I currently work for airnet (been in the props for over 2 years)
here's an insight :
to answer your questions :
I like it ! A lot of fun flying and no pax to worry about.
It changed since the 90's !!
They take good care of their pilots. Pay is very competitive (send a PM if you want details). They have floater pilots to take care of vacation/sick/interview etc... (i'm a floater !).
They give 2 weeks of vacation and 3 weeks after 5 years seniority. No personal time though...only strict sick time (1 week) but it doesn't seem to be a pb!
As far as company expenses ? All covered.
They pay for your initial move and for lateral move (once per upgrade and once per lateral move).
When it's time for training, they get you back in CMH and put you in a hotel with away from base extra pay and per diem.
We fly be58 pa31 and c208 for the props (band new 208's.....sweet)
All props (almost) have gps or rnav at the least and are very well maintained (we received faa award, dod approval).
Upgrade time (prop to FO on lear) seems to be around 22/24 months !! got to be patient.
You are allowed to bid for your initial seat, than once more a year (lateral move) unless upgrade . Means, you could be in two bases per seat in any year, the second base would have you seat locked for a year.
Upgarde to PIC in the lear is...well...not documented
Night flying is cool, and the schedule is really easy (most runs out there get WE off and bank holidays). This is truly a real career jumpstart.
Whatever is your goal, you will learn so much from this experience.
We fly a lot, fast (probably the fastest and more flexible around
) , in any weather
with old school navaids (How many of you "real pilots" remember how to shoot a ndb...........with the needle !).
I thought i knew IFR before i came here and realized i knew FARs and AIM...not even good !
Most former Airnet pilots with "real jobs" still miss flying starcheck (that's our call sign). Like every company, there are backdraws, double standards and little annoyances but overall, it's a good place to work.
The pilot community is awesome, motivated and very dedicated to their work. We all take great pride in what we do.
If you want more info, the website is very good (
www.airnet.com ).
On the pay side : the option is there to make a lot of money...
You could bid a "slacker run" (8 hour duty with 3 or 4 hours flight) and have a lot of spare time, making minimum pay (you are garantee to be paid 80 hours a paycheck -2weeks-) or bid a heavy load with overtime every day (compensated) and 2 extra days a paycheck (total of 10 every 2 weeks) and have less WE time but a fat paycheck.
Little insider trade : be (like me) a floater....that's about twice the minimum pay.......
To sum up : good atmosphere, lots of multi time and turbine PIC (C208) and if you stick around 2or3 years Jet time, WE off (u can party EVERY sat !!) and option to make good money...