Rats . . . my cover is blown. . . .

It was blown when you first started posting. Just no one said it. :D

I was Amflight 99-2001. It was an adventure. Being from florida flying on the West coast in the mountains really made me the pilot I am today. Started in the Lance and left a 99 Captain. I left to take a job with Comair and hired on Sept. 12, 2001. I thought that Delta Connection jet time would lead me to better places. Spent a decade there and never approached the happiness I had at Amflight. All those years at the regional flying glass had become so boring that when pilots got together we would talk about anything but flying. I miss flying to San Diego with my surfboard, or to Mamouth with the snowboard.. I do remember a time being switched from a day skedule to a night skedule and coming back from Oakland so tired I turned the ac heater off in the Chieftan to stay awake, nodding off the whole flight, scared I could not stay awake to land. Got on the ground and they wantsd me to bust duty limits and fly to Vegas. When I refused the Chief Pilot Stu Schrock delved into my records and gave me a disciplanary action letter in my file fore checking in 5 minutes late six months prior. Now that I am on the 747 classic flying is fun again. I would recommend Amflight but beware.

Why beware?

I am a noob so go easy on me please. :)

Former AMFer's can be a little more open about the negatives, but bear in mind, their input can be outdated. Take it for what it's worth.

Also bear in mind, current AMF guys have a social media policy they have to adhere to, and this isn't exactly anonymous, especially with a pilot group as small as it its. So take that for what it's worth too.

Anyone familiar with housing options near the Oakland base? It sounds like if my technical interview goes well that is where I am going to be for a while. I don't really want to sign any long term leases.

Great times at Ameriflight. I was based out of Burbank and Ontario. Hands down the best experience you will ever get flying.

I stayed in Alameda. Great times, close to bars, etc.

Many short term leases in that area? I need to keep my cost down. My wife is staying in Parker, CO where I have a house.

How difficult is it to hold San Juan or Miami at Ameriflight? If you have multi turbine PIC experience do you still have to start in a Navajo? Thanks

Miami and San Juan are pretty senior when it comes to the CVG base. Most have been with the company for 3 years or more.

Unfortunately with the turbine pic experience and starting in the Chieftain, it all depends on the needs of the company. If they have plenty of bids from employees they fill the position in company. It's when they can't really find anyone for the position when it gives people with prior experience a better chance to skip the Chieftain and go into something bigger.

Thank you ---- I appreciate the info.

Recruiting told me that a few months ago they would hire directly into the 99 but now all their slots of staying filled. It sounds like they have enough people and then some right now. Pilots that wanted first available ground school would get Oakland and those that wanted Portland would have to wait until June to start. (PA31)

Out of the 210 or so pilots at AMF, how many consider this their career job?

How long is the upgrade to the BE1900 or the SA227 in the western most bases?

Thanks.

There are some guys/gals that aren't going anywhere. For the most part pilots here dont stay here as a career. Some people come here for a short period of time and then go to the regionals. Some people are lucky enough to go to the majors. Some people go corporate. Some people get out of aviation all together.

Its hard to say how long the upgrade time is for metro/1900 in the western states but I can say that it will probably be a long time (years...) There are a lot of people with internal bids just waiting for an opening out west. This business changes quickly however so its hard to put a time frame on it. new runs, upgraded runs, turnover all make this company pretty fluid when it comes to pilot slots.

Ameriflight is still a great place to build your time and get some great experience. If you come here with an open mind on runs and time and keep your eyes and ears open for your next move its a good move

What do you consider to be "career"?

Out of just over 200 pilot (not counting management pilots) there are 24 who have been here over 10 years. While almost half have been here 2 years or less.

Thanks for the info guys.

I would need to live in Nor Cal and would like to give it a go to fly for Southwest. If it looks like I will not be competitive at Skywest I think that AMF would be an excellent option to become more competitive. I do have a really good "in" at SWA but it sounds too risky to let the 121 experience go by if offered.

Thanks again.

ATOP

ATOP40,

I sent you a PM,

For the current AMF guys, what does it look like for a guy who lives in San Diego, thousands and thousands of hours in helicopters but only the bare mins on the fixed wing side for hiring? Feel free to PM me.

AMF has had no problem hiring people with 135 mins in the past.

Would any of the current or former AMF guys mind if I shot them a PM with some questions? If so please chime in.

You can send me a pm if you like ^^

How many have been hired per month the past several months?

Thanks.

I'm not sure how many came to indoc, but 9 folks have completed training and been added to the seniority roster since the first of the year.

Thanks.

Is that mainly growth or turnover. Has anyone been hired by a major?

Do minimums give you a shot? Or do you really need to hold more competitive times over 135 mins?

Minimums are fine

If you meet the legal minimums to be a PIC under 135.243 you can almost certainly get an interview, and ask for yourself. You won't be hired into San Diego.

They don't have a base in San Diego. They have a Chieftain run out of Burbank that goes down there daily though.

Buddy of mine at Ameriflight is pretty happy there, he has upgraded very fast to the 99...good luck!

Will you please share when your friend was hired, how fast did he upgrade and in what base?

Thanks

One class per month, and 8-10 captains per class.

If you meet Ameriflight FW mins (50 Multi) and all the 135 mins, then you will be hired with a good interview. I was a 1700 hour pilot with 1000 helicopter (military) and about 75 MEL and was hired.

If you have good decision making and can pass an interivew and sim ride, you will be hired. Ameriflight realizes this is a stepping stone and actually fosters the "training for another job" environment. Great place to build time and move on after you meet your commitment.

Many former Ameriflighters are now working for majors all over the US and some internationally. Stick it out for three years, get into a type-rated turboprop, get a couple thousant hours of real line/weather flying and two-crew experience, and you'll be a prime candidate. It's no guarantee, but if you do your job, prepare yourself for the "major's" interview, and they're hiring, odds are good. Odds are likely to improve because of a worsening ratio between available, qualified pilots and demand for them among Part 121 carriers.

Odds are likely to improve because of a worsening ratio between available, qualified pilots and demand for them among Part 121 carriers.[/QUOTE]


There are thousands of qualified candidates within the regional world with Jet PIC. There really is no "worsening ratio". Now, you can leave Ameriflight and come to the regionals and gain more experience in jet aircraft, FMS, 121 and real crew environment rather than with someone who's paying play.

All the airlines truly care about is if you are trainable, likable (can they stand to be on a 4 day trip with you), and if you are a good fit in their corporate culture. I've heard so many pilots tell me they think they need "121 time". What does that mean? Time is time.

Where going to a regional may be beneficial is the networking aspect. For example: You fly with a certain captain for a number of months or years; they get hired onto a major that you want to also go to; they recommend you and you get an interview. That's where being at an airline with a larger pilots group (contacts) can be beneficial over somewhere like AMF with only on average 120 pilots at any one time. Some airlines may see you as a lower risk trainee if you have "jet time" or "FMS time" rather than someone with only turboprop "steam gauge" time. Honestly, it's all how about you present yourself in the interview and the confidence that you project onto your interviewers convincing them that if they hire you that you will get through their training and IOE.

Coming from personal experience there are currently myself and another AMF guy in the hiring pool over at Allegiant waiting on a class date. We were the only 135 turboprop guys that I can remember being interviewed and getting the offer of employment. We were not asked a single technical question on the interviews and it was all personal interaction with HR and line captains. The simulator evaluation was the most technical we got during the entire day.

+1, Well said!

How firm is the 50 multi? Also, a high performance endorsement is listed as a requirement on their website... Is that firm?

Weekend Warrior~

I don't think you can PM just yet until you get around 20 post or so, just curious what your MIL background was and where are you currently based with AMF?

Military Helicopter, but really it doesnt make a difference honestly. Most trainees I've seen were flight instructors. A few with some 91 time, etc. Second level time building job honestly. I knew guys who had 50 hours multi and got on.

Regarding the question about high performance, yes you will need the endorsement. AMF can not give endorsements and you need it to fly the PA-31.