I don't want to get slammed on here but the company site list no time requirements for first officers. What are my chances of getting in with 300tt commercial multi and single with instruments. Don't laugh at me but your feedback would be helpful. Thanks so much.

They usually look for 500 TT for E120 FOs. You can always try.

Chieftain FOs:
5) CAPTAIN – PA31 UPGRADE PROGRAM

BASES – BUR, HWD, PDX, PHX

If you have more than 900 hours total flight time and would like to build multi-engine flight time with us (and get PAID for doing it!), please submit your pilot application with the notation under desired position as “PA31 Upgrade Program”. These positions are based in PDX, HWD, BUR, and PHX with the intention of building your flight time as quickly as possible so that we may use your services as a PIC under IFR (135.243(C)).

Thanks for the info. The hour glass is almost empty for me and for many other aspiring aviators. The question is what will this do to the industry? Everyone I talk to doesn't care because they are either currently flying or have tons of time and complaining about making 80k in one case that I know. Its frustrating because all I want is an opportunity. 20k for the apt course after july is really expensive for a person like myself. Too bad I don't come from a rich family but I will get the written done and see what happens. Not here to complain so I will let you guys get back to real issues other than the 1500 atp.

I think you're on to something. It's becoming a rich kid's game. And if there aren't enough rich kids to fill seats, major airlines will reclaim outsourced flying with larger planes and less frequency. Regionals will liquidate, and the ones that can do more with less will survive.

I think we're in for some big changes at AMF as well, DFW HQ is just the start. On the other hand, I think it is, and always will be for most a "stepping stone" on the way to something bigger.

i tried with 135 mins and got turned down. They are wanting to upgrade the fo's within the company and push me into the navajo or 99. i said nuh uh.

I don't think it's just AMF that's in for a big change. The entire UPS feed system is going to get killed, with what's going to happen going forward. Compare how UPS runs their feed to how a majority of the FedEx feed is ran, the difference is night and day.

Hmmmm. Can you elaborate?

I was supposed to have a steady flow of trainee's since June. I've only had 1 :p

There are two of us training in SLC and one in Omaha. I think a couple of Cheiftain drivers went to PDX. I heard there is another class right behind us, so maybe you'll get one of them. By your username, i am assuming you are in PHX?

Look at the pay for a 208 at the major FedEx carriers and the turnover on pilots there (Empire, Mountain Air Cargo, Baron Aviation, etc...). It's a totally different world on the FedEx side, FedEx owns the 208's and ATR's and leases them to the 135 carriers.

Does anybody know the Pay scale for the Upgrade program, and afterwards, what are the chances of getting a base back in Texas?

Fixing to hit 900 and this kind of peaked my interest as well.

Considering the starting pay on the PA31/99 is now lower than what Martinaire pays, if you want to be in Texas, maybe check them out, unless you really want that multi time.

Haven't heard, but the required FOs get $24k a year. I'd probably plan on state minimum wage of $9/hr.

You mean $7.25/hr once the company moves to Texas

Good point, but your base will still apply, so that would make it $7.90-$9.10.

I know you sirs are joking, but to make this clear for the home gamers, we are exempt from minimum wage guarantee and ineligible for over time. This is why we get paid in "credits" not hours. If we were paid in hours at minimum wage, the minimum wage at 1.5X after 40/week would be a windfall for us pilots.

Sure, once you're on a line, but in new hire training and I believe the PA31 SIC program is minimum wage for hours worked.

I hate to point out the obvious here, but I'm sure it's entirely for recruiting. They don't need an extra person in a PA31. The point is that they build time at AMF's expense, and repay their debt by signing a contract when they become a captain.

Is the pay great? Absolutely not, but it's an alternative to blowing tens of thousands of dollars building that mulit-time at their own expense.

Sounds like the current captains are only "valuable".

martinaire is 135 mins not 900tt:confused:

own nav likes this:)

Shocking revelations found on APC today.

Yes, it is. But the 900TT job at AMF is probably a minimum wage job. Even once you "upgrade" to a PA31/BE99 captain, you'd still be making more flying a Van at Martinaire, if they really are now paying 30K first year.

SO the PA31 is from 900-1200 hours with another employee "as you log the time" to 135 mins and then you fly it single pilot, or is it single pilot at 900 from the start of the upgrade program.

Will the PA31 ever come to dallas and what is the commitment back to the company?

That's if you stick to your line 100% of the time. There's always extra flying to be had, always. Throw in per diem on those trips, you'll be above a van in no time.

The biggest dilemma is making a choice between going on these 2-3 day trips and leaving the family behind or being home every night.

I guess it depends on the base. I was never offered extra flying outside of assigned extra flying in peak. Anyone planning to come in and make more than 40 units is asking for trouble, IMO.

No, they were already there and they are never going back.

Martinaire is based in Dallas, and you'll make more with them.

Back before you came on, there were a bunch of 10 unit runs in the system, AMF bumped them all down to 8 units. It was also possible to double up runs that were 8 unit, short duty day runs. Like in OAK there was a run that went out in the afternoon to SAC and back, that was an 8 unit run. You could also do the 99 run at night to BUR that was an 8 unit run and collect 16 units. They put the X on that as well, so you do double the work for 8 units. Yay?

I wouldn't plan on doing more than 40 units a week that is for sure. Only way to do that now is by being a training captain.

What are the chances of getting hired into one of the type rated aircraft as a captain?

So the emb120, metro and 1900? Without type rating+ significant time in type+ significant previous 135 time. Not likely. Its posted online.

Ameriflight LLC

I met a couple Metro direct hires last month, they were headed to CVG upon completion of training.

Not an easy task, but if you're up for it, put your stuff in and talk to Sheri in recruiting.

Yea don't take this to heart... Guys do get hired directly into the metro at least. I was one..just have some kind of experience to back up your sales pitch to Sheri and have the skill to back it up during training.

Sell yourself, they'll entertain you and if not then at least you tried and they'll always be hiring.

I know of at least 3 direct hires to typed airplanes in recent months. (Metro and 1900. A direct hire to the left seat of the E120 probably won't happen. At least it hasn't for several years.) It all depends on where you are willing to go. There are some runs that either because of location or low flight time are always difficult to fill internally.

As for the guys making such a big deal about how Martinaire is so much better -- if that is the case, why are there 4 former Martinaire pilots just at the DFW base? They must have some reason they preferred to come to AMF.

Martinaire has shady maintenance. There i said it. And they push pilots to break far's and do unsafe things. If any martinaire drivers comment on this they may not have pushed YOU to do those things. But have friends that have been told to do some pretty stupid stuff.

Whaaaaa...? Martinaire has outstanding maintenance. I can guarantee the CP over there (who has a great reputation) or ACP (who I personally know) would back up a pilot on any go/no go decision. You sure you aren't mixing them up with GTA? Shady maintenance and breaking FARs sounds...GTAish...

I know they've had guys leave to AMF to get multi time. Hard to build multi in a Caravan...

Nobody is saying its better, people are saying that Martinaire is now paying better than Ameriflight on the new hire end, which speaks to many problems, IMO.

Wow, first I've heard of that, sounds more like AMF.
"It broke at a mx base that wasn't even on your route?!?"
level: freight pilot.

I worked with ZS at my previous job and a previous Martinaire guy at my current job. Both had great things to say about the MX. I did hear that the remote MX, which uses contractors, is pretty bad.

If there's a place that has worse mx than AMF I don't wanna know....

That was not my experience while at Martinaire. The planes may not be pretty, but everything that needed to work, did. Not sure what your friends told you, but new pilots that are not used to flying with MEL equipment may be taken aback at first with flying with differed items. I know for a fact the CP and ACP will back their pilots if there is ever any doubt to the airworthiness of an aircraft.