Originally Posted by
ATOP40
My next question is about reserve. All airlines I know anything about (not much) seem to have reserves. Is it safe to assume that AMF does also? How about a base like OAK. I believe there are five or six Navahos based there so is there always reserves available and if so how does that scheduling work?
Reserve works a little different at AMF. At AMF, pilots are paid a certain "unit" value based on the run they fly. The majority of the runs in the company are "8 units per day" runs giving a pilot 40 units per week. A pilot is guaranteed 40 units per week minimum. Some runs have a higher unit value but they are relatively sparse. For the most part, the runs you will be flying as a new hire in the PA31 are 40 units per week.
As for reserve, a reserve line is also worth 40 units a week. Since the pay for most runs and a reserve line is the same, the reserve lines tend to be held by rather senior guys (same pay with the chance NOT to do any work). That said, after being hired, you will probably start flying a run from day 1 after your checkride.
Of course, this is all based on the needs of the company / base assigned to.