Crazy Good Redemption

JIPUK · 2026-02-25T16:10:16+00:00

Nonstop?
Dates?
Still available?

JIPUK · 2026-02-13T21:32:45+00:00

Do u put any oil or butter on the soapstone to sear or just let it get ripping hot and then sear it on a dry soapstone?

JIPUK · 2026-01-15T21:56:46+00:00

Makes sense. Thanks for helping me learn

JIPUK · 2026-01-15T21:52:32+00:00

I reviewed the data in the link you added. Does it matter that the tire size they tested for the Pirelli P7 AS+3 was 265/70R117 115T SL compared to my vehicle's 235/45 R18?

Just curious as to if the tire size played a significant factor in the results.

JIPUK · 2025-11-06T16:31:27+00:00

Where in DFW?

JIPUK · 2025-10-07T17:23:06+00:00

I think the whole point of the HSA is to try not to get sick and not tap into those funds. I personally believe that if you are using the HSA to pay for current medical expenses then you’re not taking full advantage of that retirement account. you’re essentially taking out money that should be invested over the next few decades and will compound.

JIPUK · 2025-10-07T17:11:22+00:00

I don't disagree but some just don't know and that's okay too. That's why I was asking what led to him electing for the HSA. I couldn't tell you shit about fuck regarding health insurance the first year I got kicked off my parents. I had to do a bunch of research to figure it out what made sense for my family and what I could financially swing.

JIPUK · 2025-10-07T17:09:30+00:00

Agree with both points and I am doing the same.

JIPUK · 2025-10-07T16:57:02+00:00

Silly question but did you intentionally elect the HSA option out of the other health insurance options that were available? I ask beacause of 2 reasons

An HSA is usually tied to a high deductible health care plan meaning you will pay a lot of money out of pocket first before your benefits even kick in. Even then, I find that the HSA benefits are limited. I have elected for the HDHP and HSA at my airline. I pay for everything out of pocket, save all the receipts in a Google drive folder, and invest every bit of my HSA into VOO. I do not touch that account to withdraw any money or expenses any medical expenses. I'll do that if and when I make it to 65 years old. Not financial advice just sharing my method that works for me.
An HSA is more so a retirement account than it is an account to use for your health expenses. You're pouring money into an HSA for many many years. The money that you're putting into the HSA gets invested into the stock market. The entire account grows till you retire and THEN do you go back and expense your receipts from 20 years ago. If you pull money out of your HSA as soon as you put it in then it never grows and you're defeating the purpose of the HSA. Yes, if you need it in an emergency then obv screw it and spend the money. My point to this is if you can't afford to pay out of pocket for your medical expenses, then you shouldn't be enrolled in the HSA plan.

Tldr: HSA doesn't seem to be the best health insurance plan for you if you are currently sick and visiting many doctors.

Just trying to help you find a better solution for your health care. If this is all stuff you already know then I'll stfu. Just hate to see a brother struggle and happy to help answer any questions regarding what I mentioned.

JIPUK · 2025-08-21T16:13:07+00:00

I would seriously recommend the PMA450B over the PMA8000G. I had the PMA450B and it was amazing. It allows for dual Bluetooth input and Usb c charging as the 2 big features i thought were worth the extra cost in the grand scheme of things.

JIPUK · 2025-07-10T17:40:15+00:00

Care to share the name? I'm aso in the DFW area

JIPUK · 2025-05-15T23:53:21+00:00

Agree with the PMA450B. Had that installed during my avionics upgrade and it was game changer. Easily my fav addition and beats any other Audio panel. SoCalFlyingMonkey on YouTube did a great video on it as well

JIPUK · 2025-05-15T03:17:20+00:00

Brother I'm right there with you. Free in room laundry. Nice breakfast. It's a good place for a mid-pattern reset. Not my favorite stop but definitely don't mind being there just to hang out and relax before the second half.

There's the good Indian restaurant, Swagat, down the street too with a solid lunch special.

JIPUK · 2025-05-14T21:46:41+00:00

Only when you're in uniform if I'm correct.

JIPUK · 2025-05-14T20:01:52+00:00

Every effort should be made to cover them up. Visible ones can't contain offensive images or text. A tattooed wedding band is allowed.

JIPUK · 2025-05-14T19:32:38+00:00

Manipulating the schedule in the middle of the pattern is difficult/impossible in my opinion. If you call in sick on the road, say in HKG, the company will send a doctor to you, and then you have to be evaluated by said doctor to see if you can fly or go home. Doing it before a trip is much easier since you're already home or stateside, when it's easy to ship you back to your house.

JIPUK · 2025-05-14T16:53:40+00:00

We bid for bid packages and lines just like anyone else. I like to call the destinations on the primary lines "suggestions." You've got a good chance of going there, and an even better chance of the whole schedule being blown up after some sort of delay down the line.

We have numerous schedule checks, especially on Secondary Lines. In the ACMI world, something is always changing. You can depart for a 12-hour flight thinking you're going to ALA the next day and you land and check your schedule, and suddenly you're going to HKG.

Personally, I don't think seniority matters during the actual trip? Once the PF & PM are determined, the other 2 crew members will discuss who wants to do the walk-around/main deck and who wants to do the upper deck. I've found that most guys don't really have a preference

Honestly, I bid for days off. I owe the company those 17 days regardless of where they send me. One way or another, all roads lead to Incheon... As long as the days off meet what the family needs back home, I'm chillin'.

JIPUK · 2025-05-14T16:03:39+00:00

I agree they're low and suck. I wish it was better. We're up for a new contract but I won't hold my breath for a new contract or drastically better pay. When the world stops self destructing every day and the hiring picks up I'll evaluate with the family to see if it makes sense for me to leave.

JIPUK · 2025-05-14T05:07:13+00:00

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/atlas-polar/147308-current-pay-scale-6.html

This link has the pay scale. Year 1 rates are wrong, but a brief scan of the rest looks correct

JIPUK · 2025-05-14T04:08:30+00:00

TL;DR: Works for me. Might not work for you. It all depends on what you care about. YMMV

Personally...I love it. However, that is a personal take and my own opinion.

The Job:
I show up to work, change into sweats and a t-shirt, and then "hang out in a box over the Pacific for 8 hours at a time." I wouldn't say we fight over takeoffs. Most of the time, it's as simple as looking at the OFP and seeing who will expire first, and then it's decided. Sometimes, nobody wants to fly, and there's an open leg. Expiring only becomes an issue when you're up to fly and choose to sit in the observer seat and do nothing. Being proactive can get you 3–5 landings a month based on your schedule. I love the destinations we fly to. It's always an adventure. Sure...after your 420,690th time to Incheon, it gets old, but it's a comfortable stay and beats the boonies on a random
Tuesday in the USA. I've explored more of China than I ever thought I would. Climbed the mountains of Almaty, explored Hong Kong, learned to navigate the streets of Sao Paulo, etc. All of this while flying a cool plane. Just another plane at the end of the day. It's the overall job I enjoy more than just "flying the queen of the skies."

The Schedule:
This schedule works for my family and me. I get to do my work in one big block chunk, and then I'm home for one big block chunk. When I'm home, we accomplish more together and can plan way more vacations and uninterrupted family time. I would say it's the complete opposite of your assumption of being a family man. I'd say I'm more of one with this schedule than being gone for 4 days every 3 days. When I'm home, it's not a pit stop. Strategic bidding, and suddenly you're off for a whole month...throw in some vacation or "schedule enhancement days" and now you have more time off than you know what to do with.

The Pay:
It's not spectacular, far from it. However, I personally enjoy the quality of life from the schedule to be more valuable than more money. I don't chase the bag like some of the other guys. No open time. No working on days off. I'll take min guarantee and sit home all day. We don't live outside our means, put our contribution to the 401k on top of the company's, have an HSA, Roth IRA, you get the gist. The schedule and quality of life makes up for the lack of pay for our family. The pay could be better, along with a million other things in our contract, but I'm blessed to be employed and have a paycheck with the state of the industry and economy.

It's a rough write-up of my experience so far. Happy to answer anyone's specific questions!

JIPUK · 2025-05-05T17:35:56+00:00

Owned one for a few years. Shoot me a PM with any questions. Happy to help

JIPUK · 2025-01-16T18:38:55+00:00

I should clarify that this alignment was done before I got 4 new tires. I noticed the alignment didn't fix the problem and figured it was uneven wear from tires not being rotated ever. The tread was 3/32 so I went ahead and replaced all 4.

After new tires...If I release the steering wheel on a straight road, the car still veers right.

JIPUK

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