Airnet: Questions

[FlyChicaga]

Hey all you Airnet guys/gals, a few questions if you don't mind.

For new-hires at Airnet, what are the chances to get a base that you'd prefer? Such as MDW or MKE? What are popular base assignments out of training? If you get assigned somewhere like TEB, PIT, etc., how long would it take to bid over to somewhere else?

Regarding your schedules, do most pilots have the weekends off? Is it difficult to commute somewhere on the weekend?

Do you feel you have a pretty decent quality of life? What kind of flying are you doing, and what are some of your work nights like?

That's all I can think of now. Thanks.

 

[labbats]

Not to be too negative, but this thread just really depressed me.

Someone gets an early break to the regionals and now is considering night freight. What do I have to look forward to?

 

[CrewDawg]

Maybe he doesn't like the bi*chin passnegers????

 

[HAZ-MAT]

Hey FlyChicaga... i'll answer it...
Chances right now of getting MKE is None... the guy there is waiting for the MDW Lear to open.. which wont happen for a while.. we used to have 2 MKE based people there (as far as i knew) but one is now done by Central Air (dont quote me). MDW is a Lear only base (maybe one prop run??!) STP might be an option or FWA... pretty sure those are the closest areas to the Chicago area. But right now, those arent open... and its all luck of the draw... If you were to get hired this week and attend training I'd say your options might be MEM, BHM, SDF and BDL.. all guesses, but educated ones. 80% of our runs have weekends off, and as far as commuting.. its great from Sept - Feb... but once kids get spring break off and or summer season kicks in.. then you get creative with the places you fly thru to get you back to base... but as far as the Chicago area goes.. you have Southwest thru MDW... their flights always have atleast one open seat... in the summer time, thats who i use, because of their frequency..
Any other questions PM me... Enjoy the week.

 

[FlyChicaga]

HAZMAT, thanks for the info.

labbats, it's not that I don't like the regionals. Or that I don't like my company. I love it here, and I would love to stay here until I can push someday for a job at one of the majors. But there are major uncertainties in the future, so rather than just sitting idle waiting for things to happen then reacting, I'm trying to stay a little ahead of the game and prepare in case things take a turn. That's all.

 

[IP076]

Yeah, unfortunately Chicago is no longer a prop base, just the one lear run. MKE is full too as Hazmat mentioned.

STP just had a few runs go to new guys, but there is one there who is waiting for the next STP Jet to open up....which may take a while.

I Beleive FWA went to a new guy. CPS would be a viable option, but I don't know about the current pilots there.

There is basically no possible way to know which base you will get until you show for training. And now you are base locked for 1 year (unless you make it to the jet in less than 1 year).

The schedules typically aren't bad, I work 10 pm to about 830 am every day. I fly about 6.8 to 7.0 a night, 4 nights a week. Gotta love being done with work by 830 on Friday morning, and not going back till 10pm on Monday night. It's a bit tough if you change back to days during the weekend, but some handle it different than others.

Can't argue with the experience, I've flown 700 hours since starting here, either multi or turbine, but I think most importantly, its PIC time. I've got friends that went to the airlines early, now there at 3500 total with 250 or 300 PIC. I'd think the PIC time would come in handy if "suddenly" looking for a job.

PM me if you've got any more questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them for you.

 

[labbats]

I got a little hasty with that post. Just had the usual argument with the lady about $ and finished off a lousy day at work.

I understand your situation FlyChicaga, and am leaning toward Airnet myself. It's just hard being at the cusp of a career choice and nothing is what I expected 3 years ago. The holy grail of majors isn't something I'm blinded by, I just want a job that I look forward to with fun people. Airnet seems to be the springboard to that, and flying a cargo lear is about the best perk I can imagine.

I guess what I initially meant to say was that I constantly hear these boards talk about Airnet pilots leaving for the regionals, and now someone in the regionals is leaving for Airnet. It's confusing and frustrating to say the least.

 

[payton]

How often do bids come out for the jetride, and what was the most recent openings.
thanks

 

[plunger]

what's the flying like at airnet? i know a guy who used to work there. he said if you make it home alive then you had a good day. he was saying the weather your expected to fly through is ridiculous. great experience i would imagine.

 

[starchkr]

Well, i thought i would stay out of this one for once, but now i'm in...

"he said if you make it home alive then you had a good day. he was saying the weather your expected to fly through is ridiculous."

HUH!?!?!?

If you are serious your friend is one heck of a poor pilot. To even imply that our flying is unsafe is a show of little knowledge of our equipment, maintenance and the training here at ANS. Also, you are NEVER expected to fly through bad weather...that is always a choice left up to the PIC(YOU)...remember, you always have the final authority over the flight, no-one else does. We have many people cancel flights for weather and they are never hassled into doing it.

OK, now i'm out...