Advice

[golfkilo]

I believe most "fixed" wing air ambulance companies are mostly on demand part 135. Most of them have CP's and DO's who dont give a crap about anything in your life.... The only thing they care about is keeping the planes flying (which I know is there job). That being said...... stepping stone job, with great international experience, and great overall experience; YES. A job for the long term; we all are different; but for me it was a NO. Being on a pager or cell phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is not a way to live your life forever. Most of them will not honor days off. Most of them will not allow you to schedule a weekend off, most of them are just scumbag operators.

I look back at the air ambulance and appreciate it every day. It made me a better pilot, gave me great experience flying around the world, It makes me respect every "Lifeguard" I hear signing on in the middle of the night; and it makes me appreciate what I have now.

If you are happy with your "secure job" now; I would not recommend leaving it.....

Dang DA50, you must have worked for a real dirtbag operation! My experience is quite different. We have excellent jet equipment, have 4 hard days off every week, great job security and the company really cares about their employees.

Sorry you had such a bad air med experience, but I can assure the readers that as for my experience, this is the exception and not the rule.

 

[DA50pilot]

Dang DA50, you must have worked for a real dirtbag operation! My experience is quite different. We have excellent jet equipment, have 4 hard days off every week, great job security and the company really cares about their employees.

Sorry you had such a bad air med experience, but I can assure the readers that as for my experience, this is the exception and not the rule.

Like I said in an earlier post.... I know there are some good operators out there. However; where I flew in the Tampa FL area in the late 90's, it seemed like all of the operators at that time were; (as a very good friend of mine refers to them as) "Battered pilot shelters".

Im happy that you actually work for a company that cares about its employees; that seems very rare these days. If you are happy; that means you probably have a "real" Chief Pilot; not the type that is just in the position for the title. While your company cares about you, the company I flew for cared about keeping the planes in the air (which I know is what they are supposed to do), and they would do ANYTHING to make it happen.

It was great experience, and I met alot of great pilots and friends.

Just out of curiosity; what area of the country are you in? Did you mean 4 hard days off per month, or 4 hard days off per week?

Take care

 

[DA50pilot]

For the guys that fly for Air Ambulances. Did it seem to be a profitable sector of aviation. Also, would it be a smart choice to base an aircraft in BOS. Thanks guys

Not really sure how profitable it was. I know our owners at the time had all the nice toys; big boat; nice houses; motorcycles. So, they were abviously doing something right.

It seems like alot of competition now in the air ambulance sector; with each company trying to underbid the other when the brokers start calling around getting quotes.

Im not sure about where to base an airplane. Maybe you can call a broker and pick his or her brain as to where the where a weak area for ambulance operators is. I know in Florida, there seems to be a few operators at every airport.

 

[golfkilo]

Like I said in an earlier post.... I know there are some good operators out there. However; where I flew in the Tampa FL area in the late 90's, it seemed like all of the operators at that time were; (as a very good friend of mine refers to them as) "Battered pilot shelters".

Im happy that you actually work for a company that cares about its employees; that seems very rare these days. If you are happy; that means you probably have a "real" Chief Pilot; not the type that is just in the position for the title. While your company cares about you, the company I flew for cared about keeping the planes in the air (which I know is what they are supposed to do), and they would do ANYTHING to make it happen.

It was great experience, and I met alot of great pilots and friends.

Just out of curiosity; what area of the country are you in? Did you mean 4 hard days off per month, or 4 hard days off per week?

Take care

I'm in Texas, and we have 4 hard days off a week, making it a 4 on, 4 off schedule. Real nice!