Ameriflight
12-11-2021, 06:25 AM
#5511
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by Continuingappch
QOL varies widely according to base & run. If you get a home-every-night lifestyle with weekends off in a town where you have roots, there's not much to complain about. Not everyone wants to wear polyester shirts and commute.
Weekends off: you’ll work Saturday mornings at a lot of bases and show between 6am and 4pm mondays. This is the only time off you’ll get except for your one week of vacation a year unless they have better staffing.
12-11-2021, 08:28 AM
#5512
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: single-pilot multi turbine captain
Posts: 240
Originally Posted by Kansaspilot92
Home every night: off duty at 8-9pm and back at 6am next morning
Weekends off: you’ll work Saturday mornings at a lot of bases and show between 6am and 4pm mondays. This is the only time off you’ll get except for your one week of vacation a year unless they have better staffing.
Weekends off: you’ll work Saturday mornings at a lot of bases and show between 6am and 4pm mondays. This is the only time off you’ll get except for your one week of vacation a year unless they have better staffing.
12-11-2021, 11:28 AM
#5513
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2020
Posts: 5
Average right now is 5-6 days per week and from 6am to 6pm if you’re on the west coast. 5-6 days per week and 6am to 9pm of you’re on the east coast.
The types of pilots that are here are either here for a pathway program “United or UPS” or they’re here because they don’t have ATP minimums and need a part 135 job before going to the airlines. There are a few “Ameri-lifers” but they are getting more rare because even they’re getting tired of the abuse.
Most recently Ameriflight management decided they’re going to re-write our “Pilots Administrative Guide” to make it more beneficial to them. As we’re not unionized we can’t do anything about that. that being said, if you are a current Ameriflight employee and would like to join the group attempting to form a union please email [email protected]. It’s illegal for them to fire employees trying to unionize. And if a union was able to get better standards of living at Ameriflight then maybe they wouldn’t have an employee shortage right now.
As for the autonomous planes. We still have airplanes without GPS and without Autopilot. Ameriflight would have to invest in a new fleet or finally upgrade their current planes in order to remotely come close to being able to fly with that level of automation. And the MX issues that AMF planes experience nearly daily because of the aging fleet types would make me wonder how long it would take until an AMF automated plane flew into someone’s house. I think their current automation goals are more along the lines of quad copters. And a fully automated B99 is decades away in my opinion. They already fly most of the fleet types as single pilot and I think you’d always need one person in the plane able to take over in an emergency. But maybe I’m just too old to think technology would advance and be trusted so much anytime soon.
As one other person already mentioned, I’m also surprised they haven’t lost more contracts yet because of their pilot shortage and inability to fill some routes right now. I think inevitably that will happen though if they keep losing pilots at the rate they are and don’t have pilots to replace. It’s easy to find qualified FOs right now. But there are 15+ Captain openings right now and growing. Anyone qualified to be a captain at AMF hired off the street is also qualified to work as an FO at the airlines and with the 10s of thousands of dollars of bonuses the airlines are offering right now and all the great benefits, AMF is probably in trouble. The pilot shortage is BACK and the last airline to realize that and adapt will be the first airline to go under.
The types of pilots that are here are either here for a pathway program “United or UPS” or they’re here because they don’t have ATP minimums and need a part 135 job before going to the airlines. There are a few “Ameri-lifers” but they are getting more rare because even they’re getting tired of the abuse.
Most recently Ameriflight management decided they’re going to re-write our “Pilots Administrative Guide” to make it more beneficial to them. As we’re not unionized we can’t do anything about that. that being said, if you are a current Ameriflight employee and would like to join the group attempting to form a union please email [email protected]. It’s illegal for them to fire employees trying to unionize. And if a union was able to get better standards of living at Ameriflight then maybe they wouldn’t have an employee shortage right now.
As for the autonomous planes. We still have airplanes without GPS and without Autopilot. Ameriflight would have to invest in a new fleet or finally upgrade their current planes in order to remotely come close to being able to fly with that level of automation. And the MX issues that AMF planes experience nearly daily because of the aging fleet types would make me wonder how long it would take until an AMF automated plane flew into someone’s house. I think their current automation goals are more along the lines of quad copters. And a fully automated B99 is decades away in my opinion. They already fly most of the fleet types as single pilot and I think you’d always need one person in the plane able to take over in an emergency. But maybe I’m just too old to think technology would advance and be trusted so much anytime soon.
As one other person already mentioned, I’m also surprised they haven’t lost more contracts yet because of their pilot shortage and inability to fill some routes right now. I think inevitably that will happen though if they keep losing pilots at the rate they are and don’t have pilots to replace. It’s easy to find qualified FOs right now. But there are 15+ Captain openings right now and growing. Anyone qualified to be a captain at AMF hired off the street is also qualified to work as an FO at the airlines and with the 10s of thousands of dollars of bonuses the airlines are offering right now and all the great benefits, AMF is probably in trouble. The pilot shortage is BACK and the last airline to realize that and adapt will be the first airline to go under.
12-12-2021, 08:04 AM
#5514
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2016
Posts: 71
if they are having a high turnover of pilot and they are relying on their pipeline program, why haven’t they tried to bring back their ACP they had about two to three years ago? From what I saw it was a good program that allow them to train pilot to take over the spots that would open up once petiole got the 1500 to go to the airline. I been trying to get on as a first officer off the street and so far no luck yet. I heard they were going to bring more FO on to the metro and Merlin to get them up to the Captain.
I hope that one day I get the call from the HR for a interview for the FO, would love to gain the experience of flying freight and then move over to the 99s fly as a captain.
I hope that one day I get the call from the HR for a interview for the FO, would love to gain the experience of flying freight and then move over to the 99s fly as a captain.
Originally Posted by NewbiePilot
Average right now is 5-6 days per week and from 6am to 6pm if you’re on the west coast. 5-6 days per week and 6am to 9pm of you’re on the east coast.
The types of pilots that are here are either here for a pathway program “United or UPS” or they’re here because they don’t have ATP minimums and need a part 135 job before going to the airlines. There are a few “Ameri-lifers” but they are getting more rare because even they’re getting tired of the abuse.
Most recently Ameriflight management decided they’re going to re-write our “Pilots Administrative Guide” to make it more beneficial to them. As we’re not unionized we can’t do anything about that. that being said, if you are a current Ameriflight employee and would like to join the group attempting to form a union please email [email protected]. It’s illegal for them to fire employees trying to unionize. And if a union was able to get better standards of living at Ameriflight then maybe they wouldn’t have an employee shortage right now.
As for the autonomous planes. We still have airplanes without GPS and without Autopilot. Ameriflight would have to invest in a new fleet or finally upgrade their current planes in order to remotely come close to being able to fly with that level of automation. And the MX issues that AMF planes experience nearly daily because of the aging fleet types would make me wonder how long it would take until an AMF automated plane flew into someone’s house. I think their current automation goals are more along the lines of quad copters. And a fully automated B99 is decades away in my opinion. They already fly most of the fleet types as single pilot and I think you’d always need one person in the plane able to take over in an emergency. But maybe I’m just too old to think technology would advance and be trusted so much anytime soon.
As one other person already mentioned, I’m also surprised they haven’t lost more contracts yet because of their pilot shortage and inability to fill some routes right now. I think inevitably that will happen though if they keep losing pilots at the rate they are and don’t have pilots to replace. It’s easy to find qualified FOs right now. But there are 15+ Captain openings right now and growing. Anyone qualified to be a captain at AMF hired off the street is also qualified to work as an FO at the airlines and with the 10s of thousands of dollars of bonuses the airlines are offering right now and all the great benefits, AMF is probably in trouble. The pilot shortage is BACK and the last airline to realize that and adapt will be the first airline to go under.
The types of pilots that are here are either here for a pathway program “United or UPS” or they’re here because they don’t have ATP minimums and need a part 135 job before going to the airlines. There are a few “Ameri-lifers” but they are getting more rare because even they’re getting tired of the abuse.
Most recently Ameriflight management decided they’re going to re-write our “Pilots Administrative Guide” to make it more beneficial to them. As we’re not unionized we can’t do anything about that. that being said, if you are a current Ameriflight employee and would like to join the group attempting to form a union please email [email protected]. It’s illegal for them to fire employees trying to unionize. And if a union was able to get better standards of living at Ameriflight then maybe they wouldn’t have an employee shortage right now.
As for the autonomous planes. We still have airplanes without GPS and without Autopilot. Ameriflight would have to invest in a new fleet or finally upgrade their current planes in order to remotely come close to being able to fly with that level of automation. And the MX issues that AMF planes experience nearly daily because of the aging fleet types would make me wonder how long it would take until an AMF automated plane flew into someone’s house. I think their current automation goals are more along the lines of quad copters. And a fully automated B99 is decades away in my opinion. They already fly most of the fleet types as single pilot and I think you’d always need one person in the plane able to take over in an emergency. But maybe I’m just too old to think technology would advance and be trusted so much anytime soon.
As one other person already mentioned, I’m also surprised they haven’t lost more contracts yet because of their pilot shortage and inability to fill some routes right now. I think inevitably that will happen though if they keep losing pilots at the rate they are and don’t have pilots to replace. It’s easy to find qualified FOs right now. But there are 15+ Captain openings right now and growing. Anyone qualified to be a captain at AMF hired off the street is also qualified to work as an FO at the airlines and with the 10s of thousands of dollars of bonuses the airlines are offering right now and all the great benefits, AMF is probably in trouble. The pilot shortage is BACK and the last airline to realize that and adapt will be the first airline to go under.
12-12-2021, 08:43 AM
#5515
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by Gapilot
if they are having a high turnover of pilot and they are relying on their pipeline program, why haven’t they tried to bring back their ACP they had about two to three years ago? From what I saw it was a good program that allow them to train pilot to take over the spots that would open up once petiole got the 1500 to go to the airline. I been trying to get on as a first officer off the street and so far no luck yet. I heard they were going to bring more FO on to the metro and Merlin to get them up to the Captain.
I hope that one day I get the call from the HR for a interview for the FO, would love to gain the experience of flying freight and then move over to the 99s fly as a captain.
I hope that one day I get the call from the HR for a interview for the FO, would love to gain the experience of flying freight and then move over to the 99s fly as a captain.
As for why it hasn’t been brought back? Money. That’s why AMF doesn’t have enough pilots, qualified maintenance people, or basic equipment in the airplanes in 2021. I mean come on, night freight in /A turboprops in 2021? You have to be joking. The current leadership is either disconnected, inept, or doesn’t actually care what makes the current company better. They’re fully focused on charter runs that make a ton of money but eat resources and time and playing catch up, all the while making grand future plans. 4-5 years ago was the sweet spot to join this company, today? No.
This is not to demean the very quality people at Ameriflight who work very hard to meet deadlines, fly safely and do things right. But there are rotten things at Ameriflight that are getting worse and they can’t overcome those as much as they try.
If you are currently at Ameriflight, join the union effort or better-leverage every single connection you have to leave and talk to a lawyer about your training contracts. This job is not worth your personal health or life.
Last edited by Kansaspilot92; 12-12-2021 at 08:57 AM.
12-12-2021, 10:05 AM
#5516
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2021
Posts: 36
Originally Posted by Kansaspilot92
You think you would, but you would not. It’s not worth being an FO in one of their metros to fly a poorly maintained 99 at night with no autopilot for years on end. They also have no PDP so you can’t use any of the FO time towards ATP. Go to aerial survey, go to CFI, try to get on with a corporate job or the airlines. Ameriflight is overdue for a fatality and with the way things are headed either a new pilot or maintenance related fatality will happen soon-and you don’t want to be the one in the news.
As for why it hasn’t been brought back? Money. That’s why AMF doesn’t have enough pilots, qualified maintenance people, or basic equipment in the airplanes in 2021. I mean come on, night freight in /A turboprops in 2021? You have to be joking. The current leadership is either disconnected, inept, or doesn’t actually care what makes the current company better. They’re fully focused on charter runs that make a ton of money but eat resources and time and playing catch up, all the while making grand future plans. 4-5 years ago was the sweet spot to join this company, today? No.
This is not to demean the very quality people at Ameriflight who work very hard to meet deadlines, fly safely and do things right. But there are rotten things at Ameriflight that are getting worse and they can’t overcome those as much as they try.
If you are currently at Ameriflight, join the union effort or better-leverage every single connection you have to leave and talk to a lawyer about your training contracts. This job is not worth your personal health or life.
As for why it hasn’t been brought back? Money. That’s why AMF doesn’t have enough pilots, qualified maintenance people, or basic equipment in the airplanes in 2021. I mean come on, night freight in /A turboprops in 2021? You have to be joking. The current leadership is either disconnected, inept, or doesn’t actually care what makes the current company better. They’re fully focused on charter runs that make a ton of money but eat resources and time and playing catch up, all the while making grand future plans. 4-5 years ago was the sweet spot to join this company, today? No.
This is not to demean the very quality people at Ameriflight who work very hard to meet deadlines, fly safely and do things right. But there are rotten things at Ameriflight that are getting worse and they can’t overcome those as much as they try.
If you are currently at Ameriflight, join the union effort or better-leverage every single connection you have to leave and talk to a lawyer about your training contracts. This job is not worth your personal health or life.
Well, all I’m gonna say is they better not get too used to those charter flights, we’ve got people dropping like flies too. Because they are tired of being ran ragged, backside of the clock, in planes that are trying to kill them.
12-12-2021, 06:56 PM
#5517
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 32
Thinking on this I do need to clarify there are some people in leadership and management who are incredible people and could absolutely run the company the way it should be. But most of the big decision makers seem to not understand what’s happening at the low and mid levels and how serious it is to the long term health of employees and the company. There are several people who should have zero input on company decisions and have outsized influence. But unless there’s another circa 2018 purge, it’s not going to really change things for the company.
12-12-2021, 06:59 PM
#5518
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 509
Originally Posted by NewbiePilot;[url=tel:3334337
3334337[/url]]Average right now is 5-6 days per week and from 6am to 6pm if you’re on the west coast. 5-6 days per week and 6am to 9pm of you’re on the east coast.
The types of pilots that are here are either here for a pathway program “United or UPS” or they’re here because they don’t have ATP minimums and need a part 135 job before going to the airlines. There are a few “Ameri-lifers” but they are getting more rare because even they’re getting tired of the abuse.
Most recently Ameriflight management decided they’re going to re-write our “Pilots Administrative Guide” to make it more beneficial to them. As we’re not unionized we can’t do anything about that. that being said, if you are a current Ameriflight employee and would like to join the group attempting to form a union please email [email protected]. It’s illegal for them to fire employees trying to unionize. And if a union was able to get better standards of living at Ameriflight then maybe they wouldn’t have an employee shortage right now.
As for the autonomous planes. We still have airplanes without GPS and without Autopilot. Ameriflight would have to invest in a new fleet or finally upgrade their current planes in order to remotely come close to being able to fly with that level of automation. And the MX issues that AMF planes experience nearly daily because of the aging fleet types would make me wonder how long it would take until an AMF automated plane flew into someone’s house. I think their current automation goals are more along the lines of quad copters. And a fully automated B99 is decades away in my opinion. They already fly most of the fleet types as single pilot and I think you’d always need one person in the plane able to take over in an emergency. But maybe I’m just too old to think technology would advance and be trusted so much anytime soon.
As one other person already mentioned, I’m also surprised they haven’t lost more contracts yet because of their pilot shortage and inability to fill some routes right now. I think inevitably that will happen though if they keep losing pilots at the rate they are and don’t have pilots to replace. It’s easy to find qualified FOs right now. But there are 15+ Captain openings right now and growing. Anyone qualified to be a captain at AMF hired off the street is also qualified to work as an FO at the airlines and with the 10s of thousands of dollars of bonuses the airlines are offering right now and all the great benefits, AMF is probably in trouble. The pilot shortage is BACK and the last airline to realize that and adapt will be the first airline to go under.
The types of pilots that are here are either here for a pathway program “United or UPS” or they’re here because they don’t have ATP minimums and need a part 135 job before going to the airlines. There are a few “Ameri-lifers” but they are getting more rare because even they’re getting tired of the abuse.
Most recently Ameriflight management decided they’re going to re-write our “Pilots Administrative Guide” to make it more beneficial to them. As we’re not unionized we can’t do anything about that. that being said, if you are a current Ameriflight employee and would like to join the group attempting to form a union please email [email protected]. It’s illegal for them to fire employees trying to unionize. And if a union was able to get better standards of living at Ameriflight then maybe they wouldn’t have an employee shortage right now.
As for the autonomous planes. We still have airplanes without GPS and without Autopilot. Ameriflight would have to invest in a new fleet or finally upgrade their current planes in order to remotely come close to being able to fly with that level of automation. And the MX issues that AMF planes experience nearly daily because of the aging fleet types would make me wonder how long it would take until an AMF automated plane flew into someone’s house. I think their current automation goals are more along the lines of quad copters. And a fully automated B99 is decades away in my opinion. They already fly most of the fleet types as single pilot and I think you’d always need one person in the plane able to take over in an emergency. But maybe I’m just too old to think technology would advance and be trusted so much anytime soon.
As one other person already mentioned, I’m also surprised they haven’t lost more contracts yet because of their pilot shortage and inability to fill some routes right now. I think inevitably that will happen though if they keep losing pilots at the rate they are and don’t have pilots to replace. It’s easy to find qualified FOs right now. But there are 15+ Captain openings right now and growing. Anyone qualified to be a captain at AMF hired off the street is also qualified to work as an FO at the airlines and with the 10s of thousands of dollars of bonuses the airlines are offering right now and all the great benefits, AMF is probably in trouble. The pilot shortage is BACK and the last airline to realize that and adapt will be the first airline to go under.
12-13-2021, 12:04 PM
#5519
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 32
NewbiePilot the above post brings up a good point. Maybe it’s time for a new union focused on small freight feeders. More power together.
12-13-2021, 08:43 PM
#5520
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2009
Posts: 278
Originally Posted by Kansaspilot92
https://markets.businessinsider.com/...ons-1031039018
Writing on the wall for anyone considering this company, or already there. And it’s not that they can’t find skilled pilots, it’s that they can’t, or won’t change the toxic areas of the business that cause good pilots and mechanics/dispatchers to leave or look elsewhere.
And Covid just emphasized those things.
If pay and QoL and maintenance was what it should be, AMF would never find itself short of skilled, competent life long employees. I guess robots are easier and cheaper anyway.
Writing on the wall for anyone considering this company, or already there. And it’s not that they can’t find skilled pilots, it’s that they can’t, or won’t change the toxic areas of the business that cause good pilots and mechanics/dispatchers to leave or look elsewhere.
And Covid just emphasized those things.
If pay and QoL and maintenance was what it should be, AMF would never find itself short of skilled, competent life long employees. I guess robots are easier and cheaper anyway.
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