Quote:
Originally Posted by AboveAndBeyond
If you are staying at AMF rather than going to a 121 carrier because of this bonus, please do yourself a favor and call some of your 121 friends. Ask them if they would give up 4 months of seniority for $3000. I will guarantee that in this hiring environment, there is no one that would say that they would.
The Kool-Aid is strong at AMF. People there really thing that the turbine time in old turboprops really counts for something in the eyes of the 121 majors. They think that they will get hired at American/Delta/United before the regional captains that have 8 years in 121 with 10,000 hours TT and 5000 hours of PIC Jet time. It just isn't the case.
I learned a lot about flying at AMF, but one of the first things that I learned in the 121 world is that the time at AMF counts for nothing once you leave 135. There are guys with over 10,000 PIC Jet that are just getting called by the majors. Someone with a couple thousand hours in a Metro doesn't stand a chance.
If you are planning on going corporate, AMF is fine. Some places like the single pilot IFR in old turboprops. But the 121's want experience with airplanes that are similar to what they fly - glass with automation, passengers in the back, highly regimented, and in a crew environment.
By all means, if you are looking to go 121 as fast as possible, you should fulfill your commitment to AMF then bounce. With a year of flying "old turboprops" under your belt you should be able to get a job with one of the better regionals (oxymoron) and not have to settle for one that will hire you with a telephone interview and a pulse. And if you made it through training here, I doubt you will have any problems with any of the regional training centers.
Unfortunately, I've heard of a few folks that are jumping prior to their commitment ending at AMF lately, and I think that this bonus should slow that trend.
I don't know of anyone here that would compare themselves to a 10k RJ captain, or realistically expect to jump straight to the majors from AMF, but you take the typical guy that comes here with 1200 hours and leaves with 1500+, plus TPIC time and match him up with a like timed RJ FO, my money would be on the AMFer for any other flying job out there.
And as near as I can tell, the only thing a few thousand hours in a Metro will get you is a masochistic badge of honor, kind of like being a Cubs fan
.