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:

The author learned the critical importance of robust fuel planning and comprehensive contingency strategies, especially regarding unpredictable weather and alternate airport conditions, after nearly running out of fuel in dense fog.
Facing mechanical failures like a failed deicing boot or a suspected engine issue, the pilot emphasized prioritizing flying the aircraft, thinking carefully before acting, and leveraging deep knowledge of aircraft systems.
Overall, the experiences instilled the value of keen situational awareness and the overarching lesson that stopping to think and applying past learnings are essential for safely navigating the inevitable unexpected events in aviation.

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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.