I'll answer these factually for you, since I work at AMF. Yes. I actually LIKE what I do. Mostly. But, having spent time playing in the desert of Iraq, and the mountains of Afghanistan "suck" is a relative word, I suppose.
1. IF you are seeking JUST being hired into the 99, Metro, or 1900, forget the notion of picking a base. You go where the airplane is. As of today, March 22, 2015, you can get hired into the 99 in Albuquerque. For SURE. Metro in Buffalo, or Cincy. Buffalo is Buffalo, and the sked in Cincy BLOWS. This fits the Rule of 3. You can pick only 2 of the 3, QoL, Equipment, or Pay. I picked QoL, and pay by default. I live in Phoenix, flying the Chieftain. I love the airplane, and like being home. That's me. If I were 25 and wanted to travel the world still, I'd have picked the Metro in Omaha, or Buffalo, and done that. They even tried to talk me into taking the upgrade. Wasn't for me.
2. As for people saying that the pay sucks; it's laughable when it's coming from a CRJ FO at a Regional. We start 1900 and Metro guys at 47. 99 is less (around 40?, I think? others can comment on that), but there's a Turbine Retention bonus paid based on the number of years you've been at AMF. We have an Equipment Sign-On bonus as well. That bonus is out in 2 installments; after completion of training and after your 6 mos of employment.
3. AMF pilots log (generally) around 50-60 hours a month. The day you finish training, you start building Turbine PIC. That's not going to happen at a regional.
4. GO WHERE YOU WILL BE HAPPY. Pick the base where you want to be. Don't come here picking equipment in Buffalo, expecting to get to Seattle in 6mos. You will hate your life. And be disappointed. This leads to the sked sucking tidbit. I work six days a week, but it's Tu-Fr, half days Mon and Sat. I get paid for all 6 days. I get paid the overtime for the 6th day. You get more money for going TDY (I still haven't figured out how to love ABQ.), and Per Diem rate is $35.
Upgrade: We had a kid volunteer to go TDY for something like 24 weeks. He had no prior P135 experience, got hired into the Chieftain, and was just upgraded to the Metro. He's been here 6 or 7 mos. I just missed an in base 1900 bid by a couple of slots. I've been at AMF 3 mos.
Like everything, there is suck in it. It doesn't matter how cool something seems, there is always some suck in it. The level of suck at AMF is higher than necessary. Those stories are best for beers, but, the problems are so embedded into the culture of the organization that to change them would be incredibly painful for all involved. And, they don't want to change it. But, again, best for beers.
Honestly, I'd look at flying EMS.
@z987k and
@ppragman can talk to you at length about some place that would be far more attractive for a couple of years than AMF.
first year you will be making more money then most all reginals, which helps you stablize yourself. Sharpens the instrument skills quickly, and in my opinion is down right alot of fun. Different strokes for different folks I guess. I don't think you'll regret doing freight though. Listen to these guys...they know what freight ops are good companies.
