Ameriflight

LucasM said:
Also another thought; what say you if someone were to fly for a regional doesn't matter who, Air Wisconsin for example, and then wanted to transition to major cargo operators like UPS/FedEx. Does that happen, or do they look for guys with only previous cargo experience or 121 jet/crew and the whole nine yards, etc? Thoughts?
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I feel confident in saying that unless you're dating the daughter of the chief pilot, you're not doing Ameriflight->121 anything major. SOME have gone to Allegent recently, but I think most would agree that that's not really a major, or really a "career stop". Still another stepping stone. UPS/FedEx couldn't care less about hiring from their contract feeders. Your best bet in moving UPWARDS from cargo is air ambulance. The problem then becomes, how to move upwards from air ambulance.

Regional flying is a sideways movement and a HUGE downward movement in pay, at least initially. I don't find the move to the regionals being worth it and would like to only move upwards in pay an QOL from here on out. YMMV though.
 
UAL747400 said:
I feel confident in saying that unless you're dating the daughter of the chief pilot, you're not doing Ameriflight->121 anything major. SOME have gone to Allegent recently, but I think most would agree that that's not really a major, or really a "career stop". Still another stepping stone. UPS/FedEx couldn't care less about hiring from their contract feeders. Your best bet in moving UPWARDS from cargo is air ambulance. The problem then becomes, how to move upwards from air ambulance.

Regional flying is a sideways movement and a HUGE downward movement in pay, at least initially. I don't find the move to the regionals being worth it and would like to only move upwards in pay an QOL from here on out. YMMV though.
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People go into all kinds of corporate and charter gigs from freight. I don't think air ambulance is the be all by any means. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't pay that much.
 
z987k said:
People go into all kinds of corporate and charter gigs from freight. I don't think air ambulance is the be all by any means. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't pay that much.
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Sure sure, but I think that's one of the more realistic upward movements.
 
UAL747400 said:
Sure sure, but I think that's one of the more realistic upward movements.
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There's not enough of it to go around to be honest. In fact there seems to be so much of it right now, there may come a reckoning within the micro industry that it is.
 
z987k said:
People go into all kinds of corporate and charter gigs from freight. I don't think air ambulance is the be all by any means. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't pay that much.
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Compared to the UPS/FED EX or major captain? No. Livable wage for the amount of "work" you do, absolutely.
 
z987k said:
There's not enough of it to go around to be honest. In fact there seems to be so much of it right now, there may come a reckoning within the micro industry that it is.
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Same could be said of freight. 1st quarter looks very slow across the board.
 
A few random questions that I still have after reading this whole thread again -

- Is the E120 the only thing that flies with a FO? (Excluding the Korean's of course)

- They do have uniforms correct? No big deal but are they the typical monkey suits?

- Do they pay to get you to the interview? I read on their website that you have to fly yourself to BUR for the initial training...that kinda sucks.

- Would a reasonable progression be PA31 to BE99 to B1900 or Metro Captain? Spending maybe 2-4 years there with about a year in the Carribean I think would be nice personally and professionally.

- What are the benefits like? Vacation, sick time, CASS, etc


After Ameriflight I would be thinking an entry level corporate job, working up to a corporate captain, then either FedEx/UPS like job or a big time corporate spot - that is the idea for me right now anyway... I am at about 1600/90ME right now (with all of the other 135 IFR mins as well) and will be trying hard to get on with AMF coming up in the Summer after another semester of instructing.

Thanks
 
tlewis95 said:
A few random questions that I still have after reading this whole thread again -

- Is the E120 the only thing that flies with a FO? (Excluding the Korean's of course). Yes

- They do have uniforms correct? No big deal but are they the typical monkey suits? Yes

- Do they pay to get you to the interview? I read on their website that you have to fly yourself to BUR for the initial training...that kinda sucks. I jumpseated.

- Would a reasonable progression be PA31 to BE99 to B1900 or Metro Captain? Spending maybe 2-4 years there with about a year in the Carribean I think would be nice personally and professionally. That's a typical path.

- What are the benefits like? Vacation, sick time, CASS, etc minimal, southwest js agreement. Cass.


After Ameriflight I would be thinking an entry level corporate job, working up to a corporate captain, then either FedEx/UPS like job or a big time corporate spot - that is the idea for me right now anyway... I am at about 1600/90ME right now (with all of the other 135 IFR mins as well) and will be trying hard to get on with AMF coming up in the Summer after another semester of instructing.

Thanks
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Lots of ex AMFers go corporate, Air Ambo (great job!) and few to majors. Also, some go to regionals.
 
tlewis95 said:
A few random questions that I still have after reading this whole thread again -

- Is the E120 the only thing that flies with a FO? (Excluding the Korean's of course)

- They do have uniforms correct? No big deal but are they the typical monkey suits?

- Do they pay to get you to the interview? I read on their website that you have to fly yourself to BUR for the initial training...that kinda sucks.

- Would a reasonable progression be PA31 to BE99 to B1900 or Metro Captain? Spending maybe 2-4 years there with about a year in the Carribean I think would be nice personally and professionally.

- What are the benefits like? Vacation, sick time, CASS, etc


After Ameriflight I would be thinking an entry level corporate job, working up to a corporate captain, then either FedEx/UPS like job or a big time corporate spot - that is the idea for me right now anyway... I am at about 1600/90ME right now (with all of the other 135 IFR mins as well) and will be trying hard to get on with AMF coming up in the Summer after another semester of instructing.

Thanks
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The E120 is the only plane that requires an FO. What you do with the "fake" FOs in the 99s is up to you.

Yar, monkey suit. Though, your shirt turns grey pretty quick if you don't wash it often! :)

The don't pay for anything except for when you leave Burbank after indoc. They'll cover travel after your checkride and any TDY assignments as well.

You can go pretty fast if you're willing to move, that includes butt town Nebraska/Texas. If not willing to move, it'll take forever. If you want to stay in Portland/Seattle. Good luck!

I'd put the benies about in the middle of the road at this level. Not good, but not the worst I've seen. We're in CASS but our only reciprocal(what REALLY matters) is Southwest. It just depends on how they look you up when it comes to getting on other carriers. Some just look you up in CASS and in that case, you're good to go. Others actually check their reciprocal list and if your company isn't on it, you aren't going normally.

You're on track with your thinking.
 
A few more ;) -

- Starting in the PA31 are you assigned a route right away or just a base as reserve? What is a reserve schedule like?

- What about staying in your base, but just getting a 'better' route, or even just flying a different route (assuming it is not outstationed) for a week or so to fix up the monotonous routes? Does that happen often?

- I read on here somewhere that they help to move you if THEY are the ones telling you to move, but if it is voluntary for an upgrade that you are on your own. Is that still true?

- What do most people do with this? Is it as simple as just packing up the car and driving across the country? Are there designated places to live at an outstation if you get one of those routes? I picture an apartment in Bumfart, TX pretty hard to find - especially one without a 12 month lease.

- If moving to SJU (lets say voluntarily) how much help do they give with that? Airfare? Where do people stay for the long term there? It sucks that you couldn't non-rev home for the 3-day weekends from there...

- Lastly, I have an idea about what it takes to go from the 31 to the 99, but what kind of times do they want to see before moving up to the Metro after that?

I think that I would be willing to move a lot in order to chase the upgrades, but that all depends on how easy all of this moving really is logistically. In a perfect enough world I could just run through the 31,99, and Metro in PHX somewhat quickly, but that doesn't sound likely. :rolleyes:
 
In the PA31 you are only going to HWD, PHX, PDX, or BUR. Getting assigned a run is completely differently depending on the base. Reserve also varies with base. You could probably do that in PHX but it will take time. Don't even bother going to HWD if you want to move passed the Chieftain.
 
How difficult is it to get an outstation in Texas nowadays?
I’m thinking 99 my first choice after the mandatory stint in the 31. Or maybe the TX outstations are so undesirable it is possible to get a 99 run there direct. I live in SAT so logistically TX would be my first choice but I really want to fly the 99 (as soon as possible).
 
pryd67 said:
How difficult is it to get an outstation in Texas nowadays?
I’m thinking 99 my first choice after the mandatory stint in the 31. Or maybe the TX outstations are so undesirable it is possible to get a 99 run there direct. I live in SAT so logistically TX would be my first choice but I really want to fly the 99 (as soon as possible).
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Last I heard they were having trouble filling 99 outstations in TX.
 
Nothing mandatory about the Chieftain if you've got some multi. How low they'll go for a direct hire in the 99, I have no idea. I had 300 and some change and previous 135 time.
 
Thanks for the answers.

UAL747400. So they put you directly in the 99 with 300 multi with 135 experience? I have about 750 multi and 250 in the 31 (135 cargo) so it sounds like a 99 could be possible.

Does anybody know AMF’s regency requirements? Pilotjobs.com states 200 within last 6 months but AMF’s website do not mention anything.
 
tlewis95 hey man, I drove my car our to training instead of the flying, figured I was going to be based out there anyway. Plus a car is nice when the rat-mada doesn't have free breakfast, a fridge, any way to cook or laundry. You do have a jack in the box within walking distance and a gas station. Can't eat that shiz for a month straight. Maybe they upgraded hotels and locations by now though.

Anyway, consider driving out from the get go, the only negative would be the loooong drive back if you fail training. :)

--how things change, I remember when a guy was stoked to get a crappy Texas outstation after two years stuck in Oakland. Took me a full year to hold my Nebraska.--
 
Inverted
I wish I could.
FAA is holding my ATP because I did not pass my 1 class medical vision test (2 out of 8 numbers on the 20/20 line). I have amblyopia and waiting on the paperwork for the FAA medical test flight. No big deal but it takes time… I just sent in the paperwork and I imagine it will take an additional 4-6 weeks to get the flight test (check ride) scheduled. After that I will contact AMF.



 
tlewis95 said:
A few more ;) -

- Starting in the PA31 are you assigned a route right away or just a base as reserve? What is a reserve schedule like?

- What about staying in your base, but just getting a 'better' route, or even just flying a different route (assuming it is not outstationed) for a week or so to fix up the monotonous routes? Does that happen often?

- I read on here somewhere that they help to move you if THEY are the ones telling you to move, but if it is voluntary for an upgrade that you are on your own. Is that still true?

- What do most people do with this? Is it as simple as just packing up the car and driving across the country? Are there designated places to live at an outstation if you get one of those routes? I picture an apartment in Bumfart, TX pretty hard to find - especially one without a 12 month lease.

- If moving to SJU (lets say voluntarily) how much help do they give with that? Airfare? Where do people stay for the long term there? It sucks that you couldn't non-rev home for the 3-day weekends from there...

- Lastly, I have an idea about what it takes to go from the 31 to the 99, but what kind of times do they want to see before moving up to the Metro after that?

I think that I would be willing to move a lot in order to chase the upgrades, but that all depends on how easy all of this moving really is logistically. In a perfect enough world I could just run through the 31,99, and Metro in PHX somewhat quickly, but that doesn't sound likely. :rolleyes:
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Can't really comment on the first two bullet points, but DFW, OMA, and BUF are primarily outstation based. You'll fly to the same airports every day the entire time you're there. Unless, I suppose, you wanted to move every 3 months. I doubt they would let you do that. From what I can tell, the in-station based bases rotate route around. Moving on from there:

-If they move you, yes, they pay for it. What they pay for, I have no idea. To lazy to look it up.

-I parked my M3 and bought a Ford Taurus station wagon! :D Planning on living frugal enough to move with just that, for now. You can fit A LOT of crap in a wagon, including a Futon and bedframe. No bueno on getting a mattress in there with my stuff, so it's either air mattress or buy an new mattress every time I move. :confused: As far as leases go, I'd find a room mate if I weren't planning on staying there for a year.

-Can't comment on SJU

-I'll tell you on Jan 11th if 130 hours of turbine time is enough time to get into a metro. I didn't get a "no" from the first phone call at least. :)

-If jumping around is what you want to do, stay light. For the love of god stay light. YMMV, moving trucks aren't cheap for long distance moves.
 
Inverted said:
In the PA31 you are only going to HWD, PHX, PDX, or BUR. Getting assigned a run is completely differently depending on the base. Reserve also varies with base. You could probably do that in PHX but it will take time. Don't even bother going to HWD if you want to move passed the Chieftain.
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Eh, I thought that about the 99, and unless stuff changed I know some newer guys got on it.
 
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