Originally Posted by
j3cub
Completely and respectfully disagree. American flies steam gauge MD-80s. Delta flies steam gauge MD-80s. Northwest flew steam gauge DC-9s. If you are fortunate enough to get hired at Delta or American you will probably fly the MD-80 and from what I've seen, the CRJ/ERJ "glass" guys have the most trouble.
Ameriflight was the best career building move I made. I came with 1,300 hours. Stayed 3 years. Left with over 3,000 hours Total Time, 1,300 Turbine PIC, an ATP, two type ratings in the Metro and Brasilia.
I flew all single pilot until the Brasilia and the transition to two crew was nothing spectacular. Going from single pilot to two crew was way easier.
FMS? Never used one until my current job. It was easy to use and is very user friendly and mostly self explanitory.
Currently I am an MD-80 Captain. I have flown with First Officers who have mostly single pilot time and enjoyed every minute of it. I have flown with First Officers with a gazillion hours at XYZ Regional in the CRJ that make me want to pound my head into a wall. Likewise I have flown with awful single pilot guys and excellent CRJ guys. It all depends and going to one or the other does not "make you".
I know pilots personally from Ameriflight that left to go to Southwest. Virgin. Cathay. UPS. Continental. Allegiant. Northwest. Etc. It was and still is a small pilot group and not everyone is going to be moving on to those places. That's just plain numbers.
Point is, it all boils down to natural ability, attitude and personality. Getting hired boils down to who you know and how well you interview. Flying a jet with glass is not hard. Flying a jet with steam gauges is not hard. Flying anything with an FMS is not hard.
I would prefer to fly with a single pilot freight guy with a good personality over a regional "glass guy" any day.
Very good, i'm really happy for you and i've appreciate your replay.
My point is not what it was yesterday but what is today.
Major are not looking for turbine PIC which is the main thing why pilots go AMF. Of course if you are a good pilot with a good personality you interview, been hired an pass any training.
Point is that today turbine PIC is not necessary to apply to a major, then if they call you and you pass the interview is not only related to what you did before but on how good you interview.
Any flying experience is important and has a lot to teach if you are open to learn and AMF has a lot to teach.
I just don't understand how come that AMF pilot and training Capt. leave to go regional?
MD80 may have steam gauges, you know better than me, but is that the future? Or Boeing and Airbus are?
As a MD 80 Capt, how many pilot did you see going from AMF straight to major, in percentage? More or less?
I think they ares till a small group.
Thank you for your post.