AMF is a lot more interested in your qualifications, attitude, physical condition, and ability to do the job than in your age. Bear in mind that the company's "exercise benefit" involves loading and unloading freight. . . .

Yeah...what would the schedule be? Former AMF 99, 1900

Charter. 24/7/365

Part 135 Canyon Operator
 

To the Pilot thinking of flying for Ameriflight,

What were the minimums for you to get hired flying
C402's in the GCanyon? 1500? How much Multi?
And are they hiring?

I almost took a job flying C206's up there in the Canyon
a few years back,..but I turned it down because I didn't
want to live in a trailer. But with this economy, I might
bite a bullet or two-

Goodluck with Ameriflight if you go there, I know their big
on currency, and recency of experience for new hires, but
sounds like yr good there.

Thanks, but no thanks...

AMF is a great place to fly. I was there for 5 years and loved it (for the most part) Excellent experience...too bad that they got the flight following system years ago...it was great without it.....:eek: :D...Mt Rainier, St Helens, Shasta, Hood, Sisters, Puget Sound, San Juans, The Coast from SFO to BFI at "legal altitude"..you get the picture.

That's ok. My response was partly sarcastic to someone who would actually express interest in a position by saying, "What would the schedule be?"

Completely understand....after 25 years in the industry I have learned what is important to me.....:)

I understand it takes about a month to complete training. Can someone go through the approximate amount of time through each phase of training until you are qualified to fly the line on your own?

Thanks

Most people start in either the Chieftain or BE99 in which case it will go something like this:

Week One: indoctrination in BUR

Week Two: Aircraft specific Ground and Simulators (BUR).

Week Three and Four: Go to wherever your training captain is based and do your training in the actual airplane.

Thanks for the response.

Does the airline provided transportation to BUR? And are you responsible for your own hotel while in training?

Thanks again for any and all replies.

The airline will provide you with hotel stays and travel arrangements ONCE YOU ARE IN TRAINING. You are responsible for getting yourself to BUR for indoc.

Ex. Indoc in BUR, aircraft flt training in PDX = you will get yourself to BUR and then they take it from there.

Thanks again for the response.

If possible, does anyone have information about the past couple new hire classes? Class date, base awards and equipment filled would be helpful.

Thanks again.

Possible for new AMF hires to get on at ONT?

Quick and dirty answer: No, the company sees BUR and ONT as a single base when it comes to flight crews (saves on paying per diem). Everyone starts over in BUR in the Chieftain and transitions are between 3-9 months to the Be99 depending on our turnover/company needs. However, the junior lines trend to ONT. So, the possibility of holding a line in ONT can often quickly after transitioning into the 99. But be warned, you will be expected to commute to BUR as well if the schedule dictates; be mentally and physically prepared for that.

Badkharma: I got your PM, I'll be sending you that email. :D

VP is Lotter correct?

A. Lotter is a GREAT guy!

Correct, Lotter is the VP and D.O.

A. Lotter is a great guy. I enjoyed chatting with him a lot when I worked there. Really looks out for the pilots and will help you out getting you a base that you want.

13 years ago I was able to take a company metro from PDX to OAK and that same night a Lear 35 to BUR. I started indoc the next day. Just ask.

Cool, thanks for the info!! Looking forward to hearing from you.

Many ex-airliners over there? I'm looking to jump ship and have always thought AMF was a cool deal.

Since none of the AMF'ers answered this, is it difficult or not appropriate for your pilots to share this kind of helpful information?

I've known a couple that have come from the 121 side, I'm sure there are more as our pilots are spread over several bases.

"Since none of the AMF'ers answered this, is it difficult or not appropriate for your pilots to share this kind of helpful information?"


Its not an inappropriate question its just that a lot of the guys/gals outside Burbank don't know what the new hire situation is exactly. I've heard things like 10 a month and pdx or oak bases but not real sure. The only ones that can answer that one are down in BUR.

That makes sense. Thanks. I hope someone will be able to chime in with some info.

How many pilots are based in OAK? Do they have an office there with personal to visit or is there just enough to operate an out station.

Thanks again.

I just talked to a AMF'er he said 10 a month...

Freightdog:

This was a while back when this was posted but I was wondering if you still had that right up about ameriflight? If not no big deal. Pg 58 on the ameriflight thread.

Thanks Andy5466

With zero growth that would mean a turnover rate of over 50% a year which far out of the norm.

What are your take(s) on this unusually large turnover?

This is not a career destination. People come here to get PIC turbine maybe type rating or two and move on. Mgmt knows this and the pilots know this. It's a mutual understanding. Most of the pilots I know that went on the bigger and better thing have been here 3-5 years. That's usually the norm. By then, one has over 1,000 turbine PIC, one or two types, and can write their own ticket to wherever they want to apply.

Thanks for the reply.

As far as I can see the major airlines largely are not hiring right now. With the large pool of regional pilots with Part 121 PIC experience that are available, where are AMF pilots getting hired? Or are they generally going to regional airlines.

Well my answer is just a guess since I never flew for Ameriflight, but I have close friends that do and my understanding is that the wash-out rate is extremely high. My old instructor said his class on the 99 started out with 12 and only 3 graduated.

As for the reason they quite from what I hear is stagnation and the routine. Some of their bases are black holes that ounce you get into it there is no getting out. They get hired thinking "yeah, turbine PIC time, I'll be at FedEx in two years". Then 6 months goes by they logged 200 hrs, can't upgrade or bid another station, the get stagnated and they want to shoot themselves to get out of flying the same run.

Another complaint I'm told is your given something like three days notification before a line check, which is not much time to prepare for one. That could be another reason I guess.

At least that is the complaints I hear. I suppose it is like any other airline: pay, quality of life and seniority bid. Whether it is Downtown Aviation to Pinnacle or Lufthansa to FedEx, there will always be something you don't like and it will drive to look elsewhere.

With an airline industry that has largely stopped hiring for the time being and AMF hiring 10 a month, this analogy would make sense with the numbers.

Thanks for sharing. Compared to other airlines I am surprised how little information is readily available to AMF's own pilots. I have researched this industry very thoroughly and AMF is different in regards to the information available. If anyone can help me to see where the last few classes have been based, that would help enormously.

One additional question I have if lets say you get a base out of class and want to move to another base. With the movement AMF now has, if there is a vacancy in another base with the equipment you are currently trained, does it work like other airlines that the opening would be awarded on a seniority basis?

Thanks again.

Well it is sorta a fly by night operation ;) I can ask where the last classes were based this coming week, but I believe Portland.

I know the the general rule of thumb is for you to go to another station that you have to have someone else lined up to replace you. So in theory yes you can transfer to another base on the same equipment or possibly another type, but you have to have someone to take your place, and that is where the problem is. AMF seniority does not operate like the rest of the industry, which is why it is easy to gain seniority there but it means very little in the grand scheme of things. Or so that is my understanding. But I have heard of some people making a career out of it, I believe one there more famous pilots just retired, but I do not recall his name.

Lets put it this way, AMF is a blackhole for many and I don't know anyone who has come from the 121 side. Everyone I know, and its quite a few, have bailed and moved to the regionals just to get away from it. These are guys and gals that have over 1000 PIC Turbine hours with no way out but to take a pay cut and sit in the right seat of an RJ. The biggest complaint......Management!! I saw another post that people only stay 3-5 years.....well yeah, the hours suck and pilots are treated like second class citizens. What I was never able to wrap my head around is if management made just a few improvements the company would be a great place to work for but that will never happen.

Ameriflight long ago resigned itself to the fact that the company serves as a training ground for big-airline pilots. Its turnover rate varies directly with the hirng activity taking place in the larger iron. Will you make $200,000 per year and fly four engine jets around the world? No. Will you get good training, learn how to keep yourself alive in an airplane while dealing with schedules, loads, and weather? Yes. Will you get to smell like jet fuel instead fo AvGas when you go home (a little joke) -- will you get valuable turbine PIC time? Yes; AMF has been an important stepping stone in the careers of thousands of pilots during the 40+ years the company has been in business. Is it dangerous and horrible? The company just passed 500,000 in-company flight hours without a fatal accident; judge for yourself. Is it the perfect place to work? No. But -- look at the other pilot forums and you'll find plenty of disgruntled pilots posting their gripes while flying for the big airlines too. Ameriflight is a GREAT place to build experience. Take it for what it's worth.

Be sure you don't misinterpret the significance of "Losing up to 30% of your pilots a year." In most cases they're taking the experience they've gained at Ameriflight and moving on up the rungs of the aviation ladder, not leaving because the hate the job. AMF's turnover varies directly with hiring activity at the airlines.

^^^THIS, and this is coming from a guy who has literally done it all in aviation. Enjoy your retirement John, you will be missed around here.

I recently left AMF after 3.5 years there. At first, I hated it, but then learned to adapt and fit in (basically - show up, shut up, don't break anything, and get along with others - funny that's how most jobs work). I miss the flying and the people.

Going to Ameriflight was the best thing I ever did. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be flying a Citation 650, King Air 200, and Helicopter today.

Life is what you make of it.

John - I didn't know you retired. Godspeed. Thanks for your example.

Hey guys, I saw that the chief pilot position at AMF is being advertised..... What's the story behind that?

That's three days more than they'll get at most companies. If they need three days to prepare for a line check then they are fortunate indeed to be working for Ameriflight. It's likely to be the pinnacle of their professional careers.

Working for Ameriflight is like having an affair on weekend layover. You both know it isn't going to last forever because neither of you wants it to last forever. That doesn't mean it's not grand fun while it lasts, or that you won't look back on it many years from now with great fondness. But once your batteries are charged, the affair has run it's course. You "Friend" them on Facebook and move on...

That is really funny and true!! I flew for them back in the early nineties for 4 years (man am I getting old) and it was great fun. Yes were some people a pain in the ass.....sure, but show me a job where everyone is perfect. The flying was awesome, I flew along the West Coast and mainly out of SEA in our great weather. What a fun challenge and character builder in the ice, snow, wind, fog, and RAIN!!! I was home every night and weekend and new what my schedule would be for months at a time. I didn't have to commute or sit on my ass for hours as I have done in the heavy metal. I have great memories of AMF and would do it all over again. Flying single pilot in 99s or 1900s with little or no cargo (and no company radar) was the best flying I have every done. If I can impart any advise to someone looking to build excellent skills and turbine PIC time I would highly recommend AMF. No I am not smoking anything or from management. :D