Any current AMF CVG SA227 pilots that can give me the skinny on the 3-on / 1-off schedule?
I left AMF a little over 6 months ago, but I spent my last few months there in CVG so I'll answer what I can.
How long do you sit at the airport each day? From when to when? For 21 days?
12 hours. I personally liked the night shifts, 7pm-7am or something like that. The actual times vary depending on who is available and what you are qualified in.
Are you gone ALL THE TIME for your 3 weeks?
Not until they send you to Ottawa. I didn't really overnight all that much, but the busier it is, the less you overnight. I would expect there is more overnighting now, but I'm not sure. I'd say I was usually home at some point every 24 hours or so. Hanging at the airport isn't all bad, the facility is very nice and they're pretty good about letting you escape for a few minutes to go on a food run.
How many hours are you averaging per month?
I hear it's pretty slow right now. I was there for three months and would estimate that I flew about 150 hours.
Does management care that you are trying to have a life?
Does management
anywhere care that you are trying to have a life? During your 3 weeks on, they basically own you. During your week off, you are free. They may ask, but won't pressure or force you to work it. If you work it, you get an additional 40 units (not to be confused with double pay).
Is the flying cool, or is there a lot of customer B.S. with people not communicating or having their act together?
The flying is great until you get involuntarily TDY'ed to Ottawa (and you WILL) for three weeks straight with a couple hours notice, then you'll hate your life.
Do you get support from ops, or are you on your own?
They are pretty good about filing and getting you what you need. Like most AMF dispatchers, they are just dudes off the street with little or no aviation experience that they trained to bid on trips and file flight plans, so watch your back. They'll sometimes get all bent out of shape over things that you can't control and they don't understand, like ATC delays when some genius sends you to IAD, etc. at rush hour with thunderstorms all over.
Any chance of something better than 3-on / 1-off in the future?
No idea, but I doubt it.
Any other pertinent comments?
If it weren't for that ridiculous Ottawa run, I would've stuck around longer. Good group of pilots, good ACP, nicest facility in the company, and fun flying. Maintenance was excellent. The airplanes out there were top notch (well, as good as old Metros can get I guess).
If I sound a little bitter about Ottawa, it's because I was. The whole reason I transferred to CVG was to get out of the mindless, boring lull of flying scheduled runs out west and be closer to "home." The first couple of months were great- lots of flying, lots of variety. Then one day I got sent to Ottawa for TDY on that scheduled run, and from then on, that was pretty much all I did. I used my time rotting in the hotel all day to look for jobs and circulate my resume like the USA Today and ended up landing a good job that I'm very happy with.
A couple of things to be aware of... When the 3&1 schedule was negotiated, the pilots agreed to give up TDY pay. In other words, you don't get paid on weekends, even if you work, even if you work your relief week, even if you're in Ottawa. Completely contrary to what the employee handbook says, but whatever. What you put on your time card doesn't matter, they will just change it to whatever they feel like paying you.
Also, be prepared to get a $150+ cell phone bill when you get sent to Ottawa. You'll rack up international roaming charges while you sit on hold with moron customs agents or dispatchers hmm'ing and haw'ing over how to screw you next. You can expense it and hope for the best, but don't hold your breath waiting for the check. I often waited 4-6 WEEKS to get expense/per diem checks.
Overall, there are certainly pros and cons. Things may have changed since I was there, so take all this with a grain of salt.
imp:
