• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Aircraft loadmasters here?

twinjet

twinjet

Moderator
Staff member
Gold Supporting Member
Sep 23, 2008
8,392
16,202
49
www.talkbass.com
#1
A few Qs for you who have done or currently work this occupation:

What do you enjoy most about your job?
How long have you done it?
Is it satisfying as a career choice?
What can you tell me about your experience?

Thanks.
 
#2
I'm not a loadmaster, but I've worked with plenty of them when I was a loading team leader.
The ones that work with the big carriers like UPS, DHL, TNT are very professional, well-organised, and always seem to be well-prepared.
Smaller companies, they seem more under pressure, I'm assuming because the big boys have had a lot of experience and so have streamlined the job to a fine art.

A couple of them freelance, or having retired, do Dangerous Goods Training, or Weight And Balance.

It's obviously a job that requires an excellent head for detail and ability to work under pressure, but pay is generally good, and the few I know well enough to really talk to seem happy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Mush
#3
Oddly said:
I'm not a loadmaster, but I've worked with plenty of them when I was a loading team leader.
The ones that work with the big carriers like UPS, DHL, TNT are very professional, well-organised, and always seem to be well-prepared.
Smaller companies, they seem more under pressure, I'm assuming because the big boys have had a lot of experience and so have streamlined the job to a fine art.

A couple of them freelance, or having retired, do Dangerous Goods Training, or Weight And Balance.

It's obviously a job that requires an excellent head for detail and ability to work under pressure, but pay is generally good, and the few I know well enough to really talk to seem happy.
Click to expand...
Glad you chimed in, I figured you might know a thing or two.

I've recently taken a job which performs duties that are similar to a loadmaster, though I am not one. At our hub, I supervise and assist in the upload process, making sure everything is safely and properly done. Once we're ready to go, I fly out and direct the download/upload process at other stations where we use contractors to get the job done. The only thing I don't do is weight and balance. I am considering going down the loadmaster career track, but don't really know yet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oddly
#4
I'd certainly look at getting the training...it'd be a major addition to your CV...and like I said, if you're qualified, you can maybe teach it.
My company used to do all our training for DGR, security, manual handling, weight and balance, etc., in house but now it's all out-sourced, and most of it has to be refreshed every year or two years, so that in itself could be a decent financial income.
I'd assume it's the same in the States.

By the way, I hope, if you're taking on that extra responsibility, and signing off on loadsheets, you're getting paid extra for it.
A lot of companies, mine included, have tried to cut corners by having us, as team leaders, also do the load control work without getting any extra pay.
Don't let that happen.
It's too important a role.
 
  • Like
Reactions: twinjet
#5
twinjet said:
Glad you chimed in, I figured you might know a thing or two.

I've recently taken a job which performs duties that are similar to a loadmaster, though I am not one. At our hub, I supervise and assist in the upload process, making sure everything is safely and properly done. Once we're ready to go, I fly out and direct the download/upload process at other stations where we use contractors to get the job done. The only thing I don't do is weight and balance. I am considering going down the loadmaster career track, but don't really know yet.
Click to expand...
If this keeps you from getting sucked into an engine go for it. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gaolee, twinjet and Oddly
#14
Most companies my place handles use their own centralised load control offices...SAS, Lufthansa, Quatar, WestJet, etrc...so our flight dispatchers are acting more as coordinators and rarely do weight and balance etc any more.
Naturally our company saw this as an opportunity to cut back on the levels of training needed...
More efficient, for sure, until something goes wrong and there's nobody experienced and trained to fix things quickly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Mush and IamGroot
#15
My only weight and balances flight issue.
I was flying a C-182R with a single heavy passenger in the back. Separate fuel gravity feed from the wing tanks. I noticed the fuel gauges didn't have equal pull down. The PIC, a moonlighting Continental pilot ,asked the passenger to move to the other side of the craft.

Somehow, I kinda doubted that.
 
#20
bholder said:
Methinks a cliff would have to be involved. Wouldn't need to be a very large cliff, though. Hey, hold my beer! :D
Click to expand...
"Thanks for the beer."
Bigbottom says as he takes a sip and walks away knowing that bholder will not be returning for said beer being held.

Once home, he adds the bottle to the wall with the rest of the beers he has held for people that have not come back to reclaim it.

This is how the 99 bottles of beer on the wall was started.
Current count, 143. :(
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gaolee, Oddly and bholder

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back