Martinaire

[jimbo]

Whats the latest with MRA?? Do they still have 208's and where are there runs? Any east coast stuff?? Any Metro's and if so what do they do with them? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[probablecause]

I have a friend who is returning there to fly. Still have the 208's with runs around Texas. I think the Metros are gone not sure where.

 

[Flt 525]

Read About Martinaire

If you would like to get an eye-ful of info on Martinaire, go to
www.caravanpilots.com and scroll down through the postings. Sounds like a scary place to fly!!

 

[jimbo]

When I flew there a few years ago it was a great place to work. The trng was very tough though. They would'nt fire you if you would'nt go into icing though. It was your discretion if it was bad enough but they were certified to go into light to moderate. The planes were well maintained to do that kind of stuff. I was a low time pilot there and was a little intimidating to do it in the beginning (especially being from Fla) but you found out what the limitations were. After being in the Caravan they would upgrade you into the Dornier or the Metro and it was all single pilot. They expected alot out of the pilots and I think that's why it sometimes it get's a "bad wrap". I got alot of valuable experience there and the people were all great and are still friends of mine.
Don't know if they still have that kind of working atmoshpere now but at the time I would recommend it to anyone. Jimbo

 

[WIDGETBOY]

Jimbo

When were you at Martinaire. I was there from June 97 to Dec 98. With the first 8 months in SAV then the rest in Oklahoma.

 

[jimbo]

Hey there,
Apr 98-Apr 00. Are You at Delta now???
Jimbo

 

[LJDRVR]

Can't speak for it now, but Martinaire was a great job when I was there. (Jan98-Dec 98) Excellent experience. I have heard some of the DO228 are being operated now out of Vegas as tour AC, don't know by whom.

 

[airline mission]

What's next for Martinaire pilots?

Where do Martinaire pilots typically go after building single-engine turbine PIC? With the Metro's gone, there's no multi in sight there. For a pilot with low (50-100 hours) multi time, is alot of Caravan time enough for the regionals or corporate? Do they give preference based upon single-pilot IFR and the turbine? Or are they stuck looking for another freight op with twins after Martinaire?

 

[LJDRVR]

I don't know if it applies in today's post 9-11 environment, (read that insurance) but here's my experience. I went from Martinaire to flying Learjet FO for a 135 operator. To this day, I only have about 47 hours of multi-engine recip time. My feelings are that the turbine/single pilot IFR experience is much more important than 500 hours of giving multi-engine instruction. Not that there's anything wrong with building time that way, some of us just never had the opportunity. My experience with the Caravan was invaluable in transitioning to the jet. Good instrument skills are the foundation of flying larger, faster, multi engine AC. The "multi-engine" skills are easy to learn IF you are a good IFR current freight dog.

I would summarize my Caravan experience this way:

Paid better than most Baron/twin Cessna jobs

Safer than most Baron/twin Cessna jobs

Learned a turbine AC

Got a bit of Turbine PIC in the process

Feel free to PM me with any questions you have, I'd be happy to help.

Cheers

 

[jimbo]

I agree 100% with LJDRVR. The experience was invaluable. I have a little over 100 hours Multi recip. The 135 single turbine experience opened alot of doors for me. The Caravan is a great dependable plane. It is alot of fun to fly also. But the important thing is it's Turbine (It counts in the turbine PIC catagory for SWA and Fedex).
So please don't discount it cause it's "not multi". 135 Caravan flying in my opinion will open doors sooner than the standard routes most people take. Alot of Martinaire guys would land good jet and turbine multi jobs just in networking at thier destinations. I personally got a job with a regional flying jets.
In my experiences you have a little more respect in the aviation community by going this route also.
Again this is just my .02 cents.
Jimbo

 

[USED2BALJDRVR]

Martinaire is still a good company to work for. I have been with them off and on for about two years and I found very quickly that if you treat them right they will treat you right. I will verify that they no longer have the metros but as previously posted, the PIC Turbine time will prove to be very, very valuable. I moved into Lear Jets directly from MRA with only a little over 100 multi. I transitioned to a company who, at the time, was a great company to work for, but like so many, as a result of Sept. 11th, has been going through a slow deterioration process. I maintained a very good relationship with MRA the whole time and had a job to go back to when my base closed with the lear jet company.

 

[jimbo]

USED2B,
Since you still have a relationship with MRA, can you tell me what kind of routes they have? Do they still have contract pilots? Is H.T. still CP? Do they still have the hangar at ADS? Also the important thing.....jumpseat agreement with SWA?????
Thanks!
Jimbo

 

[USED2BALJDRVR]

Jimbo,
I can answer some of your questions. Yes, H.T. is still the CP and we still use contract pilots. As far as routes are concerned, I know we have 3 that go into Houston, 3 that go into SAT along with a standby position, DRT may be opening soon, I'm not sure. HRL to AUS is another in the south, and as far as the runs into DFW, I think we hold the majority of the ones we used to have minus a few. Didn't pay attention to the ones we lost. I'm not from that neck of the woods. Charter flying has picked up, though and that has been a bit fun. As far as jump seating is concerned, I know a few weeks ago they were working out the written agreement but I don't know what the final result was. Several of the other pilots have been jumpseating with no problems.
The Martinaire web site might give you a better idea on the routes that we currently have. Let me know if you have any other questions.

USED2B

 

[stickactuator]

martinaire domiciles?

Can you tell me where they base pilots? are any based in Houston?
Any idea if they are hiring and if they would look at someone with 1300 TT?

Thanks

 

[USED2BALJDRVR]

Hey Stick,
The three planes that go into Houston are based in Lufkin, College Station, and Victoria. They do overnight at Ellington Field in Houston. MRA is still considering people with the basic IFR Part 135 mins for PIC. I know they just finished a class and I have no idea when they will start another one. There's no set schedule; it's on an "as needed" basis.