Originally Posted by kevin_p

I fly for Air Midwest and currently they're hiring anyone with a commercial/multi/instrument who's reasonably current. PM me for details on where to send a resume if you really need a job. If you have ATP mins (and maybe some turbine time), you can upgrade very quickly (i.e. as soon as you want to).

The company leaves lots to be desired. We have outstation basing, so commuting can be difficult. As an FO, you'll hold a line almost immediately, but if you upgrade to captain quickly, you'll likely sit reserve for a year or more.

If you are willing to give up some quality of life and don't mind being based in a small town in the middle of nowhere, then it can be a place to build time quickly and move on sooner than if you go fly an RJ. I started here about 3 years ago and have 2800 hours in the Beech (1400 as PIC) and I'm a check airman, so you can build your qualifications rather quickly.

The pay isn't great, but you can work the system and make an okay living (for a 19-seater at least). My first full year as FO I made just over $30,000 including per diem, but that included a 90-100 hour line each month and a few months of TDY (a temporary domicile assignment where you get a hotel and 24 hour per diem). As captain, I made about $42K last year including everything (some cancel and junior-assigment pay, instructor premiums, and per diem, but no open time).

The maintenance is okay. The planes are safe, but not pretty. Lots of little stuff breaks, but the major systems are surprisingly reliable. We do have lots of MELs (deferred maintenance items). For example, today I flew 3 different aircraft. One had inop flaps (not a big deal in the Beech, just slightly higher takeoff and landing speeds). Another plane had a backlight inop on one of the instruments and the VCM (air conditioner) was out of freon, and the other didn't have any MELs. I spoke to another crew who had been grounded for a few hours by the FAA earlier today because of a 1 inch scratch on the spinner (FAA said it was a crack, but it wasn't). Our planes are showing their age and the MELs can be a pain, but I feel safe.

PM me for more info or post any other questions you may have. I'm certainly not trying to sugarcoat Air Midwest, but it all depends on your priorities. If you have ATP mins and want some quick turbine PIC, this is the place. If you have 250 hours and just need a job to build time to get hired somewhere else so you can fly an RJ, this is the place. If you want time at home and you don't mind sitting in the right seat of an RJ for a few years, try Republic or Skywest if you meet the mins. They're definitely better companies and you'll have a better quality of life while you're building time and waiting to upgrade.

Good luck with whatever you choose.