Notices
Part 135 Part 135 commercial operators

How about Amerflight?

Old 12-15-2006, 05:46 PM
  #11  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
Default

Originally Posted by Ski Patrol View Post
Don't waste your time with AMF I almost made the same mistake. AMF tells newhires about the .05% pilots that make it to xxxx airline without going thru a regional. These pilots are a statistical anomaly who either knew the CEO or got in at a time when things were much less competitive. If you don't have the hours for a regional then AMF is a great time and experience builder. Otherwise apply for the regional you will be better off. Just my 2 cents
Never, ever, ever waste your time at a regional. That was the biggest mistake of my career! You will not make captain in any thing that burns Jet A at a regional in less than 5 years. Ameriflight pilots go from Chiefton to 99 in 6 months and Metro or 1900 in another 6 months.

Majors and Fractionals don't give a rip about the size of equipment you fly. The biggest concern they have is PIC time. You will not get that at a regional unless you devote years and years of your life to them.

Now...as for AMF...here is the skinny. Health insurance is not great, but better than nothing. Pay, you know. Work 4,5 or 6 days a week, mostly nights (some day runs). Two, 3 and 4 leg days depending on run. Mx is generally good, but the a/c are still really old with lots of cycles so they will have problems. Not mx's fault, just a fact of life when flying old a/c. No gadgets either.

Don't let Burbank strong arm you into an aircraft or city you don't like. I turned down the job 3 times in one hour before they called me back with the right city and aircraft for me. If you meet the 99 minimums, keep declining the job until they offer you the 99, if you want Billings don't say yes until you get Billings. When you accept the offer be sure to ask very politely for an offer letter with the city pairing and equipment stated in the offer. They like to tell you one thing and do another.

Oh, and BTW, to the numbnuts that thinks no one from AMF goes to majors, I personally know of 2 people that went to SWA, 1 to UPS. I left for FlexJet as well as another, 2 left for NJA and all of that is out of the two easterly bases in the last year. Don't be that looser that thinks his RJ experience is king. You are an RJ pilot, as such you still have a lot to do to earn my respect. As far as I'm concerned, that is a detriment to you, not a plus.
wildcat1 is offline  
Old 12-15-2006, 08:32 PM
  #12  
Gets Weekends Off
 
STILL GROUNDED's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: Left Seat
Posts: 1,105
Default

Originally Posted by wildcat1 View Post
Never, ever, ever waste your time at a regional. That was the biggest mistake of my career! You will not make captain in any thing that burns Jet A at a regional in less than 5 years. Ameriflight pilots go from Chiefton to 99 in 6 months and Metro or 1900 in another 6 months.
You have a lot of good points but frankly if you were to go to a place like AirMidwest with 1200 hours you will be captain in a BE1900 in 3-4 months flying 121. If you can hold an ATP you'll be in the next upgrade class if not hired off the street as a captain. Yeah it's Mesa, yeah it sucks/blows and any other four letter word you can use to descibe something that draws the blood and thirst for a flying job from your veins, but it beats somethings. ie: paying for a seat in anything.

Not putting down Ameriflight, don't know much about it frankly. Just offering an option.
STILL GROUNDED is offline  
Old 12-15-2006, 08:41 PM
  #13  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: G2 gear slammer
Posts: 308
Default

If i was mangment for any airline, I would pull the AMF pilots resume before anyone else's, and for a very good reason. Everyone knows that AMF pilots hand fly those IFR's every night. They fly the old A/C but they get it done, by hand. Not saying a guy from skywest isnt anymore of a pilot then someone from AMF, but I would have complete confidence when the soup hits the deck, the AMF wouldnt even flinch.
bluebravo is offline  
Old 12-15-2006, 11:18 PM
  #14  
Gets Weekends Off
 
freightdog's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: 'Bus Driver Right Seat
Posts: 523
Default thanks bluebravo

bluebravo,

Nice to hear encouraging words from someone outside of the freight dog community. I just got home into KBUR after fighting 30 knot headwinds just so that I get to hand fly an approach to 500 ft above mins. I've had pilots from Northrop Grumman monitor the tower frequency at destination airports to see is AMF gets in, if we do, then NG attempts the approach. I've had good friends take a year or two at AMF and gain valuable experience and are able to write their own ticket and go any where they want to go in the industry.

Fly safe,
freightdog

You know you're a freight dog if...The other airlines hold to see if you get in.
freightdog is offline  
Old 12-16-2006, 08:57 AM
  #15  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Ski Patrol's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: NU Guy
Posts: 437
Default

Originally Posted by sigep_nm View Post
I was unaware that you could make 60K at a regional, it that the unemployement pay after you have been furloughed a couple of times?
In regards to per diem, that buck and a half an hour sure shrinks up when a burger at the airport is going to cost you seven to eight. Nice thing about cargo is that we dont go to the terminal, have a crew car waiting for us that I get to drive and go where ever I want. Excuse me while I go mix up another batch of kool aid for that guy.
You're right what do I know about making $$ at a 135 or 121 op........ or for that matter 61 141 or 91 as well.

Ziggman my apologies if it appears that I took a dump in your house. I guess I just have an axe to grind with bernstein. (no I didn't fail an interiew or ride if that's what you are thinking.) Best of luck to you all.
Ski Patrol is offline  
Old 12-16-2006, 09:10 AM
  #16  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Ski Patrol's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: NU Guy
Posts: 437
Default

Did wildcat call me numbnuts......That's classic that'll teach me. As for the fact that I fly an RJ now..... settle down freight dogs I did the 135 IFR single pilot thing too, And learned a ton from it. But when you transition to glass in a jet you will see what I'm talking about, it's just different not harder or easier just different.
Ski Patrol is offline  
Old 12-16-2006, 05:07 PM
  #17  
Banned
 
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: FO dhc-6
Posts: 523
Default

Originally Posted by wildcat1 View Post
Don't let Burbank strong arm you into an aircraft or city you don't like. I turned down the job 3 times in one hour before they called me back with the right city and aircraft for me. If you meet the 99 minimums, keep declining the job until they offer you the 99, if you want Billings don't say yes until you get Billings. When you accept the offer be sure to ask very politely for an offer letter with the city pairing and equipment stated in the offer. They like to tell you one thing and do another.
what a change from the regional forums where the attitude is bend over and take whatever they give you cause this is aviation
hatetobreakit2u is offline  
Old 12-17-2006, 03:32 PM
  #18  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Ziggy's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: Sofa Stress Tester
Posts: 614
Default What's the BIG deal!

This post isn't directed to anyone personally, but.

What's the big deal with EFIS time, or crew time? I have flown both. I've flow all-glass, 5 and 4 tube EFIS, and just the straight 6 pack (steam). I've also flown single and dual crew. Personally, I prefer dual.
I find flying all-glass, dual crew the easiest. Almost all the math is done for you, if you know how to program the system. (just don't let your skills wither away incase the system decides to take a vacation.)

Share your opinion.
Ziggy is offline  
Old 12-17-2006, 06:15 PM
  #19  
Banned
 
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: FO dhc-6
Posts: 523
Default

nothing about how major airlines hire makes sense, a 1900 pilot can fly circles around most RJ guys anywhere anyday, but for some reason there slowly.....slowly...becoming less valuable in a major airlines opinion
hatetobreakit2u is offline  
Old 12-17-2006, 06:27 PM
  #20  
Gets Weekends Off
 
koz2000's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: Airbus F/O
Posts: 297
Default

Originally Posted by Ziggy View Post
What's the big deal with EFIS time, or crew time?
Almost all the math is done for you, if you know how to program the system. (just don't let your skills wither away incase the system decides to take a vacation.)

Share your opinion.
As far as crew time goes, it's pretty important to show that you can play nice with others. You might be able to fly the space shuttle blindfolded by yourself, but it you can't work with a crew, an airline doesn't want you. You might have outscored the Red Baron but happen to be a prick, why would anyone else want you in the cockpit? That's why CRM is so hammered these days. BTW I'm not saying you're a prick, just figurative speech.

I personally think steam gauges make you a better pilot, but if you can't learn glass it won't help you in the planes that are total glass. At FDX the 727s are all steam gauges, so managment/HR doesn't really care about your glass time unless you're going straight to the MD11 as a nuggett.
koz2000 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
LawnDart
Cargo
0
01-05-2006 12:52 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices