We do if we can't fill a spot internally. Not likely to happen right now. But the way things have gone lately, if you have the hours you probably won't spend long in the BE99 before you get the chance to transition. And a good number of our new hires are starting out in the BE99 now instead of the PA31.

I've been doing it now for almost 13 years. I tend to get confused if I DO have an FO. It's just how you are trained. I've never really known anything different in the tube. Now, I've had plenty of crew time in other airplanes (B-52, E-120.)

Gentleman, I have a couple questions for you. (sorry in advance if they have been previously covered)

1. What determines which A/C you get assigned as a new hire?
2. Where are the junior bases?
3. What are the chances of getting into one of the turbine aircraft right off the bat?
4. When you are hired do you know which aircraft your are being hired into or do they tell you at a later date? (ex. after class starts)

1.your multiengine pic time, turboprop time
2.probably the west coast (California), dont count on Seattle or Miami, some guys are sent to cincinnati
3.depends on your turbine pic time and how convincing you are. I had about 70hrs turboprop and kept bugging for a metro spot and got it off the street. Probably will start in the B99 and people move up fast around here
4.youll know what you're going to be prepping for before class date, they'll have to send you the material to prep

Thanks for your reply. Which aircraft and base averages the most hours per month. Any what are my chances of getting those bases with 5000TT, most of it turbofan 121 SIC, and no Turbine PIC.

I'm sure things have changed since I left, but back in 09 I went to PDX in the Chieftain. That's where most new hires were sent and had descent flight time runs. I was averaging around 80 hours a month on the longer routes.

I'm sure things have changed since AMF has an extremely high attrition rate right now.

Miami has some high time runs. The highest time run we have in Texas is about 65 hours/month.

I think it is more individual runs than bases.

Sounds like a couple of bases did end up furloughing PA31 drivers. That side of the house seems to nearing its end.

A guy I went to college with (Caravan driver) just turned down a direct entry Metro spot with several base choices.

Strange, I have a friend in new-hire going into the PA31.

There are some bases that are short on PA-31 guys too. I think it came down to people who lived in base before getting hired and didn't want to upgrade out of the base, may have got furloughed.