Going to fly Medevac

This has probably been discussed elsewhere, but why did you leave multi-turbine in Hawaii to go back to high-drag, single-engine, over water ops in ice?
 
Trying to sort out if this is a structural problem within EMS, a sign of an overheated job market, or company specific. I've considered doing some flying again after a long break and medical seemed family friendly. Those 'vacancies at all bases' is why I'm curious. I don't really read too much into CP and other management types moving around, but that can certainly be relevant.
 
Akutan said:
Trying to sort out if this is a structural problem within EMS, a sign of an overheated job market, or company specific. I've considered doing some flying again after a long break and medical seemed family friendly. Those 'vacancies at all bases' is why I'm curious. I don't really read too much into CP and other management types moving around, but that can certainly be relevant.
Click to expand...

In this case it's largely a company specific problem. Generally, EMS is reaching toward the sketchier side of 135, filling the night cheque void. There are a lot of decent companies out there. I know we have a few Air Methods guys who seem to their company.
 
NickH said:
In this case it's largely a company specific problem. Generally, EMS is reaching toward the sketchier side of 135, filling the night cheque void. There are a lot of decent companies out there. I know we have a few Air Methods guys who seem to their company.
Click to expand...
135 allows sketchy operations to happen. Gotta separate the wheat from the chaff, some are decent places, some are absolute nightmares. Here, size counts. Huuuuuuge operations are generally better. Some small ones are decent, but the propensity for suck is greater.
 
Thanks for the feedback.

Back in '87 when throwing bags for LAB in Juneau a Lear used to come in on Med flights, and I always thought that would be an amazing pilot job. That company offered me a job in '01 but not on their medevac side, so I went to Bering Air instead, a fairly disappointing choice and a downsize in equipment. EMS never struck me as sketchy, maybe because I'm an Alaska guy and have flown UPS feed, but the accident stats certainly seem to support the idea that something isn't all roses in the sector.

I'll keep researching and reconsider this outfit in particular.
 
I used to be one of those Air Methods guys. It's a pretty solid job. You're certainly not going to be pushed to fly, if anything the opposite, at least in the bases I saw. And it follows the rule of the larger the company the less likely it is to be sketch.
 
I grew up in AK, my family is in AK, Hawaii was expensive. I loved medevac in Hawaii - it was awesome and I had a good time working for AMRG for the most part - but it was far from home and I have 3 babies.
 
USMCmech said:
It's key to separate fixed wing and helicopters in the EMS accident stats.
Click to expand...

This is true.

As for why AMRG has staffing issues, it's a little of column A as has been implied in this thread, and a little of column B where their bases are in some not fun to live places (I'm looking at you, Chinle, Kayenta, Williston, Rosebud). They have no trouble staffing Grand Rapids, MN or Houghton and Iron Mountain, MI.
 
@Akutan
I have a couple of friends that worked for Metro Aviation. One still does but both will swear by the company! They enjoy the work, love the aircraft, maintenance, and company admin staff. In the 15+ years of knowing them, I can't recall a single bad thing they've said.

AND, Metro is hiring now!! If you're interested, let me know and I will get you in touch with my friend.

P.S. I am NOT a Metro recruiter NOR do I get a commission for new employees. I have met the owners and have seen their operation, they seem like good people.
 
ppragman said:
I grew up in AK, my family is in AK, Hawaii was expensive. I loved medevac in Hawaii - it was awesome and I had a good time working for AMRG for the most part - but it was far from home and I have 3 babies.
Click to expand...
Did you leave? Are you back in the last frontier now? I am never up on anything.
 
I believe he went to Island Air Express, which is why I posted my original question. After watching early adopter Caravan operators crash left and right I can't believe those things are operating in SE. I'm probably not up on anything either, so probably the answer is that a guy with a slug of Alaska time can pull that off safely if working at a careful and conscientious company.

And dust, it's funny you mention Metro because I'm currently in Oregon and those are the guys that got me thinking. They had an opening in Klamath Falls for a PC-12, so I applied but crickets so far. I have no PC-12 time, but plenty of hours and multi-turbine PIC. Maybe its the damn 121 time. I should omit that from a resume. I'd be interested in asking your friend about them.
 
gotWXdagain said:
This is true.

As for why AMRG has staffing issues, it's a little of column A as has been implied in this thread, and a little of column B where their bases are in some not fun to live places (I'm looking at you, Chinle, Kayenta, Williston, Rosebud). They have no trouble staffing Grand Rapids, MN or Houghton and Iron Mountain, MI.
Click to expand...

Don't like the scenic Navajo rez? :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top