Ameriflight

Based CVG-CID-OMA (get required rest over the day at crew apt) OMA-CID-CVG two hour break home (no you don't actually get to go home) in CVG and start it all over again.
1 Day weekend actually at home.
Three weeks on, One Week off.

Yeah, you might get the Bro faster at AMF, but skywest and AMF are far from equal, as shown.
Chances are, you'll never see the Bro at AMF before you move on to SKYW or get canned.
 
I would NEVER leave AMF for a regional. There's no point what-so-ever to do turbine freight only to move sideways or backwards.

Let me put on my Ameriflight cheerleader costume quick. Over a 5 year period, you get paid more and will have more TPIC time with better job security(if you don't do something we-todd-did and get fired) Personally, I don't see much of a point in doing freight, in general, for more than two years, but you're still ahead at the 5 year mark. It's a HUGE shortcut if you play it right.
 
Just sayin man. The only negative thing I've seen with freight so far is all the moving. That and getting your hands dirty constantly. FLX was fine, just no equipment. AMF also seems alright, or at least putting on a good show so far. :) Beyond that, pay and job security are certainly better.

Not planning on going to any one of those you listed. ;)
 
z987k said:
I don't think that's the point of freight. If anyone thinks it is, they're delusional.
Click to expand...
Personally I believe I have more career options as a result. I can easily go to a regional and get the jet/FMS/121 passenger time that places like delta wants to see on a resume. Wouldn't the added 135 experience in a tprop only increase my competitiveness? How many regional guys actually have the freight experience these days? Also having the TPIC before going to a regional would help if your regional becomes the next AE with 10 year FOs. Based on the last year that could be any regional at this point.

Corporate and 135 charter love freight guys. Some to the point that they won't hire airline people.

If you are 100% dead set on the airlines a regional is likely the way to go, but I personally wasn't sure where I wanted to be when filling out the applications. Freight was an upgrade and didn't close any doors for me. Seemed like a no brainer at the time and I don't regret the decision.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
 
Maurus said:
Personally I believe I have more career options as a result. I can easily go to a regional and get the jet/FMS/121 passenger time that places like delta wants to see on a resume. Wouldn't the added 135 experience in a tprop only increase my competitiveness? How many regional guys actually have the freight experience these days? Also having the TPIC before going to a regional would help if your regional becomes the next AE with 10 year FOs. Based on the last year that could be any regional at this point.

Corporate and 135 charter love freight guys. Some to the point that they won't hire airline people.

If you are 100% dead set on the airlines a regional is likely the way to go, but I personally wasn't sure where I wanted to be when filling out the applications. Freight was an upgrade and didn't close any doors for me. Seemed like a no brainer at the time and I don't regret the decision.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

These are two big reasons why I'm in freight. TPIC time is one of the biggest boxes to check off. I'm willing to ruin many shirts to make sure I get it. :) I don't really know what I want long term either and I feel the same about freight opening many more doors than other operations. Hey, I still have 38 years of working time left!:eek: Is it realistic to think one can go from AMF(or freight in general) to a major? Despite the sunshine blowing from management, no, I don't think it is. Is it realistic to think one can go from this to air ambulance or an upper level 91 operator? Absolutely.
 
Maurus said:
Personally I believe I have more career options as a result. I can easily go to a regional and get the jet/FMS/121 passenger time that places like delta wants to see on a resume. Wouldn't the added 135 experience in a tprop only increase my competitiveness? How many regional guys actually have the freight experience these days? Also having the TPIC before going to a regional would help if your regional becomes the next AE with 10 year FOs. Based on the last year that could be any regional at this point.

Corporate and 135 charter love freight guys. Some to the point that they won't hire airline people.

If you are 100% dead set on the airlines a regional is likely the way to go, but I personally wasn't sure where I wanted to be when filling out the applications. Freight was an upgrade and didn't close any doors for me. Seemed like a no brainer at the time and I don't regret the decision.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Oh, I agree. But I don't expect delta to come knocking. If anyone thinks their going amf to Delta, United or some of the other big pax carriers, I think they're in for a surprise.
 
z987k said:
I don't think that's the point of freight. If anyone thinks it is, they're delusional.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree. It's a funny thing, this 135 freight deal. I still hear the words of our director of Flight Ops in my indoc class: "After a few years here, ANY regional will hire you." WTF? The incubation period of TPIC time at a company like AMF is brief, if you're willing to move around. But on the other hand, I'm not personally aware of many pilots in the contemporary period that got their 1000TPIC at AMF and moved onto whatever they wanted. A lot of times, it seems, you spend more time at AMF than you would anticipate before moving on to a better opportunity.

And the folks I know personally who stuck it out at AMF and racked up a bunch of quality TPIC ended up waiting a bit longer than expected before moving onto the next job. I know another pilot there now who flew the Lear and has untold thousands of hours in the 99 and Metro and hasn't been able to move on despite what I believe is an impressive resume.

On the other hand, I know a few guys who went Skywest and Expressjet (one, from AMF) and did 6~ years, got their 1000TPIC and are both at majors right now.

This is just opinion based on personal experience and what has been related to me by other AMF pilots, but the quality of life at certain regionals is better than AMF. I think most regionals are garbage and I know enough guys to attest to that, but it can't be denied that there are a select few that will absolutely afford you a better QOL than AMF possibly can. I realize that's not an incentive for some who think the quickest path to glory is all of that delicious TPIC time, but for some of us, it is a deciding factor.

Just my opinion, of course.
 
Freight is not the desired path to 121 pax ops. If you want to fly other 135 or 91 it works, that is the basics of it. Also remember, you can have a great resume, but a resume with numbers on it is a tiny tiny part of getting a job somewhere. I think a lot of people forget that they are much more than their resume, for good or bad.
 
One thing to realize, is that once the hiring gets really really good, the 1000 TPIC requirement might go away. I am not banking on that fact nor should anyone else, but AMF might not always position you ahead for the future.
 
I had an annoying talk with my boss today about moving on to another gig. He gave me the typical "blah blah blah 1000TPIC time quickly" and I countered with over x number of years, money and quality of life will be better at a few select regionals. He couldn't really refute that statement. It kind of breaks down like this (I think. I may be wrong.):

1. AMF is a transitional company. They really don't encourage people to stay there long term and it is reflected in their pay scale.

2. I personally haven't heard of many AMF pilots getting their 1000TPIC and waltzing into some dream job. Not saying it doesn't happen, just saying I think it might be the exception.

I've dabbled in a few areas of aviation over the past 10 years, and AMF didn't pan out for me in terms of upgrade opportunities. Plus, getting to be home every night doesn't mean quite so much when you're out of the house most of the day for 5 days a week. You leave at sunrise and get home after sunset; it makes getting stuff done a pain. The pay, the QOL... There are now better opportunities for qualified pilots.

I think if AMF adjusts their pay scale, it will make them a more desirable destination. But right now, there are one or two regionals (oh the horror!) that AMF pilots are jumping ship for. It's like I told my boss today: "I just want to fly and make a decent wage." AMF doesn't really pay a decent wage.
 
Exactly. People knock the regionals at AMF yet employees flying every piece of equipment AMF has are leaving in droves to regionals or other places. It just gets old being treated like crap. You're mileage may vary but the base you're at will determine what you get out of if.
 
I don't think there's anything magical about 1000tpic to be honest. Most of the jobs I've seen lately that I have been interested in are asking for things more like 3000tt, some amount of turbine 0-500, 1000 multi. single pilot ifr or a very high pic to sic ratio. I have seen some 1500 turbine requirements lately though.
 
Inverted said:
Dude this is way far from the truth lol.
Click to expand...

All things considered, it's true. Also assuming the regional guy doesn't upgrade in those 5 years. Also assuming you can grab a metro/1900 within a year here. As already mentioned there are a couple that are fine, but the majority don't touch your career earnings or PIC time that AMF gets you in the same period. AirWhisky and Horizon are two that come to mind. You're not breaking 30k until year 3 at pinnacoloba as an FO. At AirWhisky(the best paying and with one of the best contracts), without a schedule that makes freight look like the vacation life, you're getting 40ish there as an FO. Given all the furloughs, I stand by my statement that freight does have better job security.

I do knock the regionals, but mostly the complaining and the smugness. Maybe I think the CRJ looks boring too. :D But when it comes to the actual performance of the job, the job functions, and not ruining your shirts, it is better. Trust me, there are many things I do dislike about freight. However, there are some valid pluses. It definitely doesn't hurt you at the very least.
 
UAL747400 said:
All things considered, it's true. Also assuming the regional guy doesn't upgrade in those 5 years. Also assuming you can grab a metro/1900 within a year here. As already mentioned there are a couple that are fine, but the majority don't touch your career earnings or PIC time that AMF gets you in the same period. AirWhisky and Horizon are two that come to mind. You're not breaking 30k until year 3 at pinnacoloba as an FO. At AirWhisky(the best paying and with one of the best contracts), without a schedule that makes freight look like the vacation life, you're getting 40ish there as an FO. Given all the furloughs, I stand by my statement that freight does have better job security.

I do knock the regionals, but mostly the complaining and the smugness. Maybe I think the CRJ looks boring too. :D But when it comes to the actual performance of the job, the job functions, and not ruining your shirts, it is better. Trust me, there are many things I do dislike about freight. However, there are some valid pluses. It definitely doesn't hurt you at the very least.
Click to expand...

Keep drinking that AMF kool aid they give you at break time...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top