frozenboxhauler

we did the same
fbh

Outlaw2097

we are what we were...

and as a side note...

my first day of work there were 10 of us in the break room...and all but one of us spoke spanish

/take a guess

atpwannabe

I worked the ramp for Delta & Comair @ KPBI & KCVG respectively.


atp

LineTroll

Coming up on my third tour of duty as a line guy, we will see if I finish another year of it. Interests might be taking me elsewhere...

RedGuy

I was a ground pounder for about 9 years before I got a full time flying gig. In that time I started out at a small little airport basically taking care of the entire airport (This was the most fun job I EVER had BTW!) then moved up to progressively bigger corporate FBO's. I had a stint as an Assistant airport manager, which I also REALLY liked, but didn't work out. Then I ended up working the ramp for an on demand cargo outfit with the hopes they'd bring me on as a pilot, which didn't happen. So I moved to working ground at the current cargo company I work for. After about 6 months I was put in the right seat to flip switches.

To be honest with you there's many times I look back and wish I was still just a lowly line guy, with no responsibilities and a set schedule. I had alot of fun working ground support and think pilots that skip this rung on the aviation ladder are missing a great character building life experience.

LineTroll

I am the same. My first year was a line guy at a small FBO, the only one on the airport. I was also the janitor, repair guy for all of our equipment, etc. After a year I moved on to a large FBO at a bigger airport, and that's where I currently work. I enjoy the fact that we have good equipment and that I am not responsible for everything that happens. I don't enjoy the schedule, not at all.

I have gained more experience working line, and I also got some great opportunities (made connections and ended up with a scholarship for my flight training). I have also had lots of frustration over having to work an irregular schedule covering all parts of the day and night, and the fact that as a 24/7/365 FBO I do not get holidays off.

But it has prepared me for the rest of my career. I am used to the weird schedule now, and although I may not like it, I have learned to deal with it. I know how corperate and fractional aviation works, I have a better understanding of ground handling than most pilots I meet, and I have two solid years of quality experience to add to my resume for whatever job I choose to persue.

RedGuy

Really? Pretty much every ground job I've ever had I've had a set schedule that very rarely changed. I also haven't really worked too many weekends. When I was working full time ground support they generally had part timers work the weekends. I did work alot of holidays though since they put those out to bid, and you could make triple time!

Of coarse most of my line duty was on the midnight shift, from about 9-10 at night til 5-6 in the morning. This was my preferred shift as things where alot slower and more laid back, plus management rarely ever bothered us. Could be why they never screwed with my schedule too since no one else wanted to work it!

LineTroll

I work 3-11pm on weekdays and 10pm-6am on friday and saturday nights. Triple time on holidays, I wish. Fortunately if I work one holiday I am most likely to get the next one off. Anyways, my company is weird with scheduling. It's a fixed schedule, it's just hard to adjust to. I couldn't go full time grave otherwise I would have, it's "slower" but on the abnormal nights we get absolutely hammered with stuff to do.

aeromiami

I've been trying like hell to get a job at one of the 6 or so FBOs at TMB for the past couple months with no success. Oh well hopefully this summer.

Crashman

No responsibilities? Didn't you ever look out at the $100 million or so of
airplanes parked on your line as YOUR responsibility?