Planesense
03-22-2024 | 07:17 AM
#2971
On Reserve
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Redex
Flying the Pc-12 is not hard, especially being a turboprop since there is no mixture or prop to control. The lack of SE time won't be an issue, what will be the issue is that you must have either a Commercial SEL or a SEL ATP.
The majority of the fleet is the NG but all the new 12s are NGX. Both aircraft have the Honeywell APEX.
You can upgrade whenever you want or stay as an FO if that is what you want. However you can't go part-time until you have 100 hours as a Captain.
As far as the island flying that is done by all the bases. However since you are over 65 the only international flying that you will be doing will be to Canada. That is not Planes Sense's decision but an ICAO rule which happened a couple of years ago. The rule says no commercial flying if over 65 unless a county specifically allows it. The US and Canada does while the Bahamas, Mexico, and other Caribbean countries don't.
I'm in my 70s, and not the oldest pilot there, and us old timers are treated fine. In fact we are treated as if we are just one of the guys, which we are, so age is not an issue.
Flying the Pc-12 is not hard, especially being a turboprop since there is no mixture or prop to control. The lack of SE time won't be an issue, what will be the issue is that you must have either a Commercial SEL or a SEL ATP.
The majority of the fleet is the NG but all the new 12s are NGX. Both aircraft have the Honeywell APEX.
You can upgrade whenever you want or stay as an FO if that is what you want. However you can't go part-time until you have 100 hours as a Captain.
As far as the island flying that is done by all the bases. However since you are over 65 the only international flying that you will be doing will be to Canada. That is not Planes Sense's decision but an ICAO rule which happened a couple of years ago. The rule says no commercial flying if over 65 unless a county specifically allows it. The US and Canada does while the Bahamas, Mexico, and other Caribbean countries don't.
I'm in my 70s, and not the oldest pilot there, and us old timers are treated fine. In fact we are treated as if we are just one of the guys, which we are, so age is not an issue.
03-22-2024 | 10:13 AM
#2972
Line Holder
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
Also it should be said that you will be doing everything that was done for you at Jet Blue (cleaning, catering, flight planning, fuel planning, lavs, etc.). When I was there it was the hardest thing for the retired 121 guys to adapt to. Also some people had issues with the way the Honeywell works, but I thought it was very user friendly. Personally, I really enjoyed my time there, and the airplane and the flying is the most fun I've had flying in my professional career
03-23-2024 | 01:58 PM
#2973
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 504
Likes: 12
UnbeatenPath
There have been some changes since you left,
The initial catering of the aircraft is done by the line guys in PSM. On the road for catering all the FO does is make sure that whatever the passengers use is replaced from the catering bins stored in the back of the aircraft. If they run low then the crew restocks them from catering lockers stored at 4 Plane Sense cities, or the Captain goes to a grocery store on the overnight. This happens maybe once a rotation.
We now use Foreflight which selects the route, altitude, and plans on max fuel (taking into account passengers and their bags). Before he files the flight plan the Captain selects the alternate and can modify the route, altitude, and fuel if he desires. This is no different than what I did for 22 years with my 121 airline except I don't have to coordinate with Dispatch, I just do it.
As for the lavs in my 5 years at Plane Sense all that I, or the FO, has done is removed the honey bucket from the lav and given it to the FBO line guys to dump.
I do agree with you that flying the PC-12 is very enjoyable and the most fun of my professional career.
There have been some changes since you left,
The initial catering of the aircraft is done by the line guys in PSM. On the road for catering all the FO does is make sure that whatever the passengers use is replaced from the catering bins stored in the back of the aircraft. If they run low then the crew restocks them from catering lockers stored at 4 Plane Sense cities, or the Captain goes to a grocery store on the overnight. This happens maybe once a rotation.
We now use Foreflight which selects the route, altitude, and plans on max fuel (taking into account passengers and their bags). Before he files the flight plan the Captain selects the alternate and can modify the route, altitude, and fuel if he desires. This is no different than what I did for 22 years with my 121 airline except I don't have to coordinate with Dispatch, I just do it.
As for the lavs in my 5 years at Plane Sense all that I, or the FO, has done is removed the honey bucket from the lav and given it to the FBO line guys to dump.
I do agree with you that flying the PC-12 is very enjoyable and the most fun of my professional career.
03-23-2024 | 06:12 PM
#2974
Line Holder
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
UnbeatenPath
There have been some changes since you left,
The initial catering of the aircraft is done by the line guys in PSM. On the road for catering all the FO does is make sure that whatever the passengers use is replaced from the catering bins stored in the back of the aircraft. If they run low then the crew restocks them from catering lockers stored at 4 Plane Sense cities, or the Captain goes to a grocery store on the overnight. This happens maybe once a rotation.
We now use Foreflight which selects the route, altitude, and plans on max fuel (taking into account passengers and their bags). Before he files the flight plan the Captain selects the alternate and can modify the route, altitude, and fuel if he desires. This is no different than what I did for 22 years with my 121 airline except I don't have to coordinate with Dispatch, I just do it.
As for the lavs in my 5 years at Plane Sense all that I, or the FO, has done is removed the honey bucket from the lav and given it to the FBO line guys to dump.
I do agree with you that flying the PC-12 is very enjoyable and the most fun of my professional career.
There have been some changes since you left,
The initial catering of the aircraft is done by the line guys in PSM. On the road for catering all the FO does is make sure that whatever the passengers use is replaced from the catering bins stored in the back of the aircraft. If they run low then the crew restocks them from catering lockers stored at 4 Plane Sense cities, or the Captain goes to a grocery store on the overnight. This happens maybe once a rotation.
We now use Foreflight which selects the route, altitude, and plans on max fuel (taking into account passengers and their bags). Before he files the flight plan the Captain selects the alternate and can modify the route, altitude, and fuel if he desires. This is no different than what I did for 22 years with my 121 airline except I don't have to coordinate with Dispatch, I just do it.
As for the lavs in my 5 years at Plane Sense all that I, or the FO, has done is removed the honey bucket from the lav and given it to the FBO line guys to dump.
I do agree with you that flying the PC-12 is very enjoyable and the most fun of my professional career.
04-05-2024 | 02:15 PM
#2975
On Reserve
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Hey Guys, thanks for the above info, and I should have gotten back to you sooner, but I got a rejection email soon after I submitted. Luckily at 64 1/2 I have figured out that it's OK to get rejected! I think I caused a bit of confusion as I used the website application process, and somehow in the mix I created 2 profiles and could not delete one, and then on the other, I really had no idea how many hours I had so I tried to put 10,000+ but apparently I put 10.000+ which appeared to be "10" hours on the app. I put in a low number so I would not be overestimating. The folks in the HR department emailed me back asking about it, and asked me to send them a resume, and by this time, I had dusted off a resume, and had gotten up to 13,000 hours with more to go, so I updated the resume and indicated 13,000+ hours. That was when the emailed me with the thumbs down. The good news is I finally figured out I have 16,000 all in because this forced me to do the logbook.
Honestly, they probably did me a favor because like Unbeatenpath pointed out, it was going to be a lot of work getting up to speed on REAL flying....unlike the frankly pampered dispatch world I live on now. I am honestly questioning if I could fill out a flightplan! I had to the other day coming home from an airshow because Macdill AFB required one, and I screwed it up and had to call 1-800-WX Brief for the first time in 20 years to fix it. I think that the fact that I could start work in either TPA or MCO was pretty alluring, but I may just enjoy doing nothing.
Anyhoo, thanks for the help guys.
Tom
Honestly, they probably did me a favor because like Unbeatenpath pointed out, it was going to be a lot of work getting up to speed on REAL flying....unlike the frankly pampered dispatch world I live on now. I am honestly questioning if I could fill out a flightplan! I had to the other day coming home from an airshow because Macdill AFB required one, and I screwed it up and had to call 1-800-WX Brief for the first time in 20 years to fix it. I think that the fact that I could start work in either TPA or MCO was pretty alluring, but I may just enjoy doing nothing.
Anyhoo, thanks for the help guys.
Tom
04-05-2024 | 06:34 PM
#2976
Line Holder
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
Hey Guys, thanks for the above info, and I should have gotten back to you sooner, but I got a rejection email soon after I submitted. Luckily at 64 1/2 I have figured out that it's OK to get rejected! I think I caused a bit of confusion as I used the website application process, and somehow in the mix I created 2 profiles and could not delete one, and then on the other, I really had no idea how many hours I had so I tried to put 10,000+ but apparently I put 10.000+ which appeared to be "10" hours on the app. I put in a low number so I would not be overestimating. The folks in the HR department emailed me back asking about it, and asked me to send them a resume, and by this time, I had dusted off a resume, and had gotten up to 13,000 hours with more to go, so I updated the resume and indicated 13,000+ hours. That was when the emailed me with the thumbs down. The good news is I finally figured out I have 16,000 all in because this forced me to do the logbook.
Honestly, they probably did me a favor because like Unbeatenpath pointed out, it was going to be a lot of work getting up to speed on REAL flying....unlike the frankly pampered dispatch world I live on now. I am honestly questioning if I could fill out a flightplan! I had to the other day coming home from an airshow because Macdill AFB required one, and I screwed it up and had to call 1-800-WX Brief for the first time in 20 years to fix it. I think that the fact that I could start work in either TPA or MCO was pretty alluring, but I may just enjoy doing nothing.
Anyhoo, thanks for the help guys.
Tom
Honestly, they probably did me a favor because like Unbeatenpath pointed out, it was going to be a lot of work getting up to speed on REAL flying....unlike the frankly pampered dispatch world I live on now. I am honestly questioning if I could fill out a flightplan! I had to the other day coming home from an airshow because Macdill AFB required one, and I screwed it up and had to call 1-800-WX Brief for the first time in 20 years to fix it. I think that the fact that I could start work in either TPA or MCO was pretty alluring, but I may just enjoy doing nothing.
Anyhoo, thanks for the help guys.
Tom
04-06-2024 | 05:47 PM
#2977
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 927
Likes: 29
From: B777 CA
Hey Guys, thanks for the above info, and I should have gotten back to you sooner, but I got a rejection email soon after I submitted. Luckily at 64 1/2 I have figured out that it's OK to get rejected! I think I caused a bit of confusion as I used the website application process, and somehow in the mix I created 2 profiles and could not delete one, and then on the other, I really had no idea how many hours I had so I tried to put 10,000+ but apparently I put 10.000+ which appeared to be "10" hours on the app. I put in a low number so I would not be overestimating. The folks in the HR department emailed me back asking about it, and asked me to send them a resume, and by this time, I had dusted off a resume, and had gotten up to 13,000 hours with more to go, so I updated the resume and indicated 13,000+ hours. That was when the emailed me with the thumbs down. The good news is I finally figured out I have 16,000 all in because this forced me to do the logbook.
Honestly, they probably did me a favor because like Unbeatenpath pointed out, it was going to be a lot of work getting up to speed on REAL flying....unlike the frankly pampered dispatch world I live on now. I am honestly questioning if I could fill out a flightplan! I had to the other day coming home from an airshow because Macdill AFB required one, and I screwed it up and had to call 1-800-WX Brief for the first time in 20 years to fix it. I think that the fact that I could start work in either TPA or MCO was pretty alluring, but I may just enjoy doing nothing.
Anyhoo, thanks for the help guys.
Tom
Honestly, they probably did me a favor because like Unbeatenpath pointed out, it was going to be a lot of work getting up to speed on REAL flying....unlike the frankly pampered dispatch world I live on now. I am honestly questioning if I could fill out a flightplan! I had to the other day coming home from an airshow because Macdill AFB required one, and I screwed it up and had to call 1-800-WX Brief for the first time in 20 years to fix it. I think that the fact that I could start work in either TPA or MCO was pretty alluring, but I may just enjoy doing nothing.
Anyhoo, thanks for the help guys.
Tom
https://raisethepilotage.com
Lots of age 65 retired 121 pilots going to FlexJet. First year pay now 150K and total compensation 175K.
04-06-2024 | 07:01 PM
#2978
Line Holder
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
If you are 64.5 and half you a have a descent change age 65 will change to 67. We have it attached to the House side of the FAA Bill. The Senate and House Bills are being merged into one now. We hopefully will have a resolution of age 67 in the not too distant future one way or the other.
https://raisethepilotage.com
Lots of age 65 retired 121 pilots going to FlexJet. First year pay now 150K and total compensation 175K.
https://raisethepilotage.com
Lots of age 65 retired 121 pilots going to FlexJet. First year pay now 150K and total compensation 175K.
04-06-2024 | 07:40 PM
#2979
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 927
Likes: 29
From: B777 CA
04-07-2024 | 03:33 AM
#2980
On Reserve
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I do appreciate the effort. I do follow the Raise The Age group. The debate is one thing, but the dirty tricks by ALPA and the FAA are kind of cringy to watch. I am OK with going out at 65, but also think it is pretty arbitrary and watching the antics and subtrifuge makes me dislike my union and government affairs even more.
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