Originally Posted by
milehighskyline
24 yo m with 2200 total time. ATP 900 multi, 1000 ish PIC. 300 turbine 135 experience and 121 experience in E 175. Left flying to work in the Texas oil fields that are now laying off so going back to flying and insist on sticking with it. Grass is not greener always outside the cockpit i.e..( Job security with oil prices) but i just had to try roughnecking for a while. Looking at PSA MESA Republic or Ameriflight. Only advantage with Ameriflight is I think i qualify for Left seat positions rather quickly. looks like you can earn pic turbine hours quicker than 121. I flew a Lear 55 down to Alpine Texas and helped a 99 pilot jump the plane cause he left the master on while waiting for UPS truck. He seamed to like the company and the pilot group. Sounds like an enjoyable experience. Let me know what you think
You've been part 121, so you have a good idea of what to expect on the pay there. The Ameriflight payscales are updated on this website (34K for PA31 and BE99, 45K for the Metro first year). You don't get per diem for normal assignments.
I'm sure, with a resume like that, they can offer you a 99 or possibly even a Metro to start. It will be a junior base, most likely Central or Eastern time zone. If you want a western base, the progression is a little slower, but in many cases, you can still be in a Metro in a year.
At any rate, don't take the transition lightly, that goes both ways (135 and 121). The Metro is particularly a hand full. I think a lot of people would recommend flying the BE99 first, get to know the company and the routines, then the transition to Metro will be easier because you can just focus on the plane.
I personally like flying cargo as opposed to my PAX flying experience because, for the most part, I do my thing without much micromanaging from above. I also didn't care much for "putting on a show" for passengers day in and day out. Some day I might go back to flying passengers, but they'll have to pay me a lot more to do it.