Which Company is better USA Jet or Ameristar

[no1uknow]

I hear Ameristar is a more professional organization. Thanks for any info you all can provide. I am looking for some Jet PIC time so I can move over to the airlines.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

I seriously doubt it. USA Jet is pretty first class as adhoc carriers go. Yeah, maybe the pay is not the best, but what freight company has great pay? At least USA Jet has a good relationship with the FAA. Besides, would you rather work for Warren Buffet or Tom Wackendorf? Plus, I have never heard rumors of USA Jet/Active Aero doing anything shadey. Can't say the same thing about Ameristar.

Now to be fair, most AJI pilots I talk to don't really have anything bad to say either. They are just away from home a lot.

 

[pilotyip]

Ask these questions

Who has the highest turnover? That normally tells a little bid about the company. Average pilot has been at USA Jet 6.0 years and is 42 years old. USA Jet has hired 8 pilots this year to replace turnover, probably will not have another class until next year. Who has a training contract? USA Jet dropped all contracts 3 years ago. Who hires Capt. off the street? USA Jet has single seniority list and fills all seats from inside the company, new hires often bid into the right seat of the DC-9 in their first year with the company. USA Jet has not hired a Capt off the street since 1998. Who hires you for a position in ADS and tells you in ground school you are being based at YIP? USA Jet is up front you must live at YIP to get the job. Who has passed inspections from Ford Motor and General Motors for Executive Passenger Charters? USA Jet is a preferred provider for both GM and Ford Executive Passenger travel on both the DA-20 and DC-9. There are many ways to judge a company and gather information. Ameristar and USA Jet are on different business paths, not to say one is better or not. Best of luck

 

[flyinloki]

Here come the flames. Duck!!!

 

[T-REX]

Grand Aire!

 

[hawkerflyer]

Who has the highest turnover? That normally tells a little bid about the company. Average pilot has been at USA Jet 6.0 years and is 42 years old. USA Jet has hired 8 pilots this year to replace turnover, probably will not have another class until next year. Who has a training contract? USA Jet dropped all contracts 3 years ago. Who hires Capt. off the street? USA Jet has single seniority list and fills all seats from inside the company, new hires often bid into the right seat of the DC-9 in their first year with the company. USA Jet has not hired a Capt off the street since 1998. Who hires you for a position in ADS and tells you in ground school you are being based at YIP? USA Jet is up front you must live at YIP to get the job. Who has passed inspections from Ford Motor and General Motors for Executive Passenger Charters? USA Jet is a preferred provider for both GM and Ford Executive Passenger travel on both the DA-20 and DC-9.

Yeah, but who is getting 747s ?

 

[pilotyip]

If it is not the truth, it will corrected in ample time. Besides why would we buy 47's we have them under contract through our biding system amd if Ameristar gets some we will have some more 47's bidding on our system. It is a win-win for everyone. This is the kinda thing that makes you feel good about the industry and the brotherhood.

 

[Windsor]

Does it really matter whos better? Personally I could give less of a care. We fly the same planes filled with the same cargo to the same airports, stay in the same hotels and make about the same money in the end. Its all dawgin in my book.

 

[falcon20driver]

Take a look at the schedules, as far as I know these are correct.

USA Jet, 10 days off per 28 days

Ameristar 10 on 4 off during the slow season, and 11 on 3 off during the busy season.

 

[flyinloki]

Oh yah, busy season....a whole 2 months other months we get 9 off. 1 whole day difference......

Every company is different just thank god your not at that different company called Grande Aire....errr or whatever they are callin' it these days...TriCoastal perhaps...? ah who can keep track.

 

[no1uknow]

I just went to each website and OUCH! look at those hiring minimums. Being a recent Embry-Riddle grad perhaps they would take that into accout, plus I have a 737 type rating. I certinally dont want to sit copilot for more than a month or two, I need jet PIC. Do you all know any place that I can obtain Jet PIC time quicker, like I said I want to move on to the airlines ASAP

 

[Freight Dawg]

no1uknow, you have to crawl before you run, the only jobs are regional and some limited majors. I would take freight any day of the week over regional job. The only thing I know about USA and Ameristar is that the owners don't seem to like one another, pilots are pilots, we all need a job. Later

 

[falcon20driver]

I just went to each website and OUCH! look at those hiring minimums. Being a recent Embry-Riddle grad perhaps they would take that into accout, plus I have a 737 type rating. I certinally dont want to sit copilot for more than a month or two, I need jet PIC. Do you all know any place that I can obtain Jet PIC time quicker, like I said I want to move on to the airlines ASAP

Thanks for the laugh, must be flame, or this guy is a fruitcake. There are thousands of pilots out there with thousands of hours of jet PIC time that are looking for the same job you've chosen, maybe the riddle degree will help though.

 

[flyinloki]

Yah, I about spit out the juice I was drinking I laughed so hard. Just cause hes a riddle grad hes soooo special. LOL! Thanks for the laugh buddy, but no where in the last 40 years have you been able to move from the right seat to the left seat in a month. Just cause you have a 737 type doesn't mean you have the line experience to sit Captain in the time period you want, try back in 4 to 8 years....funny stuff.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

I just went to each website and OUCH! look at those hiring minimums. Being a recent Embry-Riddle grad perhaps they would take that into accout, plus I have a 737 type rating. I certinally dont want to sit copilot for more than a month or two, I need jet PIC. Do you all know any place that I can obtain Jet PIC time quicker, like I said I want to move on to the airlines ASAP

Ah, don't even bother with AJI or JUS. If you got a 737 type and are an ERAU grad, you got it made. You got the world by the short hairs. Just go right to the airlines. Here is some contact info for you, but please don't share it. Call Mr. Herb Kelleher at 800-IFL-YSWA. Ask to be connected direct to Mr. Kelleher. Just say, "Hey Herb, I just graduated at ERAU, you know the greatest aviation school out there, and I have my type rating.....so when do I start?" He appreciates the direct approach. Good luck.

 

[hawkerflyer]

If it is not the truth, it will corrected in ample time. Besides why would we buy 47's we have them under contract through our biding system amd if Ameristar gets some we will have some more 47's bidding on our system. It is a win-win for everyone. This is the kinda thing that makes you feel good about the industry and the brotherhood.

My 747 crack was meant to be sarcastic...

 

[pilotyip]

so was mine

 

[w17cfii]

no1uknow, as a ERAU grad, I'm embarrassed for you. Riddle is a fine school, but I don't know where you feel like you're going to just slide into the left seat because of your expensive education in a warm location. I flight instructed two years, flew checks another two years, car parts, and now fly for a regional. Go out and get some experience and lose the arrogance. When you get 6 or 7 thousand hours, then you can start thinking of competing with the rest of us for one of the good airline jobs.

 

[CUBMAN]

take USAJ

Hey everybody...step aside...here comes the Embry Riddle grad. Just kidding, had to razz you a little about that.

 

[VSI9k+]

I just went to each website and OUCH! look at those hiring minimums. Being a recent Embry-Riddle grad perhaps they would take that into accout, plus I have a 737 type rating. I certinally dont want to sit copilot for more than a month or two, I need jet PIC. Do you all know any place that I can obtain Jet PIC time quicker, like I said I want to move on to the airlines ASAP

Get a clue man!!!

 

[Windsor]

I just went to each website and OUCH! look at those hiring minimums. Being a recent Embry-Riddle grad perhaps they would take that into accout, plus I have a 737 type rating. I certinally dont want to sit copilot for more than a month or two, I need jet PIC. Do you all know any place that I can obtain Jet PIC time quicker, like I said I want to move on to the airlines ASAP

JACKA$$!!!!! Is this the kind of $hit they are teaching you these days? Your high and mighty because you overspent on your education? I think you'd fit right in over at Grand Aire/Tri-Coastal, give them a call. Its 1-800-SUC-KASS.

 

[imacdog]

You guys are too gullible .

 

[RichardRambone]

Seriously. I can smell the sarcasm even through the text. Riddle's whack.

 

[pilotyip]

Actually I meet this guy or his older brother at the Air Inc show in ATL back in 2000. We were hiring DA-20 and DC-9 F/O's off the street at that time. This ERAU pilot walks up to our booth. He has a total of around 1100 hrs, 500 MEL, 250 in the B-90 King Air. I tell him about our DA-20 program and how he would be getting jet time to build up his resume. He tells he is not interested because at this time in his career he doesn't need to fly small airplanes anymore, he is only interested in the DC-9 F/O position because he is going to DAL where his dad works. (DA-20 Small, compared to a B-90?) We wished him the best.

 

[flyinlow67]

That dude is flamin' (in both contexts). Most ERAU grads I have met are pretty reasonable pilots with no grand expectations about where they are going to end up just because they went to ERAU.
I have heard good things about both companies and just had a friend get hired by Ameristar and he seems to like it so far. Six of one, half dozen of another. At least the freight doesn't complain. (Kinda miss that)

 

[iaflyer]

I seriously doubt it. USA Jet is pretty first class as adhoc carriers go. Yeah, maybe the pay is not the best, but what freight company has great pay? At least USA Jet has a good relationship with the FAA. Besides, would you rather work for Warren Buffet or Tom Wackendorf?

I would agree that USA Jet is a pretty good outfit. I believe their business model is changing these days - less freight, more pax.

However, USA Jet/Active Aero is not associated with Warren Buffett. Active Aero is partially owned by Berkshire Partners, not Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett's company). This link has the partner companies of Berkshire Hathaway: http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/subs/sublinks.html It has Flightsafety and NetJets, but no Active Aero.

 

[no1uknow]

The USA should follow Japans lead with bridge programs that allow the highly trained and educated pilots to move directly to the right seat of an airliner. The airline benifits would be great...less training costs, streamlining the interview requirements and knowing there getting the best pilots available. I dont mean to offend anyone and I know that those little freight airplanes serve an important role and need to be flown but I decided to not to go that route and just want a job commonsurate with my education and qualifications. Thanks for the comments, I was surprised to see Ameristar and USA jets hiring minimums..do they really find people with thoses times or is just what they advertise? Anyway, I hear Notre Dame University has a bridge program so that is probably the route I'll go.

 

[no1uknow]

Oh and about calling Herb at Southwest Airlines...not interested in SWA I want to fly larger modern equipment internationally..but I guess I would fly there a while to build time.

 

[no1uknow]

And yes this is a flame kids..you all spend way to much time on these boards..HA!

 

[pilotyip]

no1uetc. Average hours of the next new hire class at USA Jet is 6534 TT 4623 MEL, 2672 Turbin, and the four new hires have 7 type ratings among them. Because this class has ex one Indy Air Captain, it pushes up the average a bit. But we rarely hire anyone near our minimums. They need this time because they could be biding captain a year after being hired.