BeardedFlyer

Already hundreds of posts from active and former AMF pilots that will answer your question in this thread as well as a 100 page "Ameriflight" thread just a few threads below this one. Read up, there's a lot of good info!

mwf008

We wear dosimeters which measure your exposure to radiation and these get turned in monthly. Ameriflight has a doctor that measures the radiation values to make sure you're not being overexposed. Before every leg we use an electronic device that measures radioactivity at certain areas around the aircraft. We also install a lead curtain between the cockpit and the first bay which cuts down exposure to almost zero while you're flying. The pilots DO NOT load this cargo. As far as I know, Cincinnati, Miami, Dallas, and Phoenix (not sure if its PHX or BUR pilots that fly the PHX-BUR leg) are the only bases that have the nuke runs and these are once a week on Sundays. Keep in mind all this info pertains only to flights under the 7060 exemption where you are carrying more than normal amount of radioactive material and cannot comply with the normal separation standards. These runs are only done in Metro's and 1900s, so you wouldn't need to worry about flying under 7060 until you transition into one of these aircraft. No matter where you are based, you WILL occasionally carry radioactive hazmat in very small amounts.

chazbird

The doctor monitors the dosimeters....after exposure. Continued, or I suppose, cumulative exposure is what they are looking for, and at some time you may reach a limit. But you've got to wonder what happens with a one time "spike" exposure.

We carried hazmat and radioactive stuff too (different carrier). Depending on what it was it was way in back (60+ feet) but sometimes I'd find it up front, nestled right next to those Omaha Steak shipments.

Cruz5350

A little radiation never hurt anyone lol.

needtofly

yes>>>yes>>>yes...

freightdog

Absolutely!!! I'm a safer, sharper, and more proficient pilot.

dino1pilot

Don't know what type of Koolaide some of these guys were drinking but the company did make me a better pilot.......now the happy part, that I can't agree with and I honestly never met a pilot working there that was happy. I went in with the best intentions and best attitude but was quickly broke and learned the Ameriflight happy.

Oldog

Someone uninformed person made that story up. Ameriflight operates under a rigidly controlled DOT special permit program, monitored by a Ph.D. consulting radiation physicist, there are very specific instructions on how the airplane is to be loaded to produce maximum separation and take maximum advantage of the radioactive material containers' shielding effect, the crews wear tactical dosimeters, special equipment is used to check the airplanes, and program records indicate that the overall radiation dosage experienced by crews on the "glow" flights runs about ten percent of the program's allowable limit.

Oldog

I get kind of tired of reading rumors about Ameriflight's "safety problems." The company just passed 500,000 in-company flight hours without a fatal accident -- a record unmatched in the Part 135 cargo business. As to the mechanical failure, the company has never hurt anyone because of the way they take care of the airplanes, during 43+ years in the business . . . and guess what, the big guys have mechanical failures too! Does AMF's record match the big airlines? No, but AMF doesn't have multimillion dollar Boeings, at least two highly experienced pilots in each cockpit, Part 121 infrastructure, lots of personnel at each destination, etc., etc, either. They're doing very well for their part of the market.

SWAblue

Considering the size of AMF, this is not that impressive of a number.

And safety records are only good until today. Then it starts all over again.