Air methods guys out there?
 

Applied to fixed wing side of the house and I got the first interview call from an HR guy who said he would send it up the chain for the next step. If it does go up, what can I expect for the technical interview process, i.e. what should I study up with on? Some thoughts:
1. Do they do an in interview sim check? If so, what kind of sim?
2. I read somewhere that VFR basic weather/visibility stuff is a big deal. Probly a rotor wing culture thing....?
Not looking for anyone to spoon feed me. Just a rough idea of the pilot side of the interview.
My highlights: ATP, 3600 total, current Part 135 freight employed.
Thanks!

I'm a rotor guy there and have been for 5 years so I can tell you what I know from that side. We have a PC-12 based with us as well and those guys went through the same exact hiring process as us rotor heads. No sim ride, standard HR questions, one or 2 questions about weather minimums as well. Yes it is a rotor company but you will/could be doing approaches to a large airport only to break off to a smaller satellite airport within a few miles, hence some special VFR and standard airspace weather questions. Also depending on the base location it would be a regional manager and director doing the interview.... who will both be rotor guys. We're not that bad ;)

The Air Methods hiring process is fairly slow, just be patient with them. The HR department takes a long time to get through things. They've been better in the past year or so but it's still a lot of waiting around to hear from them. Go visit the base you're interested in and knock on the door. They'd be able to tell you who the regional manager is and that can sometimes help really speed up the process if you reach out to them.

PM me if you have any other questions.

Cheers!

"It's 2am...the phone rings...there's an accident and the highway patrol had shutdown the interstate...for your LZ..."

Do they still require 1500 r/w time for the PC12? :D

PM sent.......filler

Thanks very much NxNW. That's exactly what I wanted to know. I think I can handle all that.

Glad to hear you say that visiting the base would be a good thing. I will do definitely do that.

By the way, love the smiley face saying you rotor guys ar not so bad. Nice touch, lol. For the record, the interaction I have had with the Air Methods air crews at my different stops on the road have all been very positive. It seems they look for a little more than a pilot who can fog a mirror. The folks I have met so far have been very personable and upbeat. It would imagine they try to find staff who are able to interact with patients and their families.

Thanks again for the input.

Been with them for a few months. It's a helicopter company that dabbles in fixed wing. Ask lots of questions!

Ha, yeah. It's that new PC-12 tilt wing.

Is there a list of fixed wing bases in PA? Any details on a new contract?

Indeed! From a FW guy I know who went through class:

Instructor: you FW guys when flying VFR you have to go slower and lower if the ceiling and visibility are coming down right?

Guy: No, we just call ATC and get an IFR clearance.

Instructor: Well that's the wrong answer.

Spot on that it's a rotor company with some FW aircraft. The rotors don't fly much IMC and never if icing has been reported.

Read up on some of the other Methods threads here for the full story; basically the pilots are all cool, but if your Lead doesn't like you you're in a bad way. Solid company otherwise.

Lol. So the company SOP is to scud run. Got it.

I'm curious if they are having issues filling positions with the shortage. Their pay is a smidge on the low side.

LOL Well for most of their choppers that are not IFR certified (and for them, flying into a cloud layer is an emergency) scud runs and landing in a farmer's field is normal ops. Just pointing out the mentality of a helo based business with some fixed wings around.

I know. I'm a RW pilot, too. It just points out the dangers of having both assets lumped together in the minds of the HQ staff and the associated shortfalls in the training deptartments.

OP, sorry I didn't answer your questions up front.

The guys I know did NOT have a sim session for the interview. They did have a thorough scenario-based situation thrown at them - thinking on your feet, tough decisions etc just remember to remain legal and safe and you will be ok. They put you in the middle of a situation, and one guy told me he said, "well I wouldn't be here in the first place because I did "x" before I took off". It's true that you will have questions on airspace and VFR cloud clearances, so make sure to review all that before you go in.

Right. And you have to be cognizant of the 135 rules also, if you've got non-Methods nurses in the back. Some of the mgmt doesn't get the distinction and wants pilots to fly Part 91 repo flights...but you can't if it's not all company personnel.

That's sad that there is somebody in management with such a poor understanding of their own operation.

I believe CAMTS requires all flights be conducted IAW 135 rules. All of our bases only do 91 flights for maintenance, training, and repositioning.

All managers are VFR rotor pilots. Let that sink in. Questions pm me. I can answer them

I haven't seen any issues with getting guys for the PC-12 bases. I'm not sure what you'd consider low pay when considering the QOL. Generally you work 7 on 7 off, 12 hour shifts and you're home every day if you live near your base. It's a union pay scale so you should be able to poke around and find the current CBA online somewhere to see what all the benefits are. Working it out on paper you'd get paid for 168 hours a month regardless of how much you fly. It sounds like a lot of hours and time but I would say roughly 50-70% of it will be spent watching TV or sleeping.

PM me though if you have any specific questions. I've enjoyed working there.

Oh I get it. I spent 4 years flying a King Air for Air Methods. The QOL is unmatched. I considered applying to go back to the JVY base when it had an opening. But at this point in my life, going back to $60k/yr isn't feasible, unless I can crack 6 figures after just a few years of gaining seniority (a la airline pay scale). The pay scale at AMC doesn't do that for me.

I think you are right, they won't have an issue filling spots, but I do think the days of career guys at bases may be over. Turnover will increase.

I would love to retire to the JVY base one day when I hit 65 and get the boot from 121

I did three years in the PC-12 for Methods and live in SDF. I guess I'll see you at JVY, because I'll be applying, too! Best retirement job imaginable.

Any chance of a DSM base in the near future?

For any Air Methods pilots out there, I'm wondering how difficult is it to get selected for an interview? Is it as easy as it is to obtain an interview at a regional?

This cannot be emphasized enough. If you're looking for a FW job, this one is a solid 5/10. Was better two years ago but recent restructuring has shown zero interest or ability to manage the fixed wing side of the house. You're better off at a regional if you're a younger guy not close to age 65.

Thank you for responding. I'm just wondering, why is it getting worse? Also, out of question, when you are on your 12 hour shift, are you at the airport or are you at your house?

Not getting worse, just the cancer is spreading. There are a handful of inept, incompetent Regional "directors" who will not stand up to the medical side of the house, hence the scud-running. If a nurse says you did an inverted approach, well, guess what bubba, you did and its your arse.

Specifically, avoid bases east of the Mississippi. The RAD is a very poorly regarded rotor pilot who can't comprehend FW flying, 135 rules or anything but flying his R44 in a cornfield. He will come down on you every chance he gets for turning down a flight.

The RAMs were always a mixed bag. My program was east of the Mississippi (by about a mile), and we were pretty much left out of the As The Prop Turns regional political fights, etc. I gather that was largely because we were a hospital program...if you get a choice, you definitely want a hospital program. I did some workover at a couple of the community programs and the QOL was several ticks lower, for sure.

FWIW, I never once had a decision to turn down a flight questioned. But again, that probably had something to do with the program.

I just wanted to bump this up because it speaks volumes about the ever-present issues of being a f/w pilot at a r/w company. It’s something to think about becaue the scenario is believeable. However, a first-person account of it would be more credible.

I flew the PC12 for Air Methods for five years, I left the company, and aviation in 2013. As far as quality of life, it is pretty good. 7 on, 7 off. 12 hour shifts spent at the airport with your own room and bed. I only flew about 2-3 times per week, and in the 5 years I was there I logged about 600 hours.

I would not recommend it for anyone looking to move forward in their career, I left Ameriflight in the 99 for it because I had 3 kids under 5, and wanted to be home every day to help my wife. (I took all night shifts the first 2 years).

The flying is tough. You get a call at 2 am, need to check weather, file a flight plan, and be taxiing in about 10 minutes. A lot of the destination airports were in mountainous terrain and VFR only, and many local pilots wouldn't even go to them in day VFR conditions. Fatigue is a real issue, and it's tough to stay on top of your game when only flying 15 hours a month.

As far as it being a helicopter company, I'd actually describe it as a healthcare corporation that operates helicopters, and keeps a few airplanes to stay profitable. Company management is all nurses and medics, and most training is geared to helicopter operations.

It is a nice place to work, and I'd recommend it as a retirement job, but you'll never make much more than first year regional FO pay as a fixed wing pilot there.

I'm pretty sure the only FW base in the North East is in Potsdam, NY. Way up on the North side of the Adirondacks.

Curious for current Air Methods pilots. What are the current pay rates, schedule, QOL? I'd be looking at the King Air out of APA. Feel free to PM me too. Thank you in advance!

You can find the union contract online.

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How often do you have to switch between night and day shifts?

When on duty, are you at the airport or do you just have to be staying near the airport to get there in time?

Also, for a King Air position, is there a minimum number of turboprop hours required? I have no turboprop experience, but have 3600 TT, 1200 jet and prior single pilot 135 twin cessna experience. Wondering if they'd consider me for the King Air. Haven't decided if I want to switch gears from the regional I'm at. But there's something appealing about EMS flying.

Thanks in advance