Originally Posted by
frmrbuffdrvr
Ok. This is where I now take offense. If the conditions at AMF were "not good at all" as you say, I would not still be here after 13 years. I can tell you stories of where AMF has bent over backwards for me and for other employees. The way you spin everything here as a negative tells me that you didn't enjoy it and for some reason you just feel a need to spew that out to everyone else.
No money? What do you want? $50K per year as a 1200 hour pilot?? I have been able to live comfortably with a wife who doesn't work outside the home and I'm still putting money aside for retirement. And as for "lower and lower pay", while it hasn't gone up as much as I would like, we have never had to take a pay cut as has been tried at the unionized airlines.
Save on the benefits? Find me another company, hiring brand new pilots (as brand new as they legally can, that is) that provides the 401K matching that AMF does. If you have ever needed health insurance, I personally don't think you could find much better. I hear stories from friends who have gotten refused treatment under their health plans. I have NEVER had that happen under the two different insurance companies we have had here in my time with AMF. And my wife and I are on the older side, so we USE our health coverage regularly.
You are overlooking the fact that while the majors are hiring you INTO the right seat, they are LOOKING for people that can fly the left seat. They are LOOKING for PIC pilots. That is why they like to see PIC time. They want to know that when the pressure is on, you are capable of making the decisions needed to safely get the plane on the ground.
You don't know how thankful I am for that.
Yes, preatty clear that i did not make make self clear enough about the difference beteween pilots and companies.
Having been there for 13 years made you belive that maybe you are part of the company mangement and maybe you have forgotten that you are not.
I have a deep respect for the pilots that can be there for a long time because i know how hard it was for me and if you have been able to find a good balance between the job and your personal life good for you.
Money wise, just to be more precise my paycheck was 890$ after taxes and before heath insurance and 401K every two weeks.
If you can pay all the things you said with this money, congrats, i was not.
At the regional where i work right now I'm making 22-2300$ a month (because they pay the per-diem which is not paid at AMF). Of course they also offer Heath insurance, 401K matching for the new hire after 30 days and not 90 days like AMF, of course benefits may be better or worst according which company you work for but they are offered to the new hierd with the minimum ATP.
They also offer travel benfits for you and your family and jumpseat befetis for you only with all the majors and not only with Southwest like AMF. Just to be more specific, as a pilot, you can jumseat internationally paying only the taxes.
All this things make the life in a regional a little bit better that at AMF. Of course you won't be rich but better than AMF.
As far as the pay goes, considering the money spent to get a college degree and a commercial pilot license if i ask a fair pay i don't hink i'm asking too much. And if if ask to be treated fairly at work is just a matter of respect and been professional, not seniority in the company.
As far as the PIC time goes on Turbine, i don't want to say that is bad or not important, I'm just saying that if you want to go for a job at a major today Turbine PIC is not a requirement, if you have it better but if you don't... don't stress out.
Does anyone know an FO who was hier at a major with no PIC time?
Just check the webpage of the majors and check for the requirements.
The only difference maybe Southwest that wants a 737 type rating that you won't get at AMF anyhow.
The PIC time that can make the difference is (and that's my personal opinion) not when you are the Capt. of yourself like at AMF but when you have upgraded from SIC to PIC in that regional. So when you have been the Capt. of somebody.
Just to clarify something that may not be clear to the ones who are thinking to go AMF.
The First Officer in a Regional flyes as much as the Capt. does. They alternate the flying every other leg. So the FO are not the ones how slam the gear for the capt (like they say at AMF) but are pilot and fly as much as the capt everyday!