Meep

Unfortunately 135 cargo carriers traditionally known as stepping stone jobs don’t pay very well. Especially an FO position, where the whole goal is to get you your 135 IFR mins so you can fly single pilot.

ZippyNH

Exactly....as a 135 Capt, many can make $80k with the bonus/incentive programs and sleep in you own bed nightly on some runs, or be home all day, work for 2 hrs, sleep in a hotel, then work 2 hrs, be home, AND be home from late Saturday am till Monday PM....
It's all about location...live in the right place, have an ATP already, and start with a typed aircraft, it's not bad.
Start with less than 135 minimums, and you are doing old school pay your dues type of work, generally not making much, but avoiding time building by being a CFI....so there is a place for it.
The Ameriflight "superthread" if you want to call it that,
​​​​​​has a wide cross section of people who respond, from disgruntled ex-employees, recruiters, line pilots, instructors and chiefs.
​​​​​​

PreciousCargo

Thank you all for the information. I have an ATP and am typed. I honestly have no desire to be a captain for any company walking in the door (I seriously dont think its worth the stress and I dont think I'm qualified now anyway) but how long are FOs waiting for upgrades typically?

ZippyNH

FO typically upgrade at minimums....or less under their programs with waivers. All FO's except on the 120's are non required positions, and are carried to help them gain time and experience, and are thus an added expense, so are upgrade ASAP.
As such it's all over the board, some copilot's are in the ACP (Accelerated copilot's program) gaining time in anything to upgrade, some regular traditional copilot's, typically in the emb120, building time to upgrade at regular 135 limits.
Simply put, AMF hires Captain's. Honestly not sure a person with Captain's hours would be hired as a copilot....
Seniority is more of a tiebreaker, as people are hired, and can then hold the run they are hired for, used for bidding new run when open before they go public.... so after a upgrade seniority might decide between a upgrade vs a captain wanting to move. New Captain's pick before training, but copilot's are system pilot's, sent to gain experience ASAP, typically on the longest routes, then upgraded.
It's a different game the 121 in many ways. AMF is a bit more of a 121 style hybrid with a release system from a dispatch dept, so more support than some 135's, but typically expect to be single pilot 135 with a 6 pack, sometimes no GPS....the copilot is a plus, a help if assigned.

Meep

If you have the hours, they will hire you as a captain. You’d be flying single pilot, most likely in a BE-99 (maybe 1900 or Metro depending on experience). They really only use EMB-120 FOs as a time builder until they can fly single pilot in another aircraft.

RogerUp

Hi, I'm a PPL trainee here and aiming to be a cargo/airline pilot through their program. Forgive me but, what is major downside of being a Certified Flight Instructor compare with a 135 cargo carrier job? I was told my flight school is hiring CFI for 80 hrs/month guaranteed. If not the time, could it be their payrate? Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

hoover

usually being a CFI gets you the hrs to do 135 cargo. Otherwise you'd have to come up with the min requirements on your own dime as there are not a lot of jobs for someone with a wet commercial certificate.
Plus being a CFI teaches you a lot and it's good to have some more experience before you jump into 135 single pilot ops.
80hrs/month teaching is a lot. Is it with a part 141 school? Even then that's still a lot considering there is ground time also.
I'd go the CFI route and get your multi as soon as possible as well so you can start building that time. There's always someone who needs a safety pilot or someone who just wants another guy up front that you can tag along with and build multi time for free.
then once you hit IFR 135 mins start looking for a job doing that or go to regionals etc.

ZippyNH

Similar to what the guy above said...
Another tip...at this point very few copilots are getting hired outside of the UPS program. With so many people meeting 135 minimums looking for a job, a 135 copilot in a single pilot plane is simply an added expense.....
hiring is fluid based on the needs of the company and it's customers.
always look at the "openings" postings on the company website, and know minimums are FAR from what's is typically hired at most companies unless there is a shortage of qualifed pilots applying.