I’ve got 1200 hours in a caravan doing the same FedEx feeder job. It was a golden handcuffs, and I had a love-hate relationship with it while I was there and I was very focused on career progression. 4000 hours in the left seat of a 737 I miss flying the caravan “alone” and not dealing with all the Airline BS. Funny how things come full circle. That being said, I wouldn’t trade the salary of a 73 for the caravan.
You flying for MAEI? I'm currently flying for a pipeline survey company near YEG and seriously contemplating moving on to MAEI as soon as I have the 1500.
You guys are doing exactly the thing I want to do in few years!!! Especially in Vancouver which is where i got my ratings. Once i finish getting some hours and this covid is over i swear ill be your good co worker
The answer would actually be FAA regulations and whether or not the operation is approved for an EFB program. Even then, depending on what you’re approved for, you may still be required to have the paper charts onboard.
It's Never too late. If this is the kind of flying you want to do then you'll only be limited to how long your health allows you to hold a second class medical.
That’s normal for busy airspace. Too many airplanes and a lot of information to give. As you gain experience as a pilot you get used to it and know what information they’re trying to give you and what to listen for. It’s usually pretty standard and in the same order most of the time.
I want to fly the Cessna Caravan 208 for skydiving opportunity when the time is there I will always be ready and prepared to do the job safely and correctly when called.
Please keep sharingthis type of videos, I live in Mexico, now I'm holding a private license and working to get my commercial, one of my biggest goals it's to, one day, fly a Caravan !!
seriously, love watching these kind of vids, thanks for the great radio audio as well. I’m a student working on my commercial , have an instrument rating ...loved the thought of flying the ce caravan ever since I ‘ flew’ it in flight sim when I was a teen ... flying out of LVK ...where were you based out of flying into OAK here? I’ve seen some fedex caravans fly into and out of BFL ...know of any feeder options flying caravans near OAK? anyways, thanks for the vids !
It's been 5 years since I left the Chief Pilot position at a Fedex feeder so things may have changed. I was based out of FAT and on that particular day I believe I departed VIS. There are options out of OAK because that's a hub. BFL is an outstation where the airplane sits all day and flies back to the hub at ONT for the night. When you have Part 135 IFR minimums per 135.243(c) give WestAir a call. Good luck on your continued training.
B. G. Three thanks for your input sir ! Yeah I’d expect a bit to change in 5 years, but thanks for that info anyways. I will definitely check out WestAir when I meet those minimums. Appreciate the feedback!
Thank you for posting this video I hope you’ll post more of these videos in the future. I would like to also fly for a FedEx feeder in the future, any advice? I live near KDFW
Look up Baron Aviation, they're the ones running caravans out of AFW. If you want to fly as part of a crew in an ATR then look up Mountain Air Cargo. As long as you have part 135 IFR minimums and there is an opening then you could be flying FedEx feeder caravans. Be comfortable on the radio, have good situational awareness, and have good aeronautical decision making. Number one thing I would recommend is being instrument CURRENT and PROFICIENT. The rest can be taught when they send you to Flight Safety.
That was pretty stressful for the viewer because we were flying blind due to the light shinning into the window but I new you had everything under control great job Sir!!
Great video. I did the same thing in Florida, 6 yrs ago. I flew the classic version without the TKS/G600. Also, I loaded the feeder when I was a std and CFI in KOAK, many moons ago...lol!!
@@bigc208 hey! could I message you regarding a few questions ? I used to be prior enlisted in the air force as a loader for cargos. I got my science degree in aeronautical science at embry riddle with my GI bill and currently working on my hours! I’ve only considered cargo and nothing else, how hard is it to from Mountain air or empire into fed ex? I’m 30 yo currently around 350 hours
Looking to do this as a first pilot job in 4-5 years. Starting at Purdue in 2 weeks, currently 100 hr PPL and plan on graduating Purdue close to 1000 hr RATP mins. Would you recommend trying to fly the caravan/ATR to start if my ultimate goal is to fly for FedEx? Would this be more advantageous than flying part 135 jets or for a regional? Thx!
I flew the "feeders" for over 5 years, loved it! I only left to take a corporate G-4 job which i have been at for the past 10 years! If you like flying nights (like I do) and you aren't "weather shy" flying the feeders is a good gig. But, don't look at it as a stepping stone to Express.
The FedEx feeder pilots were not FedEx employees, they were employed by Mountain Air and other outfits. I flew for FedEx (big jets) for 26 years and never understood why the Caravan guys were not on a pipeline to be hired by FedEx.
Zero. All you need is to meet the minimum part 135 requirements spelled out in 135.24(C). Of course there has to be an opening but there are plenty these days. Google FedEx Feeders and look for one near you or one that has routes near you and apply.
I left my chief pilot position at a feeder and spent time flying for an air ambulance operation in the Northwest. Just left that to fly a PC-12 and start up a Part 135 program for the owner. One of my other videos is flying a PC-12NG at the beginning of this year.
Thanks and as of now I'm prepared to finish up my IFR training because I'm going to need that to get hired and hopefully I can pick up a job flying jumpruns in a Caravan to build up hours before I apply
Do you have to load and unload your own plane? Also can you go from flying the caravan to passengers? Meaning would companies actually hire you if you don’t follow a specific program?
Yea, if you meet the minimum requirements for whatever company, you are golden. I got friends who got their cfi rating, instructed, joined a cadet program and now fly for skywest, and others who took jobs as charter pilots and then just joined up with a regional, once they hit there 1500 hour mark.
I was chief pilot of this operation. Out of 40 pilots I would say half were older, semi retired who had been doing this for 15-20 years. The rest were either content doing this for the rest of their career or headed up the ladder. I’m still in contact with a few of them from 10 years ago and they now fly for major airlines.
I was CP and just filled in whenever I felt like flying. I remember VIS being my least favorite but it’s how I would get to OAK to do my favorite which was OAK-MRY.
I'm hoping to be doing the same around the Colorado area in a years time. do you have any other videos or planning to make more. Like to know more about the typical day flying Fedex feeder.
Well unfortunately that's how a lot of Part 135 flying works. These are not complicated airplanes and these particular airplanes are equipped with an autopilot that works almost all the time. If you're carrying passengers while flying single pilot IFR then a functioning AP is required. The AP is used to reduce the workload during critical phases of flight or during emergencies, not to compensate for poor piloting.
Talked to a FedEx caravan pilot at an air show. He was flying a cargo of roses for Valentine's day. He learned the hard way that he was allergic to roses. He made it to his destination with a severely swollen face. It was a close call!
Feeders fly all air freight to and from main hubs to smaller outstations. You fly out in the morning and back in the late afternoon. If you live at the hub you’re home at night and if you live at the outstation you’re home during the day. You are provided a hotel at whatever end you don’t live. All fedex feeder caravans have an autopilot. I personally liked to fly the departure to cruise and approach to landing.
I retired in 2010 and you didn't need one for the feeder type flying. Many captains I flew with had no degree but if you ever get to the majors, then you'll probably need it as some airlines require it. I flew beech 99 and ATR for various carriers.
It used to be we were like any other pilot but now I hear they are offering a flow type program with an interview if you work for certain feeders and meet the requirements. This was something I pitched to them back when I was a feeder chief pilot and it looks like they listened finally. www.fedexpurplerunway.com
Pac Valley, yeah. The alarm is the 1000' alert for my next selected altitude. Goes off again if you get more than 300' from your selected altitude after you level off.
Not a problem at all. In fact, I heard some feeders are going to start putting cameras in all their caravans to record the flight and flight data. When I worked for an air ambulance company it was a requirement for all helicopters.
Flying a lot of Single pilot IFR is a real challenge and a great opportunity to using the training skills that I will be taught during my Flight into different approaches and especially staying on top of the Caravan and being able to fly the aircraft and communicating and navigating with ATC and knowing what the next steps are before landing at anytime at any airport that I'm going into and the greatest eye watering approach I did was the ILS approach down To minumins and seeing the lights was amazing for the first time during my IFR cross country and hopefully I'll get hired on one day to be a FedX feeder Pilot in the Cessna Caravan
You get really proficient when you fly every day during the week. I flew for a check hauler, no longer in business and sometimes flew 80hrs in a month. Single pilot, in a C210
