took it. Along with the promotion came a set of non-flying orders to a desk and to be honest it isn't as much fun! They told me Kalitta and World are the places to be. I got a tour of the Whale in Bahrain recently with one of your crews. Now thats an FE seat!!! NOAA or Customs would be fun and I have friends there also. I love the P-3 but the flying you guys do in a different plane would be awesome. Thanks for all your posts. I've been reading here for a while and have learned much from everyone. Looking forward to meeting/flying with some of you.

longhauler

My understanding is we at Kalitta are overstaffed with PFE/SO's we need to get the SO's moving up the food chain (which they are doing, the next classic class April 14 has 4 right now). They thought is they will be looking for PFE's this August. We now have 21 classics in the fleet. If we can get more flight officers we could then bid more contracts and more flying. The need for PFE's will increase. More later when I hear it. OrionFE will probably be able to round this out or call BS if what I have heard is different from what he has heard.

Aviatormar

I have a question, what is the home basing like? How often are you gone for? What the typical schedule like? Always been interested in this type of flying, just trying to get an idea what's its like, thanks for any input.

OrionFE

All true! Between SO's upgrading and some over 60 guys going back to the left and right seats, the FE list will shrink a bit. The problem is, getting the two pilot columns to grow up to the FE column (total crews). But, the Chief FE told me probably this summer.

longhauler

Home basing is the best, I would not trade it for anything. Regardless of what the company does they get you to work! No more worrying how long will the base last, will I be senior enough to hold it, will there be an equipment change, and the last jumpseat is taken I'll have to call in sick.
Schedules vary from 17 days straight to split lines with combinations of trips that will give you 17 days of work.
As for your last statement, you may fly a little or a lot, depends on the company its contracts and the time of year. If you need a set schedule of overnights and don't like having things change last minute, you probably will not like it. If you are into a little adventure every time you go to work, you will probably do just fine. If seeing the Falkland Islands and Bagram in 17 days of work sound cool to you will like the job.

dutch747

Remember, we "World Guys" are union. There is a master bid for equipment and a new guy with a type doesn't mean anything. I would also consider that the 74 may not be the best equipment to be flying depending on your goals. With only 1 on the property and the second 744 coming this summer, you will spend more time chasing the airplane than flying it. The last bids for the right seat of the 74 went fairly Jr. But not to any new hires. Unless it's already paid for, your wasting your time getting a type on the 744.

Worldguy

I do not believe a type will help you. This is the "non-sched" business and a personality that is compatible with this type of flying is what is most important. We all have time in various aircraft types, an airplane is an airplane... I came from 30k airplanes to 630k airplanes as did most of my peers, they all fly the same fundamentally. What WOA is looking for is people that can adapt to this type of flying/lifestyle.

Can you and/or your family cope with being on the road for 2+ weeks at a time from time to time? Can you stand to be home with your family for 2+ weeks from time to time?

I am "young" enough to make the jump from here to UPS or FredEX, but i like it here, would not trade this life style for those jobs, but that is me. What do you want from your flying/working career? that is what you must ask yourself.

Cheers,
WG

SabreDriver

Home Basing ROCKS I don't think that I could work for a company that wasn't home based. Bottom line, the company gets me from my home (or anywhere else in CONUS with some notice) to the airplane, including a hotel for required rest, and then the reverse when the trip is over. I can go home, or stop somewhere else with the proper coordination, you get the idea. And when I am commuting, I'm on the clock. Remember, the first rule of work is, don't ever work for free. How much is that worth? How much more would you have to make each month in order to buy positive space tickets and hotels, you can do the math, but for me it's a big number.

dc8v8er

I would have to agree, World seems like a flying club..when I say that I mean they look at personalities in the interview process that will fit in and everyone really enjoys their jobs. They continuously emphasize being on the road in the interview but having flown for many non-skeds and one legacy I can say World seems shoulders above the rest with their line construction, by non-sked standards it is not bad at all. I would have to say I am very impressed so far and happy to be a part of the WOA family. Here is to another 60 years!!