Need some Advice
 

Hey guys, I've been a long time lurker on here, and just got registered. I am one of the newer FOs at 9e, and given the current state of the industry, I've kept my ear to the ground for corporate and 135 jobs. So I have an opportunity to become a captain on an air ambulance King Air C90 in my home town. BTW, I'm one of the guys who likes my job at Pinnacle, so it makes it a tough decision for me. At home flying Turboprop PIC or away from home flying Jet SIC? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

For me personally if I had a chance to be a King Air PIC in my hometown it would be a no braner but maybe I just don't enjoy my 121 gig right now as much. Of course there are other variables (pay, schedule, etc) but it doesn't get much better than TPIC time and being home based in my opinion.

I'm also a 9E pilot. My wife and I moved to MSP since I didn't want to commute anymore. If I had an offer to be a CA on a King Air and move back to the Northwest, I don't think i would make the move yet with the way the industry is. This is just my opinion. If for some reason the new flying gig doesn't work out then i will be out of a job. I'm not saying 9E is anymore safe, i just don't want to go to the bottom right now.

Can you take a voluntary leave of absence? That would seem to be the best way to go if possible. You could fly the King Air for a year or two then return when things improve...

Don't know your background or your desires as far as your career is concerned but these could make this decision for me a lot different.
Having flown over 1000 hours as a PIC in a KA 90 I have to say I Really like that a/c, however if you are looking to have an airline career I wouldn't be going anywhere.
If however you are thinking of going corporate then it might be a good move. There are probably more 90's flying the skies than any other private turbine a/c. They have been making those things since the 60's. It's like the 172 of the turbine world.

It would definately be nice to have a schedule keeping you in the hometown most nights. That being said when things did turn around if you didn't like it you could take your turbine PIC and go back to the airlines I guess.
KA jobs are a major entry point for those looking to go corporate so I guess you need to think out the future choices you want to make in this career.

Good luck I know its never easy to switch jobs....unless you've just lost one ;)

I think I'd take the job. If it was in my home town, paid decent and gave a better QOL than 9E, I'd take it for sure. If you came here hoping for a quick upgrade, judging by the canceled 07 and current 08 vacancy's, those days are over for a while. Slice has a good idea, I'd give it a try before I just up and quit.

The poster's situation is somewhat different than yours though...you're already a captain and he's an FO. In my opinion if you have the ability to leave the regional for an air ambulance you should at least strongly consider it. Air Ambulance jobs aren't goin anywhere while your 9e gig might dry up before the years end? Be aware though that often times the air ambulance guys live with a pager...on call nearly 24/7. this may vary by each job but that was the deal on the one I knew about. it tended to burn guys out fast. Also it's definately more stressful flying than two pilot airline flying.

Tough decision...

Do you think you're in danger of furlough (9E seems to be in better shape than some companies)? If so, that might weigh towards taking any resaonable flying job before the rush...it's going to get REAL hard to find a flying job AFTER labor day.

Do you want an airline career? KA PIC is probably not going to cut it, although if you already have a 1000 hours of airline turbojet SIC time, you might get lucky with SWA after you get the PIC in the KA.

Are you open to the idea of a corporate/fractional career? If so, this might be a good start. I'm on of those people who thinks most corporate/fractional flying will survive this downturn, since fuel price is much less of an issue to their customer demographic.

You can never get back time with your family.
Air Ambulance sounds like a personally rewarding job.

Oh, yeah speaking of your family...do your research on that air ambulance company. That industry does not have the greatest safety record.

Part of this comes down to YOUR comfort level flying under those conditions. Really marginal wx, down to mins, icing, night, the pax isn't going to make it if you no-go, but you're thinking about your kids too...what are you going to do?

Thanks for all your feedback guys. A little more info about my background: Most of my time is flying 135 cargo so weather is not an issue for me. I know that air ambulance is very demanding, but I've flown under worse circumstances. Also, it is my ultimate goal to end up at a major (hopefully FedEx). I'm also trying to get into the ANG flying a C130. I will find out about that in a couple of months. I guess if I get that slot, then I can take an extended leave of absence with Pinnacle and keep my seniority number while in UPT.

Yeah, I'd focus on the ANG first...that will be more career enhancing.

I mentioned the challenges of air ambulance just in case you were a 300 hour wonder with 900 hours in an RJ...

[QUOTE=rickair7777;431253] That industry does not have the greatest safety record.

QUOTE]

Sure there have been alot of Air Ambulance accidents. But when you get the call to fly it's because someone's life is truely on the line. This itself can be a tremendous amount of pressure in pushing the limits.

Nope, not a 300 hour wonder. I came to the company with about 2700 hours which included nearly 400 hours of actual instrument. Most of the sim instructors were happy to have someone who knew how to talk on the radios.

elfouquer,

I flew air ambulance for 7 years. Perhaps my experience will help you decide...

My company had both rotor and fixed wing. Since you are looking at a King Air, I'll stick to the fixed wing side.

Fixed wing air ambulance is inter facility transport: from the patient's current hospital, to one with higher care. Mostly that means from a small town to a bigger city.

I have worked two schedules: 12 hours on, 12 off, 7 days on/7 off; and 24 hours, 20 days on/10 off. Both were on call with a response time of 20 minutes. That means 20 minutes to get to the plane, be ready to close doors, and turn engines. The 12/12 is more common, though the days on/off vary between companies.

The flying was challenging. Mostly night flights down, often to non-towered (or closed tower) airports. Only about half the places I flew had an ILS, and a few had no approaches. Occasionally, we flew to unimproved (turf or gravel) runways. The flight time was split evenly between 135 and 91. Every one of our PCs included a hand flown, single engine, non-precision (NDB if available), circle to land approach. 99% of it was single pilot. Flight time averaged about 200 hours PER YEAR.


The industry is often criticized for its safety record. Part of that is due to the type of flying done: crappy airports (or in the case of the helicopters, a wide spot in the road), in the middle of no where, with little wx information. I may get slammed for this, but too often it was the size of the pilot's b@lls that got him in trouble. Too big and he thought he could do anything, too small and he succumbed to the pressure of "If you don't fly, you're gonna kill this kid." (The most important thing for me was to remember I didn't make that kid sick, but a bad decision on my part COULD kill the kid, the nurses, and ME).



Good luck with whatever you choose,
j

I don't think anybody is safe and if you start a new job, you could be on the street soon. I agree with the LOA and check it out first. I think any pilot could get a unpaid leave right now. An air ambulance will be affected by the sudden increase in fuel just like an airline. It could go out of business just as easily. Do you have to sign a training contract?

Well, a LOA with PNCL unless medical, I don't see it happening. All they do is whine about not having enough FOs but off course, they won't hire more. Being an FO at the bottom of the siniority list in 9E is a nightmare. Remember, things are not moving, if you are on reserve, you'll stay on reserve for a while. If I had the oportunity you have right now, I think I'd take it. Never flown air ambulance before, but here's my reasoning:

Turbine PIC, hum..... good, very good
Pay, I'm not sure how much you'd be making, but for sure is more than 9E, isn't it?
Be based at home, hummm.....like it a lot
Job stability....either way is a gamble
Regionals are going to start hiring back again at some point, you'll always have the option to get your 121 experience, maybe even in a better company, a 135 or corporate gig is harder to get under those conditions you mentioned.
Being an FO at the bottom of the siniority list at 9E is going to get old really quick, specially now that the single most imoportant reason pilots chose to come to 9E is gone (upgrade time)
9E has nothing to offer right now in my opinion. Off course several regionals neither under these day's circumstances......

Anyways, remember 9E is a bottom feeder, and it'll always be, you are not leaving a top tier company....

Whatever you choose, good luck !

Quality of life is everything. Do what's best for you.

If it's an established company with good equipment and I were in your situation, I would be hard pressed to not consider it.

It's true that nothing is safe right now, however I think the airlines are much more volitile than 135. Sick people will continue getting sick just like rich people will still be rich.

Contrary to what many folks think, fuel does not affect air ambulances like it does scheduled carriers. Since the aircraft are flown so little, the fixed costs (insurance, payroll, aircraft cost) are the majority of the expenses. In our case, the nurses were probably the biggest single expense.