Ameriflight

[GX]

@GX
The filthy planes argument I can buy. You can't inspect what you can't see and that applies equally with an inspection panel, a door, or the lead buildup from the chieftain exhaust. Also pretty hard to tell if there is a new hydraulic leak if the fluid from the leak 20 years ago is still in the gear well. The paint thing I still don't get, at least your planes are all the same paint scheme and it looks like more or less the paint is still on there.

The last three jobs comment is a reference to something that I'm seeing is a common theme-jumping on a new job and talking on here like it's the next best thing to Delta (I seem to remember a rather emotional reaction when I said something to the effect of "be careful about some of the practices at that Alaska place you're at"), then later realizing that people who gave you a heads up about known issues were in fact right.

I'm honestly not trying to belittle or demean you, just trying to point out something I'm seeing in your career choices that maybe you're having trouble seeing for yourself.

Sorry for the delay in replying. Been working on some other things. Glad we agree with each other on the cleanliness of aircraft issue. Paint adds to that overall appearance IMHO. Nothing more. Nothing less.

As for the job hopping; I started late; Flying commercially at 35. No interest in CFI'ing as I didn't want to deal with Koreans and Chinese. Teaching Iraqis and Afghanis to run their own countries was enough of a challenge. I took opportunities where I could get them and made the most of them. I knew that Alaska was going to be tough, but maintained a positive attitude through the situation until things changed. Same with AMF. Had an opportunity and made the most of it until I felt like the deal was changing until it was beyond what I had agreed to. I am thankful for the opportunity at AMF, but ultimately, my QoL is the most important thing to me at this stage in my life. As such, I made the decision to move on from AMF, and will be doing something else that, I feel, is far more important and rewarding. I will continue to seek opportunities that fit my 2 requirements; pay and QoL. My life at AMF started out 5 days a week, with a pretty decent schedule. It turned into working 6 days a week, 74+ hours, and being able to bill out only 48. I would quit photography if I was forced into that.

 

[STS-41B]

hey - how long would it take to get a BFI (Seattle) base do you think?

 

[GX]

I can absolutely understand everyone's inputs here, and where they're coming from. I appreciate that. I'm going to make a few points though, that I think also really need to be understood.

1. Ameriflight has to train captains, not FOs. In an ideal world, there would be plenty of sim and online training, but it's not realistic. This is why the online portion of training is highly emphasized... To give the trainees a greater exposure to making those "PIC" decisions while being supervised by their instructors. At somewhere like Skywest, the FOs continue to learn until their upgrade. Thus, it's an ever evolving process, where only so much can be taught in a classroom. Where do you draw the line?

In my 2 classes, there were 2 retiring Air Force Officers. One a Major, and one a LTC. They were there to get currency to move on. They had 5 types, each of them. Over 6,000 hours a piece. One flew CH53's in the Marines, A10's in the Guard, and C130's on active duty Air Force. One was my roommate during training. There was also a retiring 767 CA in my class. The ONE unified complaint by ALL of them? How utterly unprofessional the individuals in the Training Department are. At what point are qualified people qualified to speak out on the behavior of those individuals? At what point does the Training Department look in the mirror and realize that changes MUST be made to keep and retain those qualified candidates?

2. Staffing here is the largest issue: people aren't staying very long because of short staffed bases, meaning more work for our pilots. This short sightedness really annoys me, but overall, that's why even with a lengthened training cycle, we can't get help out their quick enough; thus, we can't spend 4 weeks in the sims with a few students who would benefit more from home study.

People aren't staying because from Day 1 to Day whatever, the cheese is ever moving. Candidates are treated poorly in the sim, and treated like factory line workers on the line. Simply, I put chocolates into boxes. If I didn't do it, someone else would. I was told to work more (beyond my 74+ hours a week). Even on 2 hours notice. As recently as yesterday.

3. People seem to think that in coming here Ameriflight owes them something.

You do. You, in the Training Department. You. Yes you. You them a quality training experience where there is something to be learned, not something to be proven. You have competent pilots who are well capable of flying the aircraft, who, as my experience illustrated, are well qualified to be CA's on ANY aircraft in the fleet.
Rise to THEIR level vs making them sink to the Training Department's.
The objective in Sim 6 should not be to see how badly you can break the sim, as was my experience. It should be to firm up the weak areas and send the candidate out on a positive note feeling good about the experience and what is ahead of them in the VCC, and training, not like they just got done getting gang raped by prison convicts. Training is just that. It is a learning experience. It was that way when we were banging rocks in caves, it is that way still today. Quit making things more complicated to justify the position.

Quit running the company like Gary owns it. It's 2015. Not 1985. It starts in the Training Department.

4. The yelling and tones... Now here's a great argument that I hear all the time.

So change it. It starts with YOU! Again, how many qualified people need to have the same complaint before it becomes valid?

Tell me again, where is the CURRENT problem guys? Change takes time to see the full effect of implementation, and it is occurring.

We have! You're not listening.

 

[GX]

hey - how long would it take to get a BFI (Seattle) base do you think?

Most Sr. base in the system, all turbine, and guys aren't leaving. There's 3 guys in Phoenix alone who are trying to get to Seattle and can't.


BUUUUUUTTTTT.... We do have a CP who is literally just plugging holes at this point, and the need for manning is so large that it may be worth rolling the dice, starting at the Recruiting Dept. From day 1 ask for BFI, and get a 99 or Metro slot. A guy just got hired into the 99 at IFR mins and 50 hours of multi.....

 

[Swedican]

In my 2 classes, there were 2 retiring Air Force Officers. One a Major, and one a LTC. They were there to get currency to move on. They had 5 types, each of them. Over 6,000 hours a piece. One flew CH53's in the Marines, A10's in the Guard, and C130's on active duty Air Force. One was my roommate during training. There was also a retiring 767 CA in my class. The ONE unified complaint by ALL of them? How utterly unprofessional the individuals in the Training Department are. At what point are qualified people qualified to speak out on the behavior of those individuals? At what point does the Training Department look in the mirror and realize that changes MUST be made to keep and retain those qualified candidates?



People aren't staying because from Day 1 to Day whatever, the cheese is ever moving. Candidates are treated poorly in the sim, and treated like factory line workers on the line. Simply, I put chocolates into boxes. If I didn't do it, someone else would. I was told to work more (beyond my 74+ hours a week). Even on 2 hours notice. As recently as yesterday.



You do. You, in the Training Department. You. Yes you. You them a quality training experience where there is something to be learned, not something to be proven. You have competent pilots who are well capable of flying the aircraft, who, as my experience illustrated, are well qualified to be CA's on ANY aircraft in the fleet.
Rise to THEIR level vs making them sink to the Training Department's.
The objective in Sim 6 should not be to see how badly you can break the sim, as was my experience. It should be to firm up the weak areas and send the candidate out on a positive note feeling good about the experience and what is ahead of them in the VCC, and training, not like they just got done getting gang raped by prison convicts. Training is just that. It is a learning experience. It was that way when we were banging rocks in caves, it is that way still today. Quit making things more complicated to justify the position.

Quit running the company like Gary owns it. It's 2015. Not 1985. It starts in the Training Department.



So change it. It starts with YOU! Again, how many qualified people need to have the same complaint before it becomes valid?



We have! You're not listening.

Dude... You have got to be kidding me.

Look I've held my tongue about a lot of things on this board and even after seeing people lay down the bitchfest out on the line, but all I will say about this is I know exactly who you are:

Since day one, you have generally complained to anyone who will listen, and spend more time making excuses than you do attempting to fix your own deficiencies. You've had one of the most unprofessional, entitled demeanors I've seen. I would be more than happy to discuss this with you in a private message.

No, the company doesn't owe anyone anything in terms of upgrades, weekend study sessions, a multitude of extra sims, and especially an entitled attitude. That's what I was referring to, not to owing them quality training... I don't owe anyone my weekends, or my time outside of normal working hours, especially anyone who isn't willing to put in the work in return. Most of the time, I'll do it anyways because I want to see everyone succeed. I don't know how many people at this company I've taught to study effectively, but that being said, I can only lead you (generalized) to water.

You (BR) want to voice your complaints? Fine, do it with the ACP, the chief pilot, and the director of training. Don't complain on a public forum where the relevance is pushing >3 years ago. While you and 5 other people are busy bashing this company from the basis of rhetoric alone, there are a ton of other people working to make this place better. You want to ignore it, fine. But I'll be on here to set anyone straight.

I will say this again and again. Without a fully staffed workforce, everyone gets screwed at Ameriflight. When they're lean on pilots, everyone takes a hit because people leave before their contracts are up... Especially because of the "me me me" factor, they effectively scew over anyone else.

I think it's hilarious that you're telling me that I'm not listening: maybe you should take a dose of your own medicine, stop whining like Taylor Swift, and listen to the things people at this company were trying to help you with. Instead of looking at your time here from the perspective that you were out be screwed, why don't you look at it from the standpoint of "people did try to help me, and I learned a lot."

Good luck with your new company, I sincerely mean that. I hope your experience will be everything you deam worthy.

 

[tlewis95]

Sorry for the delay in replying. Been working on some other things. Glad we agree with each other on the cleanliness of aircraft issue. Paint adds to that overall appearance IMHO. Nothing more. Nothing less.

As for the job hopping; I started late; Flying commercially at 35. No interest in CFI'ing as I didn't want to deal with Koreans and Chinese. Teaching Iraqis and Afghanis to run their own countries was enough of a challenge. I took opportunities where I could get them and made the most of them. I knew that Alaska was going to be tough, but maintained a positive attitude through the situation until things changed. Same with AMF. Had an opportunity and made the most of it until I felt like the deal was changing until it was beyond what I had agreed to. I am thankful for the opportunity at AMF, but ultimately, my QoL is the most important thing to me at this stage in my life. As such, I made the decision to move on from AMF, and will be doing something else that, I feel, is far more important and rewarding. I will continue to seek opportunities that fit my 2 requirements; pay and QoL. My life at AMF started out 5 days a week, with a pretty decent schedule. It turned into working 6 days a week, 74+ hours, and being able to bill out only 48. I would quit photography if I was forced into that.

Good on you for seeing the change and getting out. I'm relieved to have finally put in my two weeks the other day after 10 months of literally living in hotels doing continuous, forced TDY as a reserve pilot watching things get steadily worse while waiting for them to get better. Everything I own is in my car that is slowly falling apart in the DFW parking lot. Not what I signed up for at all. I waited way too long to make the move with things getting worse as the upper management has decided to take on way too much new work without getting more pilots and airplanes first. I feel bad for giving my ACP and CP (both great guys working very hard) one less body to fIll the holes with, but hope that the greedy higher-up people that got us into this mess feel it as more and more of the people that have been making their 'expansion' work leave.

I only have to make it 10 more days without rage quitting now

 

[tlewis95]

I will say this again and again. Without a fully staffed workforce, everyone gets screwed at Ameriflight. When they're lean on pilots, everyone takes a hit because people leave before their contracts are up... Especially because of the "me me me" factor, they effectively scew over anyone else.

Yep. However, when we are really lean on pilots already and AMF picks up a few extra bases and expects pilots to dedicate their lives to going 'Above and Beyond' in order to make it work, they screw over the pilots and shouldnt really be surprised when they start leaving.

 

[Inverted]

Dude... You have got to be kidding me.

Look I've held my tongue about a lot of things on this board and even after seeing people lay down the bitchfest out on the line, but all I will say about this is I know exactly who you are:

Since day one, you have generally complained to anyone who will listen, and spend more time making excuses than you do attempting to fix your own deficiencies. You've had one of the most unprofessional, entitled demeanors I've seen. I would be more than happy to discuss this with you in a private message.

No, the company doesn't owe anyone anything in terms of upgrades, weekend study sessions, a multitude of extra sims, and especially an entitled attitude. That's what I was referring to, not to owing them quality training... I don't owe anyone my weekends, or my time outside of normal working hours, especially anyone who isn't willing to put in the work in return. Most of the time, I'll do it anyways because I want to see everyone succeed. I don't know how many people at this company I've taught to study effectively, but that being said, I can only lead you (generalized) to water.

You (BR) want to voice your complaints? Fine, do it with the ACP, the chief pilot, and the director of training. Don't complain on a public forum where the relevance is pushing >3 years ago. While you and 5 other people are busy bashing this company from the basis of rhetoric alone, there are a ton of other people working to make this place better. You want to ignore it, fine. But I'll be on here to set anyone straight.

I will say this again and again. Without a fully staffed workforce, everyone gets screwed at Ameriflight. When they're lean on pilots, everyone takes a hit because people leave before their contracts are up... Especially because of the "me me me" factor, they effectively scew over anyone else.

I think it's hilarious that you're telling me that I'm not listening: maybe you should take a dose of your own medicine, stop whining like Taylor Swift, and listen to the things people at this company were trying to help you with. Instead of looking at your time here from the perspective that you were out be screwed, why don't you look at it from the standpoint of "people did try to help me, and I learned a lot."

Good luck with your new company, I sincerely mean that. I hope your experience will be everything you deam worthy.

Your post almost single handedly makes me ashamed to have to put AMF on my resume. If you honestly believe this, you are the problem everyone is talking about. Where the hell do I start with this!? The company owes its employees a quality place to work. Don't complain about being short staffed, while simultaneously not giving a rats ass as to why people are leaving. You and AMF owe the employees quality training, respect, and a quality work environment. Companies that have poor working conditions usually recognize this, and compensate in other ways. In what ways do you even care about the employees that work for your company? You cut and cancel their vacations, you make them work more, pay them less, THEN you berate them online when you are called out. This is a perfect example of the culture that needs to change, clearly you have been programed to keep the culture going. Very unprofessional, and you aren't showing any improvements to anything. Bonus? That's fantastic. It is 3 years late, and if AMF really cared they would just increase salary. A bonus is to entice new employees, not keep guys that are high up on the pay scale and that is obvious. Training is still an epic mess judging from others comments and your mentality. The equipmenr isn't changing. So what is changing? Enlighten me.

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

Your post almost single handedly makes me ashamed to have to put AMF on my resume. If you honestly believe this, you are the problem everyone is talking about. Where the hell do I start with this!? The company owes its employees a quality place to work. Don't complain about being short staffed, while simultaneously not giving a rats ass as to why people are leaving. You and AMF owe the employees quality training, respect, and a quality work environment. Companies that have poor working conditions usually recognize this, and compensate in other ways. In what ways do you even care about the employees that work for your company? You cut and cancel their vacations, you make them work more, pay them less, THEN you berate them online when you are called out. This is a perfect example of the culture that needs to change, clearly you have been programed to keep the culture going. Very unprofessional, and you aren't showing any improvements to anything. Bonus? That's fantastic. It is 3 years late, and if AMF really cared they would just increase salary. A bonus is to entice new employees, not keep guys that are high up on the pay scale and that is obvious. Training is still an epic mess judging from others comments and your mentality. The equipmenr isn't changing. So what is changing? Enlighten me.

It's a perfect example of a person they're grooming to be in management. Or a lifer, either way, just what the company wants.

 

[Swedican]

Your post almost single handedly makes me ashamed to have to put AMF on my resume. If you honestly believe this, you are the problem everyone is talking about. Where the hell do I start with this!? The company owes its employees a quality place to work. Don't complain about being short staffed, while simultaneously not giving a rats ass as to why people are leaving. You and AMF owe the employees quality training, respect, and a quality work environment. Companies that have poor working conditions usually recognize this, and compensate in other ways. In what ways do you even care about the employees that work for your company? You cut and cancel their vacations, you make them work more, pay them less, THEN you berate them online when you are called out. This is a perfect example of the culture that needs to change, clearly you have been programed to keep the culture going. Very unprofessional, and you aren't showing any improvements to anything. Bonus? That's fantastic. It is 3 years late, and if AMF really cared they would just increase salary. A bonus is to entice new employees, not keep guys that are high up on the pay scale and that is obvious. Training is still an epic mess judging from others comments and your mentality. The equipmenr isn't changing. So what is changing? Enlighten me.

You

Your post almost single handedly makes me ashamed to have to put AMF on my resume. If you honestly believe this, you are the problem everyone is talking about. Where the hell do I start with this!? The company owes its employees a quality place to work. Don't complain about being short staffed, while simultaneously not giving a rats ass as to why people are leaving. You and AMF owe the employees quality training, respect, and a quality work environment. Companies that have poor working conditions usually recognize this, and compensate in other ways. In what ways do you even care about the employees that work for your company? You cut and cancel their vacations, you make them work more, pay them less, THEN you berate them online when you are called out. This is a perfect example of the culture that needs to change, clearly you have been programed to keep the culture going. Very unprofessional, and you aren't showing any improvements to anything. Bonus? That's fantastic. It is 3 years late, and if AMF really cared they would just increase salary. A bonus is to entice new employees, not keep guys that are high up on the pay scale and that is obvious. Training is still an epic mess judging from others comments and your mentality. The equipmenr isn't changing. So what is changing? Enlighten me.

Your post almost single handedly makes me ashamed to have to put AMF on my resume. If you honestly believe this, you are the problem everyone is talking about. Where the hell do I start with this!? The company owes its employees a quality place to work. Don't complain about being short staffed, while simultaneously not giving a rats ass as to why people are leaving. You and AMF owe the employees quality training, respect, and a quality work environment. Companies that have poor working conditions usually recognize this, and compensate in other ways. In what ways do you even care about the employees that work for your company? You cut and cancel their vacations, you make them work more, pay them less, THEN you berate them online when you are called out. This is a perfect example of the culture that needs to change, clearly you have been programed to keep the culture going. Very unprofessional, and you aren't showing any improvements to anything. Bonus? That's fantastic. It is 3 years late, and if AMF really cared they would just increase salary. A bonus is to entice new employees, not keep guys that are high up on the pay scale and that is obvious. Training is still an epic mess judging from others comments and your mentality. The equipmenr isn't changing. So what is changing? Enlighten me.

You guys constantly see this place as not having qudlity, and I'm a firm believer that it's all relative to your mindset.

I NEVER said I didn't give a rat's ass about why people are leaving, in fact, I ALWAYS address yours, and everyone else's talking points. I countlessly stick up for pilots, but you see none of that.

I'm sorry, but I'm not the thank you sir, may I have another type. I do respect my work environment, and the employees around me. It's attitudes like yours, and a few specific people online, that festers itself amongst our work group and makes it a toxic environment. It's all fine and dandy that you guys can rag on the instructors day in and day out, but no one even questions the candidates or their own deficiencies. So in the end it's a giant crap pile on the instructors and nothing else...

I've agreed numerous times that AMF needs to address vacations, time off, and filling the holes of a leaving workforce. And guess what... They have. The latest memo addresses all of that. So did the last one. What is air cargo carriers or key lime doing right now in response to the same issues? Nothing.

A quality work environment? The most disrespect I see is on the UPS ramps from UPS supervisors... Some ACPs handle it better than others, but it's really easy to blame your managers and higher ups. I'm not saying this is a company, I never have... But I do not agree with people claiming it to be something it's not.

As for berating, why don't you go back and look in all of GXs posts. Not once did I say anything that he hadn't already stated in his posts since starting at Ameriflight. Additionally, I stated that I think his attitude is entitled, and unprofessional... An opinion that could be discerned by forum posts alone, and I stand by my opinion.

Finally, I'm glad you feel the way you do about being ashamed to put AMF on your resume. On the contrary, I'm glad there are people out there like you who think we don't amount to anything: because that is what motivates me to do my job... To change the opinions of those coming through here day, by day, so you no longer have anything relevant to say.

 

[Swedican]

Yep. However, when we are really lean on pilots already and AMF picks up a few extra bases and expects pilots to dedicate their lives to going 'Above and Beyond' in order to make it work, they screw over the pilots and shouldnt really be surprised when they start leaving.

I hear you loud and clear, I know you had it rough. I agree with you on the opening of the bases, it did seem short sighted in the scheme of things. Congrats on the new gig, I hope DPJ treats you well!

 

[Swedican]

It's a perfect example of a person they're grooming to be in management. Or a lifer, either way, just what the company wants.

Please, voice of the masses, tell it like it is!

You guys realize that Richards stepped down a little over a year ago, and things have been changing under Lotter ever since right:

2 pay scale bumps
Hiring bonuses
New compensation for driving reimbursements
New jumpseat agreements
Allegiant agreement
Paid Birthday holiday
Better training accommodations in Dallas and single occupancy rooms
Better training pay
Additional sims, ground school, and CPT lessons
Referral Bonuses

All of that in a year? Yeah, they're not doing anything to address staffing and attrition...

 

[Cpt Cook]

hey - how long would it take to get a BFI (Seattle) base do you think?

Get a 99 spot and ask to do the flight training in Seattle. Get based in PDX and make it known that you will go TDY in BFI whenever they need somebody and the BFI guys will try there best (if they like you) to get you up there when a spot opens up. That's how I did it about 5 years ago. Granted I was in the chieftain when BFI still had one. Took me about 9 months to get BFI. Haven't worked at AMF for a few years, but unless things have dramatically changed, some openings never go out to a system wide bid.

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

Please, voice of the masses, tell it like it is!

You guys realize that Richards stepped down a little over a year ago, and things have been changing under Lotter ever since right:

2 pay scale bumps
Hiring bonuses
New compensation for driving reimbursements
New jumpseat agreements
Allegiant agreement
Paid Birthday holiday
Better training accommodations in Dallas and single occupancy rooms
Better training pay
Additional sims, ground school, and CPT lessons
Referral Bonuses

All of that in a year? Yeah, they're not doing anything to address staffing and attrition...

2 pay scale bumps: Hasn't changed a thing for retention
Hiring Bonus: Doesn't help with retention
Jumpseat agreements: Ok, Seaborne and Mokelule are totally useful. UPS and Spirit were the only 2 worth having
Allegiant: Oh yes, go join that fun. AMF with jets.
Paid Birthday Holiday: Ended up taking money from pilots, everyone used to work presidents day, got paid for the holiday plus work
Better training stuff: Doesn't help employed pilots

So basically, 85% of stuff done was for new people. Good to see you're in management, because you're doing a hell of a job of doing it.

 

[Tommay85]

As far as I can tell, pay has NEVER been even a secondary reason people leave here. With the pay raise and now the new bonus, I'd almost bet a months pay that people will still trip over each other to leave here to make 20k.

There are things Ameriflight is just plain never going to be equal to a regional with. Schedule flexibility is the big thing. A 4 day weekend rotation would be a good start, but really, we need a week off. Only way something like that can be implemented though is to get ALOT more people...

I mean, imagine you're at 1200 hours and are qualified for a rATP. Where would you choose to go? Old planes, questionable career progression, inflexible schedule? Or would you rather go to a regional, fly something more relevant, up grade in a year and make more money than an Ameriflight captain with a drastically more flexible schedule? And have a 100% better/easier shot at going to a legacy. I'm actually surprised we get ANYONE coming through the door these days.

I have my opinions on which pilot is better, but I'm betting only 3 other people in the world share it, and 2 of them work here!

 

[DhruvK]

I have my opinions on which pilot is better, but I'm betting only 3 other people in the world share it, and 2 of them work here!

Does that make me number 3?

 

[tbstanto]

Press Release – FAA Proposes $150,000 Civil Penalty Against Ameriflight, LLC

https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=18758

:stir::stir::stir::stir:

 

[ppragman]

Press Release – FAA Proposes $150,000 Civil Penalty Against Ameriflight, LLC

https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=18758

:stir::stir::stir::stir:

Lol, that's their complaint? I flew a 99 that straight up rained inside! I'd just be freaking happy to have the rain quit dripping on my head. How did the federales even find out about something like this.

 

[tbstanto]

Lol, that's their complaint? I flew a 99 that straight up rained inside! I'd just be freaking happy to have the rain quit dripping on my head. How did the federales even find out about something like this.

I actually thought the same thing. It isn't hard to find things like this if they spent a little time looking.

 

[z987k]

Lol, that's their complaint? I flew a 99 that straight up rained inside! I'd just be freaking happy to have the rain quit dripping on my head. How did the federales even find out about something like this.

I've heard there have been a LOT of incidents recently. I'm sure they just needed something.