AirNet Quality Of Life...

[WMU_Drew]

How is the quality of life for a new hire, upgrade time, junior bases, etc?

Would you want to be married and work as a new pilot or would it be best to be a single guy?

Any other insight anyone could provide would be great…thanks.

 

[BoilerBacker]

quality of life

Drew,

"How is the quality of life for a new hire"

I believe that quality of life is "in the eye of the beholder." Personally I have loved my time with AirNet. However, not everyone adjusts to life on the backside of the clock well. Fortunately, I seem to be able to not only do well on 6 hours sleep per DAY but also seem to be able to flip flop from nights to days and back again each week. Many find this difficult. But, 4 nights on and 3 nights off with the ability to sleep in your own bed every day/night isn't too shabby.

"upgrade time"

If you are talking about upgrading to the Lear, upgrade times have been quite long since 9/11. It is simply the state of the industry. I am approaching 2 years and still am not competive seniority wise to bid a lear run.

"junior bases"

I don't really consider there to be "junior/senior bases" with AirNet. It is all about timing. You bid what is available when you get out of training. You can then bid one lateral move per year (at your own moving expense). The company pays for one move per seat (one move to a prop run, 1 move to lear FO, and 1 move to lear Capt.) You just never really know what is going to become available, who is going to want it, and who is going to be eligible to bid it (may have already burned their lateral move.)

"Would you want to be married and work as a new pilot or would it be best to be a single guy?"

I am married with 2 kids and it has worked out great for us. My wife has been able to jockey her work schedule around mine so one of us is home with the kids rather than day care. I work at night, sleep roughly 9 - 3:30 and then wife works 4-8:00 while I watch the kids then I leave for the airport at 8:30. I do know floaters who are married and make it work (although it doesn't seem to usually work well), but I have yet to meet anyone who was a floater, married with children, and happy. Floaters make good money but are gone ALOT.

Personally, I am still having a great time flying the props. Sure, I would have liked to have upgraded by now but, we still seem to have it pretty OK compared to what our passenger carrying brethren seem to be going through (even if we do get little to no respect ) I have yet to have a package complain about the anything and passing airliners & biz jets in my little Baron or 310 is still alot of fun!

Hope this helps. Sorry for the length (tried to be thorough!)
Good luck
Boilerbacker

 

[khsgt]

I really hate to ask a stupid question, but what exactly is a floater?

Question for all Airnet guys, Would you rather be working for Airnet or any given Regional airline right now, and what is your next intended career move?

Thanks everybody, and keep the greasy side down

 

[BoilerBacker]

floater

Sorry to have used jargon. A "floater" is a pilot who does not have an assigned route but rather goes from place to place covering for pilots assigned to routes but who are either on vacation, in for a checkride, etc, etc.

As far as AirNet vs Regional? I guess I would rather be at AirNet since I haven't applied to any regionals. The industry is too up in the air right now. I feel that my job security is way better where I am than as a newbie at a regional and I am making way better money than I would at a regional.

I have no plans to leave AirNet anytime soon. I would still like to fly the Lear with no passengers. However, I am always keeping my ears open for possible opportunities.

It is easy to complain about a job anywhere you work. But, for the most part, I am very happy doing what I do. Like everyone else though, I would love to see a recovery in this industry and some movement in the employment ladder sooner than later.

C'ya
Boilerbacker

 

[uscpilot]

Let me put it this way. Yes flying a Be58 or C310 for 2 years gets extreamly old (at least I am not still instructing like many of the guys that got their cfi when I did in early 00). I would love to fly any turbine. However I cannot afford the pay cut associated with going to the regionals. I realize that after your second year your salary goes up from the piddly average of $20000/year. If I left right now my pay would almost be cut in half. If I were single I still dont think I would leave. My job is very secure; right now that is, we will see in a year or two when the check is bye bye. Also as close as I am to a lear right now it would be insane to leave right now. If I were to luck out and get an offer for a dream corporate job I would leave, but that is the only way, for now.
Fly Safe

 

[khsgt]

while we are at it........

Since I am asking away, I have a couple of other questions. I know the company website says that they don't recommend commuting. It seems as though with a 4on/3off schedule, commuting a short distance as long as crash pad was readily available would not be a problem. As far as the "floaters" go, the don't officially have any base, so i would presume the company is transporting them where they need to be. Are they asked to live in a certian area, at any Airnet Base, or just whereever they please? What makes the "floaters" pay so much higher, and how much higher is it then a first year prop captian. How many days off a month could a floater expect? Are the floaters checked out in only one type of a/c or more? What is required to bid a floater position and can you get it right out of training? Would you want to get it right out of training? If you don't mind me asking, what are you guys making that are second year prop captians, and are you either picking up any extra flying to do so, and is any extra flying available? What is the upgrade time right now to lear fo (i would presume 2 years...???) and then to lear captian? I believe that if I went with Airnet, then I would one day ATTEMPT to go straight from there to SWA (my ultimate goal), and are the current Lear Captians competitive with the CRJ and ERJ captians and furloughed Major pilots? How many hours per year do most of your pilots fly?

I think the airnet lifestyle would work well for me (22 and single), and I think they would be a great company to work for (especially considering the BS that is happening in the regional world right now) and I would learn alot. I have an opportunity because of some contacts, and that is the reasons I am asking all the questions. Thanks guys for all the help and Keep the Greasy side down

 

[labbats]

Not to hijack this thread or anything, but...

Do I have any chance to SIC at 500 hours total time? I meet all the minimums and live in OMA. Also, I got my multi in a Baron and would kill for an opportunity. Did I mention I'm a night owl?

Seriously though, is this even a possibility?

 

[HAZ-MAT]

Answer Some ?'s

Are the floaters checked out in only one type of a/c or more? Typically 2 or 3 different aircraft.
What is required to bid a floater position and can you get it right out of training? It has to be open on the bid sheet, if its open out of training, you bid it, no one else does... its yours.
What is the upgrade time right now to lear fo (i would presume 2 years...???) the people getting lear slots now have been with the company for 2 and a half years.
How many hours per year do most of your pilots fly? I do about 850 a year, but you can go up to 1400 hours and we have quite a few runs that come close to that.
Being 22 and single is the way to be, i am 24 and single, and this company has been great to me, i have weekends off, all my regional friends are being furloughed, or looking at 3 year upgrades, or paycuts... and working holidays. Like others have said, i cannot afford the paycut to fly a Jungle Jet.
Do I have any chance to SIC at 500 hours total time? No, we do not do the SIC program anymore.
I meet all the minimums and live in OMA... we have a caravan based in OMA (last i knew) and only 1 pilot.
Did I mention I'm a night owl? Its great when your still going strong at 3am, and all your buddies are passing out, dog tired...

Hope this helps some of the people inquiring about AirNet, and if anyone else wants to add to this too, that would help.

 

[jaybird]

Not to hijack this thread or anything, but...

Do I have any chance to SIC at 500 hours total time? I meet all the minimums and live in OMA. Also, I got my multi in a Baron and would kill for an opportunity. Did I mention I'm a night owl?

Seriously though, is this even a possibility?

No.

 

[labbats]

No post is better than the above post. Thanks for being rude.