Airnet/Ameristar vs. the Regionals...

[stupidpilot]

I have a nephew who has amassed some good instructing time and he is now debating whether to apply to Airnet/Ameristar or regional airlines like COEX, CHQ, etc.

He has asked me for advice (probably not a good idea) and some pros and cons of each. I have referred him to this website (probably mistake #2) and I would appreciate any advice from people who have considered these options in the past. He is well aware of the terrible state of the airline industry and the constant threat of either furloughs or declining wages/benefits. He is willing to move anywhere to get the right flight time...

He claims that he ultimately (pie in the sky dream) wants to fly for either a leading LCC or UPS/Fedex.

So, what are the pros/cons of flying for Airnet or Ameristar vs. the regionals? At Airnet, how soon could you get into the Lear as an FO and then move to Captain (3-5 years?)? For those who have chosen between the two options, what were the factors that caused you to make that decision - and do you regret the path you chose?

Thanks for any help.

I would advise against Ameristar. Their aircraft are maintained very poorly. Airnet's aircraft are maintained alot better and is a much more respected outfit.

 

[stupidpilot]

Like an RJ is a heavy! I know of guys that went from Ameristar and Airnet to UPS directly with the falcon and lear jet the biggest things they have flown up to then.

One female went directly to UPS from Ameristar. There are a few that went to Continental or Southwest. But not many. By the way a heavy is 248,000 pounds or more.

 

[belchfire]

He should go to dental school and by a Stinson or something to fly for fun on nice sunny weekends.

If he insists on flying go freight...

 

[falconvalley]

Airnet's scheduled? When were they scheduled? They're certainly not now...although we have the same departure times every night.

 

[osu_av8r]

Airnet's scheduled? When were they scheduled? They're certainly not now...although we have the same departure times every night.

Yeah, I almost commented on that too, but I know what he meant. I'm sure he was referring to the pilots being scheduled, not the routes.

 

[MNR]

I was under the impression that the guys on the Airnet side still are scheduled. I mean I understand that occationally George will have you doing something completely different than your normal route, or something in the middle, but most of the time its the same cities, same times every night right? Plus, and this is a big one I think, your home every morning.

I mean I am sure there are the odd runs that end in different places every other night or that do different routes on different nights but its still fairly structured. Nothing like Jetride where you are on-call and have no idea what you might be doing during your 2 week rotation.

 

[JJET44]

One female went directly to UPS from Ameristar. There are a few that went to Continental or Southwest. But not many.

I know that I'm going to catch flack for this but we're talking about pilots, not quotas!

 

[VSI9k+]

I know that I'm going to catch flack for this but we're talking about pilots, not quotas!

I thought you had to be a homosexual native american to help with quotas.

 

[kamikaize]

Ahhh Stupidpilot!!! when will you learn that nobody cares about your opinion!!! If your opinion mattered you wouldnt of gotten fired and have to beg an old friend for your job at Omni, Just because you couldnt keep your mouth shut...

Anyways to answer the original question. Ameristar/Airnet will both get you to heavy a/c. In the last yr we have had 2 pilots go to continental, 3 Omni, 1 evergreen, 2 polar/atlas, 2 Swa and 2 Jet blue. Ameristar might get you the turbine Pic time faster. Airnet has much nicer equipment and quality of life. Im not sure how the pay scales compare but they are both alot more that the regional guys make.

 

[mikecweb]

I chose Airnet because I met their minimums first. After a few weeks of thinking "Be careful of what you wish for because you might actually get it" I started getting excited about it. Just wrapped up training and now flying "SIC" building time till 1200 hours. Should be about a month and a half.
There are some questions as to how strong Airnet will be business wise in the upcoming years. The CEO talked to us and that was depressing. Some of the others in the company had a little more of a favorable view on things. But then again what flying job is stable these days? At least Airnet has never fourloughed anyone. KNOCK ON WOOD!

 

[pilotyip]

mikecweb, the future of Airnet should not be a big concern for you right now. You will building time at a quality company, with plenty of options. With the coming hiring pool and pilot shortage next year you will be in a good position to look around and look for your next move. I feel you will have plenty of options in the next few years. At Airnet you will get PIC and not learn to program an airplane at a regional.

 

[mikecweb]

I hear ya. And that is a belief that I hold also. Just wish Biggerstaff was as optimistic.

 

[trybysky]

Longer hours?

with all the talk about "working longer hours"...90% of the comments on this thread are from freight pilots. So...who's working all the hours? It might be a long day for a freighter, but most of us have all day off. Out in morning, home at night is my schedule. I love it, wouldn't trade it for a regional schedule.

Although, with the whole day to myself, my net pay has decreased due to the amount of golf i'm getting in. :beer:

 

[stupidpilot]

Ahhh Stupidpilot!!! when will you learn that nobody cares about your opinion!!! If your opinion mattered you wouldnt of gotten fired and have to beg an old friend for your job at Omni, Just because you couldnt keep your mouth shut...


I couldn't keep my mouth shut because I was sick of getting lied to about upgrading and flying dangerous aircraft. All because TW is a greedy a-hole who cares more about his wallet than the safety of his pilots. He should be shut down. By the way, moving to this company was the best thing that ever happened to me. Heavy international time on well maintained aircraft! Looks like your the dummy who keeps putting his life on the line for a company that doesn't care one whit about you! And your career is stagnant. Smarten up and leave before your luck runs out.

 

[Princedietrich]

I hear ya. And that is a belief that I hold also. Just wish Biggerstaff was as optimistic.

99.5% of all Airnet's problems would go away if Bigglesworth would go away.