Avantair QOL
 

I was hoping a few avantair pilots will be willing to enlighten me on what to expect my life to be like if i take a job there...thanks

Been here since august and am really enjoying the 8&6 schedule, just about everyone I've come into contact with here has been great, I really enjoy flying with folks here.

PICsf340 -

Have you read the long and informative thread in the fractional forum on Avantair?
You will find that many have commented on the question you posed plus there is a lot of extra information, and even some trivia, included! Enjoy.

USMCFLYR

Just started here not too long ago, so far I am happy with everything. Expect to work pretty hard on your tours for the most part. I have been averaging almost 40 hours on a 7 day tour so far with a few 14 hour duty days flying 8 or so hours. The company treats us well from what I am used to and they put us up in good hotels (Hampton, Hilton Garden, Crown Plaza ect). Seems to me that most new hires have there choice of the 8-6 or the 11-10 but they told my class that the 11-10 could be going away soon so we will see. The guys that I have heard complain so far are the people that were at corporate jobs that flew 1 or 2 legs and sat in a hotel for a few days that just aren't used to working hard. All of that aside if you can deal with last minute schedule changes and a lot of flying its a good place to be.

PICsf340,

Well, the P180 is a lot faster, more automated (Avanti II) and sportier than the old Saab. I have also heard that the pilots work pretty hard with sometimes 4+ legs per day. That said, I have heard pilots are treated well and the Avanti is a joy to fly...

Good luck!

While i have no experience here, it seems that both the 1 and 2 are single pilot...so as a FO you cant log any time...kinda pointless to be there if your a low time guy

Part 91k and 135 passenger operations require two pilots regardless of aircraft certifications.

That's not true. OpSpecs require the FO. The time is absolutely loged.

thats good to know...thanks...just know a friend that flew the metro for a year as a FO for a part 135 company and all his sic time was useless...couldn't log it so he referred to it as "experience"...kinda stinks that at great lakes you could log all the sic time in a 1900 but flying night cargo 135 you cant...its not like the 121 time is any better in my opinion...

Glass is correct, and wrong. The OpSpecs do require a qualified SIC, but it is also required per the regs governing all 91K operations. All turbine aircraft operated under 91k must have 2 qualified crewmembers, and the PIC must hold an ATP. If the P180 was operated strictly 135, then only one pilot is needed with a commercial cert

interview
 

Anyone been interviewing or at least getting contacted by avantair lately?

No, Glass is absolutely correct.

§ 135.101 Second in command required under IFR.

Except as provided in §135.105, no person may operate an aircraft carrying passengers under IFR unless there is a second in command in the aircraft.


However, many small aircraft 135 operators seek to use the waiver provision found here:


§ 135.105 Exception to second in command requirement: Approval for use of autopilot system.

(a) Except as provided in §§135.99 and 135.111, unless two pilots are required by this chapter for operations under VFR, a person may operate an aircraft without a second in command, if it is equipped with an operative approved autopilot system and the use of that system is authorized by appropriate operations specifications. No certificate holder may use any person, nor may any person serve, as a pilot in command under this section of an aircraft operated in a commuter operation, as defined in part 119 of this chapter unless that person has at least 100 hours pilot in command flight time in the make and model of aircraft to be flown and has met all other applicable requirements of this part.
(b) The certificate holder may apply for an amendment of its operations specifications to authorize the use of an autopilot system in place of a second in command.
(c) The Administrator issues an amendment to the operations specifications authorizing the use of an autopilot system, in place of a second in command, if—
(1) The autopilot is capable of operating the aircraft controls to maintain flight and maneuver it about the three axes; and
(2) The certificate holder shows, to the satisfaction of the Administrator, that operations using the autopilot system can be conducted safely and in compliance with this part.
The amendment contains any conditions or limitations on the use of the autopilot system that the Administrator determines are needed in the interest of safety.

Got a call about a week ago, for a phone interview. FWIW.

I guess I wasn't as clear as I could be. Under 135, the aircraft can and is flown single pilot (it is certified that way). It is in the opspecs due to the requirement of the 91k language, not 135, that states ALL turbine aircraft operated under 91k rules must have 2 qualified pilots, the captain must hold an ATP, and of course a commercial for the second in command. If all Avantair did was charter, the seniority list would probably be cut in half.

Got a call about a week ago for the phone interview and have an actual interview set up for the 26th of this month...they say interviewing for a May 14th class.

Any recent gouge info out there?? I've looked through all the threads here and the link on their page here but the more info the better please!!

OPS,

How long did you wait from the time you applied until they called you?

I applied back in early January but just updated a few days ago and got the call the next day after the update. Caught me totally off guard but I guess I did well enough!

And before you guys ask 5500TT, 4000Turbine, just under 1000 Turbine PIC and no internal recs. :)

And once again...any gouge info?? :)

Check your PM's

I got a phone interview two days ago. Still waiting to hear about an in-person interview

the guys going for an interview, just relax and be yourself. The interviewers are all very laid back. I am not one but I know we really just want to know if we can spend a week or so with you. The quarters are tight and we spend a lot of time together each day. They already know you can fly if you have that kinda time and are still upright and vertical. (most of the time)

What's a typical (I know-nothing is typical) day like in general? How many legs? Leg lengths?

What about a typical monthly schedule?

Typical? You hit the nail on the head! Nothing is typical.

On most days we see on average between 3 and 5 legs. The lengths vary greatly. On my last 7 days I flew for a little as 3.5 hrs and as many as 8.5.

when will the interviews start up again?

I would imagine very soon.

Your QOL will be what you allow it to be.......

Just as an FYI, pay rates and per diem are being cut.....you might want to definitely reconsider taking a job at Avantair.

Run Forest, RUN!!!

What is it about the pay cuts? I see that they stopped hiring also.

What happened? I thought that avantair was one of the few fracs that were doing well?
Bummer to see the frac industry in its current state. Lots of good career potential there, hopefully things turn around for everyone.

Poor management, that is what happened. They are not willing to pay for people with actual experience to run an operation and as a result can not make a profit, even though we are constantly flying. These are the old and new pay scales (this is a permanent change as well, not temporary, and also per diem is now $1/hr down from $2/hr):


7 and 7 Schedule---OLD PAY SCALE



Captain Salary First Officer Salary

Year 1

$47,000.00 $35,000.00

Year 2

$53,000.00 $42,000.00

Year 3

$64,000.00 $44,000.00

Year 4

$66,000.00 $46,000.00

Year 5

$72,000.00 $48,000.00

Year 6

$81,000.00 $50,000.00

Year 7

$91,000.00 $52,000.00

Year 8

$93,000.00 $54,000.00

Year 9

$95,000.00 $56,000.00

Year 10

$98,000.00 $58,000.00

Year 11

$101,000.00 $60,000.00

Year 12

$103,000.00 $62,000.00


7 & 7 pay scale-------NEW




Captain Salary First Officer Salary

Year 1

$47,000.00 $35,000.00

Year 2

$51,666.00 $37,250.00

Year 3

$56,332.00 $39,500.00

Year 4

$60,998.00 $41,750.00

Year 5

$65,664.00 $44,000.00

Year 6

$70,330.00 $46,250.00

Year 7

$74,996.00 $48,500.00

Year 8

$79,662.00 $50,750.00

Year 9

$84,328.00 $53,000.00

Year 10

$88,994.00 $55,250.00

Year 11

$93,660.00 $57,500.00

Year 12

$98,326.00 $59,750.00

Wow, the pay sucked before and now it's even worse.

That's disgusting.

I might tweak that a little; the airplane is hand built Italian...wayyy to mx intensive for day-to-day use...and a turboprop...no customer wants to spend money on one of those...

Now, if it was used for what it was designed for- regional airplane, parked in the hangar with a dedicated pit crew- it might treat you OK. Unfortunately, that prices one out of the competition.

Bottom line, wrong airplane for that job.

My goodness.. 2nd year regional and I tear that pay scale apart.

I quite honestly thought Avantair had a better QOL for 7/7

You do?
I was just reading in another thread that every regional pilot only makes around 16-25K and will be making around $30K for the next 10 years and won't be able to pay off loans or eat anything but raman noodles for a decade :eek:

Something must be wrong.

USMCFLYR

Depends on where you work of course.

Second year where I'm at also breaks that payscale quite easily if you're a lineholder, with quite a few more days off as well. Sorry to see this Avantair guys... Looks like they want a revolving door there.

Yeah if you're a Skywest or whiskey guy you do better than that payscale..

It really is disappointing because fractional should NOT make less than us.. Those guys work hard and have a whole different job than airline guys in my opinion.

Completely agree. I've met a few Avantair crews when I was doing charter and corp... They're a good group, and I hope they don't have to put up with this BS for long.

First year FO on the 8/6 schedule makes 40k base plus per-diem totals 48k on the old scale. Not bad for a new hire.

The old scale is GONE.