Working for FRE/ACE
Highly competitive pay
Fast aircraft upgrade times
Quick captain upgrade times
Simulator training
Management opportunities
Great work/life balance
Your Career Takes Flight
FRE/ACE is a great starting point for pilots new to commercial aviation, with our in-house flow-through program. We offer professional training, opportunities for advancement, and a wide variety of experiences working with our diverse aircraft fleet. With quick upgrade times to captain and more complex aircraft, FRE/ACE gets you further in your career faster!
Click on the progression steps below for more information on each step.
Beech 99 First Officer
Required Flight Hours:
250 - 500 Hours
Aircraft Type:
Beech 99 Freighter
Approx Compensation:
$47,000
Pilots hired as Beech 99 First Officer generally fly for about 6 to 9 months in this position until they reach 750 total flight hours. They then transition to First Officer of our Embraer 120 or Saab 2000 aircraft.
First Officer
Required Flight Hours:
750 - 1,000 Hours
Approx Compensation:
$57,000 - $80,000
Most pilot candidates are hired into this position. Training is conducted in company aircraft and/or professional simulators. Pilots hired as either Embraer 120 or Saab 2000 First Officer generally fly for about 6 to 12 months in this position until they reach 1,200 to 1,500 total flight hours. They then upgrade to either Beech 99 or Embraer 120 Captain.
Beech 99 Captain
Required Flight Hours:
1,200 Hours
Aircraft Type:
Beech 99 Freighter
Approx Compensation:
$97,000 - $106,500
Most pilots are upgraded into this position. Pilots upgraded or hired to Beech 99 Captain generally fly for about 6 to 9 months in this position until obtaining approximately 1,500 total flight hours. They then transition to Embraer 120 Captain.
Embraer 120 Captain
Required Flight Hours:
1,500 Hours
Aircraft Type:
Embraer 120 Freighter
Approx Compensation:
$103,500 - $140,000
Most pilots transition into this Embraer 120 Captain position from Beech 99 Captain. Pilots hired as Embraer 120 Captain receive training in company aircraft, and generally fly for about 12 to 18 months in this position until obtaining 2,500 total flight hours. They then transition to Saab 2000 Captain.
Saab 2000 Captain
Required Flight Hours:
2,500 Hours
Aircraft Type:
Saab 2000
Approx Compensation:
$162,500 - $181,500
Most pilots transition into this Saab 2000 Captain position from Embraer 120 Captain. Pilots hired as Saab 2000 Captain receive professional simulator training, and generally fly for about 18 to 24 months in this position. After this experience pilots are highly attractive to national and major airlines such as Kalitta Air, Atlas Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and UPS Airlines.
“I viewed my time at Freight Runners Express as a good flying experience and a quick way to build turbine PIC time. Now that I am an airline captain and instructor, I realize that my time flying at Freight Runners Express helped me build a solid foundation in airmanship, decision-making, and responsibility. Flying out of KMKE provides each pilot with exposure to all types of weather, including some of the more challenging winter weather. This type of experience is invaluable to any pilot looking to make professional aviation a career. I would not hesitate to recommend Freight Runners Express.”
Jaime Forte
CRJ900 Captain/Instructor
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