I saw an IFL crew in CA once. The engineer and F/O were unloading the main cabin and the Capt. was unloading the belly by hand. Didn't look like they had the 'option' on that one.

Paid by the mile; the quicker you get stuff done, the quicker you get back home. You could sit around the FBO complaining that the loaders are incompetent, or you could man up and make things happen.

The fact that the Captain was unloading the belly while the engineer was up top should speak wonders - in a positive sense. Amazing crews, no egos involved, everyone has the same goal.

Which is why they can't find crews and have to keep advertising. Why anyone today would do that kind of work is obvious.

Aliner/Skyway put an ad out today on 350 and I was not surprised at the total BS it says. TL is truly the bigger POS EVER. His C.P. Is as bad. But they will get a few that will keep thinking it's ok.

Loading a 727/DC9 or whatever, by yourself, shows what you think of yourself. It also undermines everyone because the terms and conditions are still garbage. If you have a DUI, or other convictions, there is a place for you. It's not hell, it's IFL, Everts, Kalitta, Ameristar or Sierra West.

Rant finished.

I was that captain. The loaders screwed me in El Paso by not waiting for the complete shipment to arrive. When it did, I had to make a choice. Have them unload the aircraft and reload it properly, or utilize the belly. I opted to use the belly and since it was my decision, I was the one in the belly in SDM. I wasn't going to punish anyone else for my decision.

We could sit around and wait for guys to load/unload the aircraft. Or we could help out and get the job done faster. I bet those Evert or NAC guys appreciated it since they were waiting to get offloaded behind us and go to the hotel. We wanted to get to the hotel too!

There are two types of people that come work for us. Young guys who are eager to make a lot more money than what they would get at a regional carrier, and guys who have bounced from job to job.

This isn't anybody's dream job. Everyone knows that. But for us younger guys, it's a great start and a lot of fun. Where else are you gonna hand fly a 727 on an ILS down to minimums, because you can? Plus, we had a regional pilot come work for us for a bit who said that one of his mileage pay checks was worth more money than 6 months of pay at the regional.

The guys who bounce from job to job, keep bouncing, they never last long. This job is just something to hold them over til the next offer comes in. They seem to think that one day, they will land their dream job.

Hey, I'm not dissing you guys. It looked like a pretty solid team effort. Glad you get paid extra as well...not every Company does that.

Had a USA Jet guy tell me once that the Ypsilanti Vortex was like the Hotel California...you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.

To place IFL in the same boat as Kaliitta, Ameristar, or Sierra West just demonstrates how ignorant you are. I don't know why you continue to ignore the posts of the few of us that have actually worked there. Reread this thread, it is filled with you posting irrelevant assumptions, and those with first hand knowledge - all with positive things to say. Time for honesty, did you wash out of training at IFL? I can't figure out any other reason why you would be on such a mission to spew filth.

You have to understand that the majority who post on these websites are intrinsically negative,hence the " trolling ",but as an IFL alumnus from the DC-3/DC-4/Convair era all I have to say that I have nothing but good memories from my time in the "squadron", we worked hard, to the mandated limits , but flew well maintained airplanes,with well trained crews, who went on to the majors, the fracs, everywhere, and did well. The fact they are still around when 90% of their competition from back in the day are history speaks volumes. Godspeed them.

Hockey, I really enjoyed your story about the loading and unloading of the 727. I have always enjoyed studying and practicing leadership, and your story is a prime example of awesome leadership. You made a decision, you followed through with your decision, and then you had the stones to take the aftermath of your decision by unloading the belly by yourself. Kudos to you, good sir.

On a side note, does anyone know what the average new hire at IFL looks like hours and resume wise?

On which aircraft? It's a whole different story between the 727, convair, and falcon.