A bunch of IFL alumni are at Delta, Fed Ex, Southwest, AA, Netjets etc. etc.,the flying we all did there was epic, the training was real world and thorough, we worked hard, flew hard, and had a good reputation in the industry, it was a good outfit.

There you have it

Don't Mislead These Kids
 

The “militant Eastern Airline hitman” tries to hold everyone to a standard worthy of a major airline. You have to really know your stuff. The dried up career job hoppers coming to class expecting to breeze through, thinking that it’s just another shady freight company typically don’t make it. Yes, turnover is high, but turnover is high in all of ad-hoc freight.


The younger kid’s better stay away from rough “ON-Demand” outfits with high turnover rates. Their careers are “On the line” “on every trip”. These companies can’t afford to admit they fire guys for anything but they do. Most of these flights are on the hook for six figures, and if you’re a few minutes late, if you cause a delay on any leg, or if you damage the freight while loading it, you’re finished, gone in a blink of the eye. The “Death” boxes the other guy mentioned also have boxes that state “Have you ever been fired, reprimanded, or asked to resign”. You check one of these boxes and you’re out and you’re your social security number is marked for life. These airlines are usually stacked with pilots with a record, or pilots with special issuance medicals so they are insulated. New kids with a clean fresh career ahead of them need to think twice!

Give it a rest

Still looking for crews, 727 and CV 580 and a few Falcon. The biggest problem seems to be the schedule or lack of. Now it is on demand cargo but people need to have days off to do, well, stuff. The old days of low pay and expecting people to work 24/7, on a beeper, with 20 min call-outs are over. Adapt or go out of business.

The irony is they cannot get people, particularly on the Big Boeing. They have the business but not the crews. So if you build it they will come. I hope they figure this out. Eventually you will lose business if someone calls but the jet cannot move. Everts now has home basing so IFL, and others, will eventually have to. It will grow the business though.

USAJET or IFL - I would be tripping over myself to apply if either these two companies allowed 1 hour callouts or better yet home basing.

Some of these companies need fresh young minds running these companies are they can just bend over and wave bye bye to their business!

Are they really "death boxes"??? Really? Come on.

I think you're right. High levels of bitter about life. Too bad. Could be spoiling a good opportunity for younger pilots.

I hate to revive what appears to be an older thread; however, I would love the opportunity to drive the ol' 727. Unfortunately, the information within the current orange board posting is a bit vague and their corporate website adds little focus.

Are any of the previous posters with IFL insight (read: actual insight, not homebrewed cookie-cutter cynicism) available to engage in a PM dialogue?

Low pay, load your own cargo, commute with limited CASS to difficult bases. Mostly night auto parts. They have a difficult time getting/retaining people. CP is a nice guy but it's thr owners that think pilots are a dime a dozen.

That sounds amazingly similar to my current day-to-day. Do I at least get my own forklift? My back is starting to predate my body by about 50 years.

Is it an international operation? How low is the pay? A dime for a dozen has been met with inflation - a quarter will suffice.

I made about 60k my first year there as a FE. Salary plus a mileage rate, when you’re busy it really adds up. Since I left the structure was revamped, and pay is even better now. They also offer a commutable schedule.

The Boeing was a different world than the Falcons and Convairs; higher standards, higher pay, tougher trips, and a more close-knit group. I was there two years, and loved most of it. Getting called out at 4am to fly an hour and wait 7 for freight is never fun in itself, but we had great crews, sweet planes, and relative freedom to do whatever you wanted as long as the job gets done; easily the most fun I'll ever have in my career. It's freight, they push you to go, but if you say no, they're equally cool with it. I remember we landed in ELP at the end of a long trip and the company told us to reposition immediately to TOL and load the plane there for the next crew. We went to a steakhouse and had a nice meal first. Never heard a word from the company about that.

Most of the time all you have to do while loading is supervise; but everyone, including that captain, is usually helping push the pallet jack or strap things down. When you get paid by the mile and it's the middle of the night, it just makes more sense to help out the Mexicans so you can get home and back to sleep much quicker. I've yet to see anything like it, when needed, there is a cockpit gradient and ranks, but for the most part you're all there together as a team to do whatever you can to make the job easier for everyone else. Since you ask, initial and recurrent training does include forklift certification. However, I’ve only seen it sued on the road for real twice, both times it was the same captain, and he did it because had just popped a 5 Hour Energy and thought driving the forklift was hilarious.

The people on here complaining about IFL haven’t actually worked for them. There are definitely things to complain about, but I don’t know of anybody who has left that doesn’t look back at their time at IFL and smile. All I do at my current job is tell IFL stories, it was a great time.

I was there during the DC-3 era and feel the same way about IFL , we were more like a squadron back then than an airline, flying the Douglas in its twilight years and slugging it out with the Michigan winters, good , tough flying, outstanding airplanes and people. Good on you.

What routes do you guys do into Central America? Any Hawaii or Alaska? Just curious...

I've never thought of it that way before, but that description fits perfectly.

Whatever someone hires them to do. Lots of US, Mexico, and Canada.

I spoke with CP about a year ago when I was thinking of joining on the 727. I really didn't like the idea of being an FE (additional rating, plus, its the hardest job on the bird haha)

I sometimes regret not going, the whole on call thing is familiar to me, I'm on call 24/7 at my current job (don't fly much) Does IFL ever hire guys straight into the right seat of the 27?

Thank you for the insight. I've tried contacting them several different ways to no avail. Any advice as to the best way to inject myself into the fray? I live in Alaska, but I should have no problem jumpseating if necessary to entertain a one-on-one.

Hey What, Your experience might not fit is all. Keep applying via 350 or keep calling/sending in your resume. Check your pms!

Hiring for the new CRJ now in Michigan.

Any updates on current 727 pay?

Stay away from this place, the smartest thing you'll ever do in your career

It does sound pretty bad to be honest.

I hear they have a high 727 washout rate, close to 100%.

The 727 is an old reliable gal but like old birds it requires more learning to fly her. Imagine trying to learn an L188 Electra now. The props alone are like 10+ days ground school.

I think trying to get through a 727 course requires a lot of work. A pumps on B pumps off,clear to push. Window heat, pitot heat, what's to eat.

The problem with IFL is trying to commute to the 727. IFL has limited CASS and rather difficult bases. They changed the schedule but the only ones willing to do that work and/or commute maybe less than desirables. Home basing would attract more but not too many left that want, or can, fly a 727 anymore.

Funny, as there are still a number of 727s operators and I know all of them have difficulty attracting/keeping guys/gals. It's one thing to fly it but imagine having to load/unload it and in YIP or worse, Canada, in the middle of winter.

I'd rather load/unload it in Canada in the winter than Larado in the summer.

USA Jet now has a 1 hour callout.

True dat Hawkr. Ts&Cs will only improve when they get really desperate. The IFL owners will eventually have to budge or lose business. Everts has home basing but still has trouble getting crews as the work is tough and you're better off at a regional. I think even Kaliita part duex is trying to make things better.

I love old aircraft but it's the loading and unloading and sitting and long duty days and middle of the night and shiite hotels and quick callouts does nothing for me. Calling in unfit/tired does not work and you'll simply be fired. You are also expected to work your days off.

There are big reasons those aformentioned carriers are constantly looking for crews.

727 at Kalitta charters II :
2 hours callout.
Reserve is 24/6
727 pilots have company's cars and stay at company's condos or local hotels while at base.
Decent hotels ( Holiday inn express type)
"Loading" is up to the crew and consists of mostly strapping / the whole crew gets extra pay when you strap the freight
Pretty good medical , dental and company provided Short term disability.
No pilot was ever terminated for calling in fatigue .
pilots continuously leaving for the Spirit/frontier type of airlines , some are being recall back by former employers.
Room for improvement ? always !

Thanks Chyna. Call you tell me why the difference in schedules for each fleet?
How many hours roughly guys/gals are flying?
Looks like they need DC-9 crews. Is that the worst fleet to be on?
Can Connie with his big issues at big Kalitta simply use K2 to move the 747 operation.

I have heard K2/121 will fire people in a heart beat. You also spend a lot of time driving in vans to pick up flights. I am also assuming it's coach travel on other carriers? Is it also full CASS?

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.