Metro/B1900

[TheDogsBollocks]

Transmach,

I agree whole heartedly that Amf has a great safety record. However, I attribute that to route familiarity. Most of the pilots in this company fly to the same airport 4 or 5 days a week and know the route better than they know the back of their own hand. It is not a mistake that the 1900 and Metro do not have a single pilot rating for pax ops.

If the A/C is configured for nine seats or less, then part 91 it can be used for passenger ops.

 

[citabriapilot]

AND Going to the same airport all the time, if anything, causes complacency.

I agree that it can cause complacency if the pilot is allowing it to slip in, but the most demanding flying I have done in the Metro is on an unfamiliar run on TDY and having to pull out the other two arms I have folded up in my back in order to fly, figure out where I'm going, tuning the radios and talking at the same time. Doing the same run definitely helps the work load.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

I disagree in part. There's a reason there is a relatively high washout rate. AND Going to the same airport all the time, if anything, causes complacency. AMF is doing a great job training their pilots and their pilots are doing a very good job of staying out of trouble. Plain and simple.

I couldn't agree more...complacency can spawn stupidity....after 14 months on an outstation going to the same airports 6 days a week, it takes a little work to ensure that complacency doesn't settle in.

 

[ksu_aviator]

I couldn't agree more...complacency can spawn stupidity....after 14 months on an outstation going to the same airports 6 days a week, it takes a little work to ensure that complacency doesn't settle in.

When y'all get to a company that has a real training program you'll understand where I am coming from.

 

[barnyard]

To answer your question, it does take a solid pilot to do it, it is not for the faint of heart ... but nothing "superior" or "special" is required ... just your average joe who can actually fly an airplane IFR.

TransMach

Disagreed. Metro and 1900 pilots are clearly far superior in every aspect of aviating. Everyone knows that...

 

[DirtyBeech]

Ok, ok, we'll admit it.

 

[Toobdrvr]

Disagreed. Metro and 1900 pilots are clearly far superior in every aspect of aviating. Everyone knows that...

...so what about the select few of us that are typed in BOTH?...

Recent discussion with the wife:
ME: "All pilots are dorks"
Her: "But you're the Chief Pilot"
Me: "...King of the Dorks..."

Oops, forgot to answer the question: Both a/c are a blast to fly SP. It doesn't really seem like a bad idea until you are doing a circling approach at minimums in a metro, and then you really wish you had someone else in there, if for nothing else than appreciating with you how much this sucks.

In my opinion, the 1900 is a far superior a/c, much better design, and thus much easier (and fun) to fly. The upside of the metro SP is that every day you don't crash felt like an accomplishment!

Popular adage: "The 1900 was designed by geniui for idiots to fly, while the metro was designed by idiots for geniui to fly"

...what do I know, I'm in an airbus...

 

[DeathPencil]

...so what about the select few of us that are typed in BOTH?...

Recent discussion with the wife:
ME: "All pilots are dorks"
Her: "But you're the Chief Pilot"
Me: "...King of the Dorks..."



...what do I know, I'm in an airbus...

I still wonder why they bothered to put a control yoke in the metro.

 

[DirtyBeech]

All that really matters is looks. If you take a 1900, take all the aerodynamic corrections off of it, round the edges and give it a face lift you'd have a Metro approximation.

Besides, real mean fly the Bro and the Metro, and no, by that definition (and often my wife's) I'm not a real man.

 

[JSky26]

Just curious...

Does the Metro or the Beech have an A/P installed? I thought 135 op-specs required an A/P if an SIC is not there...?

 

[Toobdrvr]

Just curious...

Does the Metro or the Beech have an A/P installed? I thought 135 op-specs required an A/P if an SIC is not there...?

I think that's just an exemption a 135 can get for pax ops. At AMF all the metros have 'em, some better than others, and some of the 1900's do. They're both so solid that you don't really need one, but the approach coupler in the UP/DH metros are sweet!!! No autoland, though...

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

Not all AMF Metros had autopilots until a few months ago. There was one that I flew on a daily basis in PHX that didn't have an autopilot until several months ago. Got fairly used to hand flying it all the time and had to adjust to using the autopilot when it was finally installed.

 

[DeathPencil]

all except for a couple 1900's have autopilots in them now and the 99's are supposed to start getting them installed soon.

 

[JSky26]

whatever the case....

I give mad props to you freight dawgs out there!

 

[time builder]

all except for a couple 1900's have autopilots in them now and the 99's are supposed to start getting them installed soon.

What? The 99's are getting autopilots? Is this new equipment, or a second try at the old ones?