Avantair?

[Bustin]

I'm wrestling with the idea of leaving the regional 121 world for Avantair. I have yet to even apply, so this may be premature anyway, but can anyone offer any input into this world of fractional flying as opposed to flying in the regional world? More specificially, how is life at Avantair? How many hours are the pilots logging per month? Is a fractional pilot with turbo prop time marketable to a major airline if (in the unlikely event) one decided to switch back to 121? Financially, if I make this move, going back to a regional would no longer be an option on the table. This post may sound naive... I'm still pretty new to this industry. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[johnsonrod]

I'm wrestling with the idea of leaving the regional 121 world for Avantair. I have yet to even apply, so this may be premature anyway, but can anyone offer any input into this world of fractional flying as opposed to flying in the regional world? More specificially, how is life at Avantair? How many hours are the pilots logging per month? Is a fractional pilot with turbo prop time marketable to a major airline if (in the unlikely event) one decided to switch back to 121? Financially, if I make this move, going back to a regional would no longer be an option on the table. This post may sound naive... I'm still pretty new to this industry. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Bustin,

Check your PMs and also look at this link to another post on Avantair:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=110386&page=2

 

[Heavy Set]

I'm wrestling with the idea of leaving the regional 121 world for Avantair. I have yet to even apply, so this may be premature anyway, but can anyone offer any input into this world of fractional flying as opposed to flying in the regional world? More specificially, how is life at Avantair? How many hours are the pilots logging per month? Is a fractional pilot with turbo prop time marketable to a major airline if (in the unlikely event) one decided to switch back to 121? Financially, if I make this move, going back to a regional would no longer be an option on the table. This post may sound naive... I'm still pretty new to this industry. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

That Piaggio is one hot airplane as you will see here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PozsRQUjem4

or here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_T-7ZMeoc4

The 2nd youtube clip is goofy but the point is well taken - the Piaggio is a fast and fun airplane to fly. The Piaggio Avanti II is the more advanced version with the Pro Line 21 flight deck - very nice glass.

 

[Bustin]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[irija]

can anyone post a day's experience at Avant Air?

 

[On Your Six]

can anyone post a day's experience at Avant Air?

Look at the following link and click on the flight numbers to see where they are flying and where they have been:

http://flightaware.com/live/fleet/VNR

 

[glasspilot]

Wake up at the hotel around 6 or 7 for a 7 or 8 show for a 8 or 9 wheels up. Eat the hotel breakfast and get in the crew car / rental car / hotel bus / FBO van and go to the airport. Captain goes in to file flight plans and arrange for aircraft services (fuel, gpu, ect) while the FO goes out to pull the plugs, put the steering pin in and get the cabin ready for the pax.

Captain gives the flight plan from flightplan.com to the FO and waits for the owners while the FO goes out to get the clearance and ATIS and such. Owners arrive pretty much on time and Captain greets them, exchanges pleasantries and informs them of flight time and weather while asking about transportation at their destination.

Everyone boards up and Captain or FO brief the pax on safety features and ensures they have all they need and are comfortable. Both pilots meet in the cockpit and run checklists and go.

At the destination the owners car is waiting for them and the pilots help get the owners bags and stuff into the car. Once they're gone the Captain calls the company and reports the times of the last leg and confirms that the remaining legs are unchanged.

Then the whole process is repeated 4 or 5 times until the day is done at which point the crew puts the plane to bed and heads to the hotel.

We always have at least 10 hours of rest but I can't remember the last time that's all I got. Most every night I get to sample an adult beverage and relax a bit.

Hope that gets the main points for you...

 

[Bustin]

Wow, that sounds like a long day. What kind of duty days are you guys putting in over there?

 

[Skimatic]

I've been averaging 10.2 hrs per duty day since the start of 2008.

This is from the log pages which I'm keeping stats on.

3.2 legs per day.

 

[irija]

That doesn't seem that bad at all. In between legs, how long are your sits if any / turn times and have you had nights without that much rest at all? Any short calls, etc?