Not sour grapes. I just quit from there and can vouch on most of that stuff. After Acorn it is an entirely different company and not at all worth your time or sanity. If you just wanna build time and never be home, go for it. Averaged 5.5 days home for the past 6 months. You're doing 12-16 hour days with 10 hours rest on the regular. Day in, night out. I was miserable to say the least.

How do they force you to fly without food?

2 accidents now in six months with about 8 pilots quitting/fired in the last 2 months. Use your best judgement

Yes they are still operating out there and yes, require you to be dual rated. I don't have any additional information about the ops out there or if/when they might be hiring. It was on their website last year as an open position so I'm sure they would post it again when they need to fill a spot.

This is just what you see on the outside, what seems like hyperbole is fact. Friends who work there have told me they have applications out everywhere and several have downgraded to previous jobs just to get out.

Open Positions
 

Whether the previous statements are founded or not, those looking for a job can check out their website; shows several opportunities for both Capt & FO on the cargo side.

Wow, this sounds too terrible to be true! How has this company been in existence for almost 40 years, paying the VERY high pilot salaries that they pay? Did your “friend” provide any context for these seemingly impossible to believe statements? Or are we talking to one very inept, and disgruntled pilot?

No one was forced to sleep in a plane. There was an act of god in Texas that shut down the whole state - a severe winter storm. The crew came from Mexico and had to clear customs. There was no way to get fuel, so the crew was stuck. Dispatch could only find a couple of hotels in the whole Rio Grande Valley of Texas and the captain refused them because they weren't the standard "Hampton Inn or better." The dispatcher even offered for the crew to sleep at his brothers’ house in McAllen, to which the captain also refused. He made the executive decision to sleep in the plane. Said captain quit aviation entirely right afterwards.

No one knows what “force you to fly without food” means. Sounds like your “friend” expected crew meals at this cargo job?

It’s highly illegal to punish or fire someone for being hurt on the job. The last pilot to get hurt on the job collected his COMPANY PAID disability until he quit.

They are trying to run off the guys on the high end of the pay scale? You clearly were fed some bad info. Berry is notorious for retaining their talent very long term. There is a captain that’s been with the company for over 20 years, he has his own pay scale he’s been there so long. The CP was the first pilot for the company - in 1983. The DO and President were part of the company in 1983 too. “Trying to run off the high end of the pay scale” is absolutely laughable.

Do guys get fired? Sure. Some pilots can be inept. When you couple that with bending metal on 2 million dollar airplanes you typically lose your job. Welcome to aviation.

“4 captains have left in the last 3 months” is an endorsement of the job more than anything. 3 of those went to ATI, flying 757/767 and one went to FlexJet. The job is a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Everyone, including the management at Berry, acknowledges this. No one expects you to fly on-demand cargo, all night, until you're 65. Berry likes pilots to come on, upgrade after a year or so, and fly as captain for 2-3 years. Works for pilots too, get experience, upgrade, get 1000+ TPIC and move on to greener pastures. Your "friend" apparently didn't get the memo, and was shocked when he had to work a lot.

It’s a tough cargo job flying transport category turboprops. You are on call, and when it’s busy you work a LOT. After this pandemic Berry has been insanely busy, and they are just now catching up on re-staffing to normal levels. Sometimes it’s slow and you hardly fly (which sounds like the type of job your “friend” was looking for.) Pilots DO make plenty of money. $60-$70k for first year FOs and $120k+ for captains -- not typical pay for a company that has such endemic problems as your “friend” claims.

Something doesn’t add up with your attempt to bash a part-135 cargo company so vehemently. On demand cargo is a tough industry, and it isn’t for everyone. Do things go wrong sometimes in aviation? Sure. Can such a toxic airline exist for almost 40 years, paying their employees that well, if even half the things your “friend” claims are true? No chance.

Hiring FO's
 

For those who might be looking for a job, Berry is hiring FO's for their Akron-Canton, OH base (CAK). Preferred TT is 750 with 50ME. On Demand Cargo is feast/famine style where you get your butt kicked at times but the pay is commensurate for the work; especially for an entry level job.
Like all companies, there are people that like it (or tolerate it, lol) and some that hated it. Read thru past comments and/or ask questions.

Berry is still at Kwaj. If you have any questions, let me know.

Hey Spif

Saw a add on 350 for Kwaj posting... Hold dual ATP RW/FW but no type on EC145 or SA 227... Will they type you before deployment or deploy you as a Cpl privileges??? Are the aircraft N reg or Public Use airframes...

Thanks for the info...

Cheers

You'll be typed on the sewer pipe in SAT at FS, can't speak of rotor training because I do not know, and the airplanes are N reg.

FO Positions
 

See that the minimums for FO spots are showing as 750TT. Is possible to apply at 664TT with 115ME.

Baj

Thanks for the info on Kwaj...

Cheers

The worst that can happen is that they never call you. Apply, if they don't call, keep applying until you get the job that you want, at the company you want.

Berry has announced, starting first of the year, they will be rolling out a 401k match. Sounds like 4% with graduated vesting over a 4 year period (very disappointing), but it’s a step in the right direction.

Is the match 4% or do they APPLY the match to up to 4% of income that you contribute? If that is the case, it doesn't sound too bad. A graduated vesting sounds pretty normal.

I've had two employers where vesting takes 5 years and it's all or nothing, so a graduated system starting after the first year is pretty good.

Up to 4% match of your contribution.

2022 Pay Increase
 

New Pay Raise for 2022 (not up on the profile here yet, if any admin seeing this can reach out) Using the 170,000sm average it works out to about a $12,000/year bump for FO's and $15,000/year for 2nd year Capts.

As already mentioned, 4% match on 401k contributions (tiered 4 year vesting). It used to be zero contribution.

Saab 2000's looking to land this year, accepting applications on the website for PICs

Do you still have to perform the 2nd job of the Ramper and have to load/unload cargo (without getting paid a Ramper salary)? Or do you get to now actually be just a pilot and fly the airplane?

No clue who you work for, if anyone, or what you do for a job but nice tone there. But I’ll answer your question anyway; the crew is responsible for pushing palletized loads inside the airplane to/from the cargo door. Occasionally you may have to break down a pallet or two and loose load around. Also expected to strap down the pallets. Any movement of cargo outside the airplane is not your responsibility. No, there is no extra pay. You can include that as part of your base salary. Being paid by the mile is an incentive to work a bit faster. If you want to be paid a salary and no mileage pay, check out Ameriflight - No touching boxes there. (However their charter side of things may have a different policy). But that’s also why FO’s at Berry make more than double than Ameriflight.

A great time to ask that, exactly as phrased, is at the interview

That"s a decent bump

How much is the F/O training contract and for how long?

No training contract. Should you feel overworked by performing two jobs, you are free to quit, guilt free.

Outstanding news.....I'll just consider the ramper job as like getting a free gym membership!

That's the right attitude, take a negative and make it a positive attribute... A positive attitude will serve you well... Best of luck...

Cheers

Sorry, $12,000 bump from what? Not sure if the numbers I've seen are up to date so just wondering what the average total pay is up to now for Brasilia FO's.

The pay information on the profile is current. Lots of variables but an FO can expect to make between $55,000-$70,000. Again, many variables. This is a good average. Could be much less if business drops off. Could be more if you pick up weekends and don’t mind being home 3 days a month.

What kind of schedule can one expect at Berry? I'm eyeing up the DTO positions.

In the job listings, there is "Ability to travel away from domicile for long periods of time." We talking 2 week tours?

The Saabs are not currently on property (FYI) and I do not know how they are going to be working that platform as far as scheduling goes. I don't think management even knows yet.

As for the 120's, the schedule is on-call 24hrs, beginning Monday morning at 0600 and they can use you up until 0600 Saturday morning without paying you weekend pay. On-call weekends are roughly every 4 weeks (sometimes adjusted due to holidays) but you got 13 of them for the year (they can be traded, given away, or picked up). New policy in place regarding the Monday BEFORE your weekend up, you will have off. So you get a 3 day weekend going into your week where you gotta be up that weekend. So, worst case scenario is you get called Tuesday - gone all week, weekend, and into the following week and home Friday for a total of 11 days. Although that CAN happen, it is more on the rare side. It's likely you will make it back home during that time, even if it is just min rest.
Summer is the slow time, possible to be at home more or get called on a Monday and sit in a random hotel for 3 days doing nothing before going home on Friday. Difficult to list every possible scenario, but hope this gives you an idea.
Pay on the profile is up to date.

*For anyone out there reading, a new round of hiring for SIC's on the 120 opened up. Filling 5-6 positions I believe. Welcome to ask here or PM and I'll do my best to answer.

24 hour on call isn’t legal. How is the faa still allowing this?

Because the POI must not know how it works.

The FAA is well aware of this practice. If they wished to end it, they would.

They are waiting for a deadly crash. Then they can blame it on a low time pilot. Raise 135 SIC Mins to 1000TT and find out 10-years later it was due to fatigue.

That really depends on the nature of the call-out, the obligation to answer the phone, and the time before required duty.

If one is on call with a 12 hour requirement, allowing legal rest after notification, for example, remaining on call is legal. Likewise, if one is operating under regulations requiring a 24 hour period free of duty, which must be determined in advance, an oncall system which allows that period, can still meet the legal requirement.

There is no regulation which stipulates how far in advance rest must be provided for notification, to be considered prospective: only that it must be prospective in nature.

What the minimum they are looking for on the SIC for the 120? Additionally, what base is it for? Are they just looking for pilots or are they wanting pilots that have CFI/I as well?

Current mins are on the website, with links for the application. 500TT. If you have extras like CFI or a little extra Multi time than the 25 hours required, it’s possible they will go lower but that will be a case by case basis. If you are close, go ahead and apply and see what they say.

Unfortunately, they are currently requiring the Covid jab until Canada ends that requirement. Sorry folks.

Here to hoping that I get a call from them for an interview for the FO spot. I meet and exceed their minimum requirements. Thanks for info QRH Bingo.

Are they actually hiring at these mins, or closer to the preferred mins that they posted? I’d love to get on with Berry out of DTO, but I’m closer to 300. Working on CFI now.

I am not involved in hiring but I'll give you my best guess answer: It all depends on how many applicants apply and their experience. Berry is experiencing a shortage of applicants just like every other part 135 operator. The previous published minimums used to be 800 hrs and to be competitive you needed over 1,000.

Now, to be blunt, you will not get a phone call back at 300 hours unless you had an inside recommendation. But, if lets say you had 300 hours and 100 of that were multi, maybe. They do consider quality of time, not just quantity.

Additionally, they want someone who will upgrade into the left seat. It can be a tough schedule at times, so if you come in at 300 hours, you may not have the motivation to stick around by the time you're legal to upgrade.

My $0.02. Get your CFI (it's good to have), instruct for a few hundred hours (again, good experience to have), and then come on over. But hey, you're free to apply any time.