Lessons Learned From Flying the Mail

After more than 30 years and 25,000 hours of flying as a freight dog, this pilot knew the unexpected and unplanned would happen.

Frank Perfetti

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 10:57 AM ET

Verified

[Credit: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots must always ensure conservative fuel planning and thoroughly understand alternate airport conditions to safely manage unforecast weather and avoid critical situations.
In emergencies, prioritize flying the aircraft, leverage deep knowledge of its systems, and make careful, non-reversible decisions under pressure.
Strong situational awareness and the ability to stop, think critically, and apply learned lessons are crucial for safely navigating unexpected challenges like mechanical failures or rapidly deteriorating weather.

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In 1976, I was an inexperienced 24-year-old pilot when I got my first “real” flying job. I was hired by a small commuter airline to fly mail at night and passengers during the day in Piper Navajo and Navajo Chieftain twins.

A normal sequence started on day one at 10:30 p.m. in Charleston, West Virginia, flying east to Baltimore, Maryland, then back west to Martinsburg, West Virginia, then further west, ending in Cumberland, Maryland, at 3:30 a.m. the next morning. At 11:30 a.m. on day two, I would fly passenger runs until 9 p.m., then at 9:30 p.m., pick up the airmail run back to Charleston, finishing up around 1:30 a.m. on the third day. At every stop, I had to unload and reload 1,600 pounds of mail and somewhere find time to check the weather and get something to eat.