Freight Dogs

[glyn]

Freight Dogs are the civilian pilots who carry cargo around the world. It is not a glamorous job. Crew uniforms lack the style of those who fly fare-paying passengers. The pay is somewhat less, and the aircraft are often those elderly types that had previously been airliners or ex-military freighters.
The air cargo business is still a competitive market that can earn its operators a fortune (like FedEx) - or cost them dearly.
Minsk based Transaviaexport flew to Mogadishu airport in Somalia on the 9th March this year. About 2 miles from the runway it was hit by (it is believed) a RPG on the port side of the fuselage near the main undercarriage. A fire broke out quickly filling the fuselage with smoke but the IL-76TD freighter was able to land and the crew evacuated the aircraft. The only fire-fighting truck took an hour to reach the scene as it had no fuel and had to be pushed. On March 29th the company flew another IL-76TD from Djibouti to Mogadishu delivering spares and an inspection team for the first aircraft. The aircraft then took-off for Minsk but had barely left the ground when it was hit by 3 missiles one of which hit the wing causing control to be lost and it crashed beyond the airport killing all 11 of those on board.
I don't know what they pay these freight dogs, but it isn't enough to tempt me to work the Somalia route!

[sappersgt]

Freight Dogs are the civilian pilots who carry cargo around the world. It is not a glamorous job. Crew uniforms lack the style of those who fly fare-paying passengers. The pay is somewhat less, and the aircraft are often those elderly types that had previously been airliners or ex-military freighters.
The air cargo business is still a competitive market that can earn its operators a fortune (like FedEx) - or cost them dearly.
Minsk based Transaviaexport flew to Mogadishu airport in Somalia on the 9th March this year. About 2 miles from the runway it was hit by (it is believed) a RPG on the port side of the fuselage near the main undercarriage. A fire broke out quickly filling the fuselage with smoke but the IL-76TD freighter was able to land and the crew evacuated the aircraft. The only fire-fighting truck took an hour to reach the scene as it had no fuel and had to be pushed. On March 29th the company flew another IL-76TD from Djibouti to Mogadishu delivering spares and an inspection team for the first aircraft. The aircraft then took-off for Minsk but had barely left the ground when it was hit by 3 missiles one of which hit the wing causing control to be lost and it crashed beyond the airport killing all 11 of those on board.
I don't know what they pay these freight dogs, but it isn't enough to tempt me to work the Somalia route!

I think you really have to love to fly. For some it doesn't matter what or where as long as it's in the air!

[glyn]

I think you really have to love to fly. For some it doesn't matter what or where as long as it's in the air!

I used to love to fly and unkindly was once known as 'the flying fool' but I'm not so foolish that I'd want to haul freight to Somalia

[sappersgt]

I used to love to fly and unkindly was once known as 'the flying fool' but I'm not so foolish that I'd want to haul freight to Somalia

The idea has a certain amount of appeal. Two things that I can't seem to get out of my system are flying and Africa. I would have to agree with the sentiment of maybe not Somalia.

Right now my "job" consists of collecting a retirement check ( I retired in my forties) and managing my stock portfolio. I've taken up flying again and am thinking about purchasing an airplane. The domestic market for commercial pilots seems to be mostly taken up by ex military personnel. If I were to pursue such a line of work I would probably have to be looking in Africa.

[glyn]

The idea has a certain amount of appeal. Two things that I can't seem to get out of my system are flying and Africa. I would have to agree with the sentiment of maybe not Somalia.

Right now my "job" consists of collecting a retirement check ( I retired in my forties) and managing my stock portfolio. I've taken up flying again and am thinking about purchasing an airplane. The domestic market for commercial pilots seems to be mostly taken up by ex military personnel. If I were to pursue such a line of work I would probably have to be looking in Africa.

I don't really know why but the idea of crop-spraying in a fixed wing type always appealed to me. Maybe it's because you are legally low flying, but the margin for error is vanishingly small. You'd better hope the old engine doesn't miss a beat!

[Shamus]

I don't really know why but the idea of crop-spraying in a fixed wing type always appealed to me. Maybe it's because you are legally low flying, but the margin for error is vanishingly small. You'd better hope the old engine doesn't miss a beat!

Well Glyn,you and the Sarge could start a company together....G&S Crop Dusting and Rebel Supression-"Bugs or Thugs,if you don't trust 'em,we'll dust 'em" I'm sure we could retrofit a Douglas Skyraider to do both ....Just remember to keep the bug bombs and the thug bombs straight .

[sappersgt]

I don't really know why but the idea of crop-spraying in a fixed wing type always appealed to me. Maybe it's because you are legally low flying, but the margin for error is vanishingly small. You'd better hope the old engine doesn't miss a beat!

It doesn't surprise me. I talked to an old fighter pilot once about what the best kind of flying for him was. He said crop dusting was the thing he enjoyed the most! He said it was challenging indeed sometimes grueling. Although working conditions were sometimes not to be desired there was something about flying close to the ground.

[sappersgt]

(I'm still laughing)

Well Glyn,you and the Sarge could start a company together....G&S Crop Dusting and Rebel Supression-"Bugs or Thugs,if you don't trust 'em,we'll dust 'em" I'm sure we could retrofit a Douglas Skyraider to do both ....Just remember to keep the bug bombs and the thug bombs straight .

The Business and Professions Code says we can't drop thug bombs on the bugs and the Geneva Convention says we can't drop bug bombs on the thugs. Isn't it always something?!

[Shamus]

The Business and Professions Code says we can't drop thug bombs on the bugs and the Geneva Convention says we can't drop bug bombs on the thugs. Isn't it always something?!

Couldn't you contravene the code slightly by claiming that the thugs bug you and the bugs are really thugs and just bomb the the hell out of both? You could use my newly patented cluster munitions filled with a combination of DDT and deodorant bomblets,guaranteed to exterminate Mugabes or your money back .

[wabpilot]

I think you really have to love to fly. For some it doesn't matter what or where as long as it's in the air!

After I retired from the navy and before I signed on with USAir, I flew for a commuter airline that had a check run from SDF to STL. Flew if five nights a week in a Beech 18. I encountered more rotten weather on that route than I thought possible. The 18, while a pleasant airplane to fly, was a bear on or near the ground. I remember on snowy night in St. Louie when the plane seemed to want to chase its tail all over the airport. I was never so glad to get the engines shut down. By the time I was loaded for the return, it had started to rain. All around just a wonderful trip. But, it sure beat managing a branch bank.

[texacali]

Glyn, I learned to fly in a J-3, taught by an old duster pilot. He told me the chemicals were what you had to fear and not the aircraft. His brother had the habit of buzzing the house inverted after a day's work. One day he went in. After thousands of hours logged, the family thought surely the spray had done him. My instructor later tangled with some high lines, survived the crash but not the fire. Yes, you have to love to fly.

[glyn]

Well Glyn,you and the Sarge could start a company together....G&S Crop Dusting and Rebel Supression-"Bugs or Thugs,if you don't trust 'em,we'll dust 'em" I'm sure we could retrofit a Douglas Skyraider to do both ....Just remember to keep the bug bombs and the thug bombs straight .

I like your style, Shakeless Bring the fabled family fortune and I'm sure sappersgt and I will let you join the board.

[glyn]

It doesn't surprise me. I talked to an old fighter pilot once about what the best kind of flying for him was. He said crop dusting was the thing he enjoyed the most! He said it was challenging indeed sometimes grueling. Although working conditions were sometimes not to be desired there was something about flying close to the ground.

Another attraction to dusting is that you don't have to wear uniform. After a full military career I think my innate rebellious nature was beginning to show through!

[Shamus]

Another attraction to dusting is that you don't have to wear uniform. After a full military career I think my innate rebellious nature was beginning to show through!

What was the first clue...your commanding officer telling you the plaid shorts and lederhosen had to go?

[Debbie]

What was the first clue...your commanding officer telling you the plaid shorts and lederhosen had to go?

Oh good gracious