AMF Pay Raise

[citabriapilot]

Well, I didn't get one...

What a slap in the face those who fly as E120 FO's... Especially those who just left the 99 and Chieftain. Could have made more doing that.

 

[flyingnome]

I cant complain much, been online for a week now and I get a raise.

Things worked out better for the Navajo drivers, but that was too be expected as they seem to be mainly focused on getting people in the door at this point...

 

[AZaviator]

Well, I didn't get one...

What a slap in the face those who fly as E120 FO's... Especially those who just left the 99 and Chieftain. Could have made more doing that.

A slap in the face for the Metro drivers too. I understand they are trying to entice people to come to Ameriflight. However, I think once these people are at AMF for a year or two and realize there is no real income potential after upgrading to the 1900 or SA227, they too will leave and the process will start all over again. Just my $.02

 

[citabriapilot]

Personally, I never expected to see a raise. I figured all of us who have type ratings would be passed up and that's exactly what happened.

I like the excuse for the low E120 FO pay: "They are able to be hired with 500 hours". Yeah? What about the FO we just got who is already a qualified 99 captain? He may have been grandfathered in on the old pay rate, but by making less than he would if he stayed on the 99 that's a pay cut none the less.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

I guess that they would rather suffer the consequences of continuously training new recruits versus paying their existing pilots (who have shown dedication and commitment) a little more. It would seem only logical that they could reduce the turnover and make it more enticing to stay if the third year plus salaries were more in line with the industry standards. Most everyone that I know after year two is looking to move on to something better (if not now then in the near future). The lack of income potential provides little incentive to stay. Just my $.02 FWIW.

 

[flyalot]

How much of a raise?

You can give it in the unit or yearly rate. I can do basic math. Thanks.

 

[Morettis]

PA31 and BE99 are now 28,000 / yr or 13.46 per unit with no bonus for the first year, so a 99 pilot makes the same amount now as before just spread out across the year instead of getting the 5% bonus at the end.

Metro pay is the same except that to get your 5% bonus your first year, you have to sign up for another year. Since there's no way in hell I see myself doing that, I get a nice 5% paycut out of the deal...

Bonuses for 2nd year and later are changed to 7% for the 99 and 10% for the bigger turbines

Is anyone else that flies metros hiring right now?...

 

[citabriapilot]

Metro pay is the same except that to get your 5% bonus your first year, you have to sign up for another year.

Same for the E120.

Remember we also had a price increase in our insurance this year. So essentially even if you look at the increased turbine retention bonus, it all equals out. So, no raise at all.

 

[flyalot]

Thanks guys.

Hello Citab!

 

[ksu_aviator]

It's worse than that. The new pay structure is such that you don't get any bonuses until you have been with the company a long time. Let's follow a typical career.

AMF has to hire 500 hour pilots before the regionals get their hands on them, so they'll go into the Bro. They'll sign a 1 year contract but never get a bonus (they use to). Then they'll move into the PA31 and get stuck in a 6 month comitment of some sort. Just as that ends they'll be offered a 99 slot with a 1 year contract. Then, just as that ends, they'll be offered a 1900 or Metro slot with another 1 year contract. After they finish their first year in the Metro they will only be able to get a bonus if they sign another 1 year contract. If they do that they only get half of the new and wonderful retention bonus.

Let's do the math: 1+.5+1+1+1=4.5 years of contracted labor to get roughly $2000 bonus.

Then, if they get the Bro captain they'll have to sign another 1 year contract and will only get the 1/2 bonus if they sign another 1 year contract after the first year.

Now we are up to 6.5 years and they get a whopping $4000 in bonus money.

Before it would have been close to $8,000 if they follow the scenario above.

This seems more like a scam than a retention plan.

Or maybe they are trying to get a union started? I don't know.

 

[skipro101]

Chieftan guys sign a one year comitment, not 6 month.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

I don't know of anyone who is thrilled about the new pay structure, that is with the exception of first year PA31 and BE99 drivers. After they reach their third year at AMF and they've transitioned to the 1900 or Metro (or should I say IF they reach their third year), their opinion will change. Definitely a slap in the face to longer term pilots flying equipment requiring a type rating who have shown dedication and commitment.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Chieftan guys sign a one year comitment, not 6 month.

Really? Last I heard it was a 6 month deal. I never flew the chieftan so I am just going by word of mouth. One year seems like a long time just to fly a beat up old piston.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

All new hires (PA31) sign an "integrity" agreement that is a one year commitment. The 6 month agreement changed last year.

 

[time builder]

How many guys really go from a Bro to a Chieftain though? My bet is they go straight into a 99 at 1200 hours, and sign the six month contract for the 99. And most people upgrade to the Metro from the 99 within a year, at least around here.

So, again, soon enough they'll be the one's in the Metro wondering why they're not making more.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

Recently they've been going from the right seat of the EMB120 to the Metro directly. So it's even sooner when they'll be wondering that.

SLC is the exception to go from the 99 to the Metro in that time frame. In PHX it's at least several years in the 99 before someone will see a Metro. Now that PHX is an all turbine base that could change in the future though.

 

[DeathPencil]

SLC is the exception to go from the 99 to the Metro in that time frame. In PHX it's at least several years in the 99 before someone will see a Metro. Now that PHX is an all turbine base that could change in the future though.

Several years? Does anyone know how much seniority the last batch of 1900 pilots have? Isn't there a metro run open for bid right now, or did it get filled?

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

As suspected and now realized AMF has engaged in a game of smoke and mirrors, bait and switch and misdirection regarding this "pay increase".

It is disappointing because whilst AMF certainly sweetened the pot for entry level pilots, the existing and more senior pilots have basically been stiffed.

To increase the retention incentive percentages simply allows the company to hold on to its money longer. When you do get payed out though, due to IRS rules regarding bonuses, you end up losing just under half of it to taxes.

What we really needed and thoroughly deserved was an increase that we could actually use throughout the year to head off inflation and the ever increasing cost of living.

With the current professional climate I don't see this as a silver bullet for AMF's hiring woes, any astute pilot will do the research and determine that while they might be ahead in the first year. When you look long term, why stay around for that turbine upgrade when your pay potential and quality of life will be easily surpassed at a good regional airline.

This is a shame, with a few tweaks such as a properly directed pay raise and a dedicated improvement in pilot schedules AMF can be a great place to work, with those leaving having a good experience with the company passing on a favorable reputation of AMF to potential recruits thus obtaining a manageable turnover.

There I go again being all idealistic!

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

The last person to transition to the Metro in PHX had been in the 99 for a little more than two years. I'm talking strictly about PHX based pilots and not the PHX outstation-based pilot. There's only one Metro outstation in PHX and you are right it is currently open. No one in PHX wants the outstation so I imagine that it will go to a transfer. The rest of the runs are in base, so Metro upgrade times in PHX are running over two years. They are averaging roughly one Metro upgrade per year in base at the moment. The most recent person to transition was last month....the previous person (in base) was July 2006.

 

[trybysky]

i think it's a low cut to the metro/1900 guys. What a joke. I say screw the bonus, put that money into our check each month, that way we don't lose money on it (taxes). Also, the problem isn't really brining people in....it's keeping people. I don't understand why us metro drivers get nothing. Pay metro guys 60K and you'll see them stick around for years waiting for that "dream" job...OR better yet, some might enjoy the schedule enough to stick around till retirement at that pay..... time to cut down the profits a little G.Rich... it'll pay off in the long run.

 

[AZaviator]

i think it's a low cut to the metro/1900 guys. What a joke. I say screw the bonus, put that money into our check each month, that way we don't lose money on it (taxes). Also, the problem isn't really brining people in....it's keeping people. I don't understand why us metro drivers get nothing. Pay metro guys 60K and you'll see them stick around for years waiting for that "dream" job...

EXACTLY! I couldn't have said it any better myself!

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

i think it's a low cut to the metro/1900 guys.

Obviously we are not of value to AMF. Having read many company communiques to the contrary just affirms that talk is cheap!

 

[AirMugsy]

Is anyone else that flies metros hiring right now?...

Berry is paying their Metro drivers 55k/year for their socal base. A little less for the midwest/south bases.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Berry is paying their Metro drivers 55k/year for their socal base. A little less for the midwest/south bases.

Apply to Berry. When Berry does the PRIA request, AMF will start to take notice.

 

[1st2000]

Apply to Berry. When Berry does the PRIA request, AMF will start to take notice.

I heard that the last class had 24 people in it. There were three Metro pilots right off the street. Also, I heard that the open Santa Maria Metro has been filled and it is a retired American Captain who lives there. The last class also had two retired airline captains that are taking a LR35 passenger airplane to New York. Makes sense that these guys are joining the company since the VP is a 121 guy. I asked Joanie and she says there are 15 pilots in the next class so far and there are interviews going on all over the system.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

Preparing for peak always results in an increase in hiring in September/October. Peak season coupled with existing pilot shortages in the system has resulted in the unusually large class sizes.

 

[1st2000]

It's worse than that. The new pay structure is such that you don't get any bonuses until you have been with the company a long time. Let's follow a typical career.

AMF has to hire 500 hour pilots before the regionals get their hands on them, so they'll go into the Bro. They'll sign a 1 year contract but never get a bonus (they use to). Then they'll move into the PA31 and get stuck in a 6 month comitment of some sort. Just as that ends they'll be offered a 99 slot with a 1 year contract. Then, just as that ends, they'll be offered a 1900 or Metro slot with another 1 year contract. After they finish their first year in the Metro they will only be able to get a bonus if they sign another 1 year contract. If they do that they only get half of the new and wonderful retention bonus.

Let's do the math: 1+.5+1+1+1=4.5 years of contracted labor to get roughly $2000 bonus.

Then, if they get the Bro captain they'll have to sign another 1 year contract and will only get the 1/2 bonus if they sign another 1 year contract after the first year.

Now we are up to 6.5 years and they get a whopping $4000 in bonus money.

Before it would have been close to $8,000 if they follow the scenario above.

This seems more like a scam than a retention plan.

Or maybe they are trying to get a union started? I don't know.

I am not sure how you figured any of this?

 

[1st2000]

Well, I didn't get one...

What a slap in the face those who fly as E120 FO's... Especially those who just left the 99 and Chieftain. Could have made more doing that.

My understanding is from the OAK talk this past Sunday that present EMB120 First Officers stay on the old pay scale. Only new First Officers go to this. The VP said that "no FO should be paid more than a Captain".

 

[1st2000]

Is anyone else that flies metros hiring right now?...

I hope so. Let me see if I can help find you a few addresses. Tell me where you are based and I will look for the opening so I can bid it.

 

[1st2000]

Several years? Does anyone know how much seniority the last batch of 1900 pilots have? Isn't there a metro run open for bid right now, or did it get filled?

I met one of the pilots that got the 1900 and she was in her first year. She was willing to take a run in PHX that was not very popular I think. She told me that there was another pilot in the same group that had less than a year and also went to PHX. Not bad. I hope this continues.