cargo and checks at night, oh my !?

[SDCFI]

Don't pay attention to Senor Jiminez, he likes to talk smack about AMF but never backs up what he says with any credible information. Bottom line here is if something breaks you write it up, they fix it. Sure, I've had autopilots deferred for days (you try finding parts for a Piper Altimatic!), or an electric trim that couldn't decide whether it wanted to work all the time or not. But remember this isn't a brand new RJ were talking about here. These airplanes are just as old, or older than some of us. They break, and some older systems aren't as reliable. MX does their best to keep everything in top shape, and I think they do a pretty **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good job. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, that's why I'm a pilot, but I sure as heck wouldn't be spending 3 hours a day in our airplanes if I didn't think they were safe.

 

[Thedude]

I can honestly say DO NOT GO TO Ameriflight. I worked there when the DFW station first opened up. I was the second pilot. I came in with a Metro type from the commuters. The guy that was the manager at the time like to try to bully people to get his way. Well the guys that have only been instructin may fall for this but once you have a little experience (me) you will puch back. Not to metion he like to go through our pay cards and change things he didnt like.
Our maintance was ok....that is when he was not drunk. If things are still the same ....minus the drunk guy expext to carry some MELs most nights. AMF does on smart thing though, the track certain parts and change them before the avg failure occurs. Pretty good idea for realiability.

Did I mention that you might be flying with a pay to play guy in the right seat. I got paid extra to put up with them. If I would have known that such individuals were going to occupy the right seat I would not have taken the job.

 

[TDK90]

Pay

How much pay can you expect in the first couple of years at AMF?

Can you work overtime?

 

[barnyard]

AMF

Ameriflight is THE BEST 135 CARGO operator in the country, neck and neck with Airnet. Dont let these sissies whine about how they were pressured to fly somewhere and such. Anyone with a set of cojones can stand up for themselves and know when to say no, and know when to say no with a broken plane.

Yeah it sucks to have a 250 hr whiz tell you how to fly, but they can also be useful in keeping your charts organized, doing paperwork and whatnot. You will get paid 5$ extra for block time eith an FO. And good captains will help the FO keep their S together so they will benefit from all the money they are spending, so they can put their skills to use as an AMF captain or wherever they decide to go. That being said, I hate flying with FO's.

Maintenance is 100% better than most little 135 companies. I worked at one for about 6 months before AMF, so I have seen the other side of the coin. True not every airplane is perfect, Im actually flying a pretty crappy one today, but everything in it works, is documented and placarded properly. You will not find that at a small 135.

The schedule at AMF kinda sucks. Most runs start between 5 and 8 in the morning and go til 6-8 at night (bank runs are an hour late on Fridays) but you will get to layover in a hotel during the afternoon. At small 135's you probably will not get a hotel even if you layover overnight or even all weekend.

What other company can you get a BE-99 PIC slot with 1800 hrs? You must be flexible for this, many pilots go through Billings Montana. On the flip side, you will never fly the Lear like you can at Airnet after a couple years. Some pilots have gone from AMF to the majors.

The pay sucks until you work a couple years into the turbine equipment. Then 32-40k depending on equipment.

As you can tell my previous job was pretty bad QOL, any other freight dogs care to chime in on small 135's? My experience was night and day.

Good luck-
Barn

Hey there BD- when you moving back home?

 

[amfteamster]

The maintenance is excelent
Buck

No doubt you know this because they told you so in class. Wait till youve been around two years and shut down five engines, had numerous bleed leak/wing overheats, gear problems, nose wheel problems, hydraulic failures... etc. No one will make you go with a problem but they sure as wont stop you if youre too stupid not to. And i have seen that happen plenty of times.

What do you think the reason behind the recent mx top down house cleaning in Bur. Dont hold your breath for change, nothing ever does.

Of course once that 121 certificate is nailed down itll all be good. Yeah right.

 

[wingnutt]

No doubt you know this because they told you so in class. Wait till youve been around two years and shut down five engines, had numerous bleed leak/wing overheats, gear problems, nose wheel problems, hydraulic failures... etc. No one will make you go with a problem but they sure as wont stop you if youre too stupid not to. And i have seen that happen plenty of times.

oh good grief...dont kid yourself. this happens in every other 135 cargo outfit also. it aint like you are the only ones to ever have mechanical "irregularities". if you can deal with it, fly the plane and be happy. if you cant, down the plane and be happy. if you dont like having to deal with it, get the hell out of cargo and be happy elsewhere...sheesh.

oh, and as for that 121 cert...hasnt that been the golden egg for about the last 5 years now?!?

 

[amfteamster]

Five engine failures? Good thing this wasnt your caravan. There are good points about AMF but mx aint one of them. Just because they tell you that in class doesnt make it so.

A strong pilot that knows his sh1t and will not take any will do fine at Ameriflight. One that can be pushed into doing something questionable, will be. Keep your head on a swivel or the'll stick you in the a$$ and tell you its a handshake.

 

[barnyard]

Would that top down overhaul mean the exit of Hazelet?

Can you confirm/deny this rumor???

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Twenty+ engine shutdown/failures in a twelve month period from what the guys down in Texas tell me.

 

[AZaviator]

Twenty+ engine shutdown/failures in a twelve month period from what the guys down in Texas tell me.

Wow, another post bashing Ameriflight with absolutely zero credibility and zero usefulness which goes along with some of your other posts:

Downside is the type of flying. The majority of pilots fly the same trip day in day out week after week. Not too impressive to major airlines. You dont want Flight instruction and Ameriflight to be the only jobs on your resume

Its better than a kick in the ballbag. Except when they kick you in the ballbag.

Still waiting for a USEFUL post with some credibility. Your background of "tacos and frijoles" doesn't say much about you or your experience......then again...maybe it does!?

 

[TexaSWA]

Twenty+ engine shutdown/failures in a twelve month period from what the guys down in Texas tell me.

I can personally account for four of those and know of a couple of other guys that had at least that many each. Made for some interesting interview stories though.

 

[tathepilot]

Still waiting for a USEFUL post with some credibility.

Me too !

 

[SDCFI]

I can personally account for four of those and know of a couple of other guys that had at least that many each. Made for some interesting interview stories though.

How long ago was this? Must've been a problem with the Dallas base. I've never been there so I can't speak from experience. I was in PDX for 9mo's and we never had an engine problem, piston or turbine. Haven't heard of any recently in BUR either. I haven't had so much as hiccup in over a year here in piston or 99 airplanes.

 

[roughneck]

I have had to shut down four engines too. DFW MX sucked really bad in the past. They have had some major changes (I think we are on our 4 or 5th MX manager in 3 years) Things are better, but you still better watch your step. Our chief pilot had an engine failure last week going into MSY.

The MX problem is not confined to the Dallas base. We have had nearly every MX manager in the system work on the A/C in Dallas and still have MAJOR problems. Ask the CVG guys if they have problems!

As for Hazlet, I heard he has been asked to resign, but it won't be effective for a couple of months. (no conformation on that, but rumor has it!)

AMF has had 2 fatality accidents this year and numerous others in the past. I believe AMF had something like 11 incidents in the past twelve months as well. (Do a search on the NTSB website and you will be surprised at what you find)

AMF is an OK place to work, but you better watch your own back because no one else will. Study and know your stuff and make sure that you have the type of personality that will allow you to stand up for what you know is right or you will get put into positions that are compromising to say the least.

With questionable MX, it is no surprise that we have problems, but the training at AMF is not the best. You have guys doing the training that don't have any experience other than AMF. They begin to believe their own BS after awhile. Some of these guys have been here 10+ years and have never been "allowed" to fly turbine A/C because the company doesn't trust them to do so. They teach the initial training and upgrade training, go figure!

Bottom line is, if you are going to work at AMF you need to have substantial prior experience and a strong personality to keep yourself safe in this environment.

This post is not meant to bash AMF, only inform some of you newbies about the dangers.

 

[SDCFI]

I did a search for Ameriflight on the NTSB site and found 10 results. 4 fatals, none of which are directly mx related (the Metro in GEG is still pending, and a deferred nav may have been a factor). 1 had smoke from behind a CB panel and another had a gear collapse due to a cracked roll pin. The rest were pilot/gnd personnel issues (forgetting to put gear down, a/c hit by tug, hard landing, and a/c ran off snow covered rwy.) I've heard most of our recent incidents have been pilot issues (hit cones, hard landing, cargo door open in flt). People just aren't paying attention. It's certainly true that no one here will stop you from violating yourself or flying an unairworthy airplane. If someone suggests that you can fly a broken airplane (they won't ask or tell you to, they know better) all you have to do is politely decline and they'll send someone to fix it. They (operations) may not like it, but that's their problem, not yours. Watch your back and don't do anything stupid and you'll be fine here or at any other 135 operation.