So, who wants to fly a 747-8?

Firstly, this isn't an open invitation. I wish it was. I wish we could take ride-alongs.

I've been at NCA (Nippon Cargo) for 15 years. And for the last 15 years, only candidates with a 747 type rating and experience on type were considered. For the first time, this isn't the case. Non type-rated pilots will be hired. Interviews will start around May. Crew bases in LAX, ORD, and AMS.

Just a heads up for FChatters.

 

Bummer, thats a deal breaker for me!lol I remember back in the 90's when JAL, and maybe others, would train pilots out at Moses Lake. Multiple 747's flying around the pattern just like C-150's.

 

You can live anywhere and commute. We have a lot of pilots commuting between Australia and South Africa to those bases! Crazy, but true....

 

Oh I know. My neighbor (here in Seattle) used to be based out of Anchorage, flew Whales for NWA Cargo. Him and a few other pilots rented an apartment up there. Nice local if you liked to fish. I'm getting a little too old to consider such a career move. Does sound like a good opportunity for some though.

 

I should be doing my check ride in a month or so, I think its the obvious next step from, student, to single engine VFR, to 747-8 captain. Don't know why no one else thought of it first.. where do I got to sign up

 

At least you will not have too many bad habits.

 

Now, that made me laugh out loud. Awesome. No reason not to thing big!

 

Well, we're actually hiring for the right seat, but I like the way you think!

 

Just sent my friend who was at World a note. I think he's at Omni just recently but I see and PM if he's interested. He was a right seated on the MD-11 and was in 747-400 training when World went kaput.

 

That's what you think !!

I guess I can compromise myself a little....

 

Lou, what does the retirement/growth picture look like?

 

That's a hard one. The guys upgrading now were hired 6 years ago. We've just hired 11 new FO's...type rated ones. And there are another 20 or so type rated guys awaiting classes. I've heard around 32 more FO's, starting with interviews in May. NCA's current fleet is 9 airplanes, 7 400's and 2 -8s. The plan is to stay at 9 aircraft for now, slowly replacing the 400's with -8s. We should have 5 -8s by winter. NCA does have firm orders for 14 -8s. So I'm assuming that the fleet will grow in the future, although that remains to be seen. As with the airlines, nothing is certain. Starting pay is still relatively good. Hiring is done through 2 different contract companies, HACS and Parc. PM me if you would like additional info.

 

This info per wiki......

FO base $9700, small variation between agencies

Commuting $400
Insurance supp $400

So around 10,500/month to start.....

 

Curriculum Vitae:

55YO curmudgeon, BSEE, MBA, PhD. Flight exp; ~1000 ASEL, ~50 AMEL, IR(lapsed), HP, Complex, TW endorsement. Wears bifocals, two knee surgeries, no DUIs. I can follow the purple line like I'm glued to it.

Call me, talk to my people and I'll maybe call you back - but only if the salary is over $150k. Nah - make that $180k. Oh, and layovers -- lots of layover in Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul(wink, wink).

 

Thanks Lou! I'll pass it on to a friend!

 

Got the email. Will see what I can do...

 

do i need a pilots lic?,im good at flight sims

 

I know a fair amount about the 737 6/7/8 and it's systems. Never flown one, though. I also have a PPL and would consider moving and a career change, especially if they'll provide training.

In good health and 44. Redoing my medical next week and biennial review.

 

Lou-- what are the schedules like?

 

That sure sounds like something that I would like to do. I have almost 1000 hours but no sim time in anything but I can work the props pretty good and I can see pretty good if the sun is out. I don't like it when it rains, though, because you have to land in the mud. I would be good to have in the cockpit because I take a bath every week and chew lots of fruit gum after I eat garlic ( which is every day). Maybe you can put in a word for me. Oh, I forgot. I have a nice collection of old VEEDOL road maps that I have collected over the years after they closed the gas stations, so I won't get lost when I am captain. I hear that there are age limits but I'm certain that at age 87 I'm nowhere near that age limit. I would be a good bargain, too, because I won't need that commuting money , I'll just sleep in the airplane. I already have good insurance that I got from a Chinaman that came to the front door one day. You ought to look into that, Lou, it's going to be pretty cheap. I haven't heard from him yet but I think I will someday soon. Let me know about a good job, okay?

 

OK, I'd love to have you all here. But minimum ATPL with 3000 TT.

 

Well that means I'm out. Would have signed up no question if the training was provided for someone like myself with zero flying experience...but there are plenty of pilots out there looking for a yoke that already have the experience I suppose.

 

Same, I have a few hundred. Unless you're a CFI, 3,000 would cost a fortune to accumulate as PIC. I would think an ex military pilot would be the ideal candidate.

 

The typical path is CFI to 1,000-1,500, then regional airline to 3,000 or more. Alternatively, CFI to 1,200, and then freight to 3,000 or so.

 

I don't even know what that means, count me out I guess.