AMF Pay Scale and other questions

[newty]

Can anyone give me an idea of the pay at Ameriflight? I was just offered a job flying a chieftain for another freight op and I am wondering how they compare. I would also like to know if AMF offers insurance and at what cost. And if anyone knows the approx. time to upgrade to the 99 in slc that would be great as well. Thanks

[wheelsup]

Salary from airlinepilotcentral.info is $1970/month first year. I would also think about AMF's onward and upward positions - if your pay is more to start but the job offers limited movement then who really wins in the long term?

[citabriapilot]

23,664 first year before taxes...

If willing to move around you can be at $40K+ after the first year if you make it to the Metro. That's about what you will top out at, but if you upgrade fast, get your time and move on it may work to your advantage.

[Diamnd15]

Are they still actively hiring for west coast chieftain spots

[newty]

23,664 first year before taxes...

How about insurance? The place that offered me a job has no bennies and that has the wife very worried.

[EatSleepFly]

Originally Posted by newty

23,664 first year before taxes...

How about insurance? The place that offered me a job has no bennies and that has the wife very worried.

I wouldn't go somewhere again with no benefits. Been there done that, that crap is expensive... benefits can be HUGE.

AMF has good benefits... better than a lot of other companies. I think I pay $28/paycheck for health/dental/vision, plus a few bucks for life insurance (I'm single). They also have 401k, I think they match up to 3%. Not great, but 401k anywhere sucks. I believe benes kick in after 90 days of employment. Another benefit would be the jumpseat agreement with SWA.

If you're referring to the company who flies PA31's out of SLC, you'd be nuts to take it without at least applying to AMF. You might be able to get hired off the street into the 99 in SLC, depending on your times. It's been happening fairly regularly.

[Hootie]

Stay away from any place that doesn't offer some benefits(smells of cheapness). I'm not sure what the cost of a EPO for a family is at AMF. I think it's about $60 per pay period, but I could be talking out my ass. Upgrade to the 99 in SLC should be under 6 months, if not right away if you have 1600tt / 400multi plus. AMF treats you fairly and I would recommend it to anyone.

[jtrain609]

Don't you mean going to SLC for a turbine upgrade is about 6 months? SLC is all turbine still right?

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Don't you mean going to SLC for a turbine upgrade is about 6 months? SLC is all turbine still right?

Yes, SLC/San Juan/ONT/BIL are 100% turbine bases. I was only referencing six months because of AMF's (cough, bull####) policy to sometimes keep a chieftan driver stuck in PDX/OAK/DFW/BUR while people get hired off the street into the 99 just because they don't want to have to train another pilot in the PA31. Just like the poor bastards who were stuck in the lance about a year ago this time. I would've been PISSED if I were those guys!

[newty]

Thanks for all the info. I have a few more questions if you all are willing, what is a typical night like at AMF? are you building alot of hours or just sitting around? This next part may sound crazy but humor me. Would it be feasible to keep my house in Utah and just commute to my base each week then come home for the weekend until I can get based in SLC? What time do you usually get off on Sat morning and what time is show time on Mon Night? I doubt that I will get the 99 right off as I am at 1340 TT and 250 Multi No previous turbine. Thanks again for all the responses. The other company wants me to start ASAP and I want to check all my options.

[jtrain609]

The 99 is the smallest aircraft at SLC.

[WAFlyBoy]

As long as we're on the topic: (I've asked before, but why not again?)

I'm a few weeks away from 1,200 hours. When I get there, I'll also have about 275 ME and 75 BE-90. Pending a fine interview, will that get me directly to a BE-99? (BFI preferred...)

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by WAFlyBoy

As long as we're on the topic: (I've asked before, but why not again?)

I'm a few weeks away from 1,200 hours. When I get there, I'll also have about 275 ME and 75 BE-90. Pending a fine interview, will that get me directly to a BE-99? (BFI preferred...)

99? Maybe. BFI? No. 99 in BIL/SLC for 6 months and then over to BFI, more likely.

[WAFlyBoy]

Originally Posted by Hootie9750

99? Maybe. BFI? No. 99 in BIL/SLC for 6 months and then over to BFI, more likely.

Figured as much for BFI. I could live in SLC for a while, provided it's still legal to purchase booze in Utah.

[EatSleepFly]

For what it's worth, I'd be at or near the very bottom of the BFI seniority list and flying a Chieftain. At SLC I'm in the top half of the list, and will hold a Metro run when I get done with training. I never pictured SLC being my first choice of places to live, but it's a good base with good people (even that guy Citabriapilot ), and I'd rather be flying a Metro than a Chieftain.

So if you're willing to move around the system, you can upgrade quick. I was hired a year ago into the Chieftain in PDX. Flew it for 6-7 months there, then transferred to SLC for the Be-99. Flew that until the end of Sept., then went off to Metro training, which should be done this week. Three airplanes in a year... sick to death of training, but its worth it.

[eglplt]

It sounds like there is quite a bit of movement at AMF right now. Where are the majority of the guys/gals going these days?

[towhook]

Mmmm... AMF. I am 1.5 months away from 1200 and they are my first choice.

Other then just being lucky what is the quickest way to a metro in SLC? I hear bur or oak will give the quickest upgrade to the 99. True? How do you get upgraded to the 99 and get to change bases at the same time? What are the multi mins to get a 99 off the street? Somebody give me the scoop, I'm hungry.

[robair73]

Originally Posted by newty

I have a few more questions if you all are willing, what is a typical night like at AMF? are you building alot of hours or just sitting around? This next part may sound crazy but humor me. Would it be feasible to keep my house in Utah and just commute to my base each week then come home for the weekend until I can get based in SLC? What time do you usually get off on Sat morning and what time is show time on Mon Night? I doubt that I will get the 99 right off as I am at 1340 TT and 250 Multi No previous turbine. Thanks again for all the responses. The other company wants me to start ASAP and I want to check all my options.

I like how nobody wanted to take this one. That's the fun part of flying for Ameriflight . . . the schedule. Just be available to be on duty for 15 hours a day 5-6 days a week and you'll be fine. If you get SLC right away you're in for the time of your life. You report to work at 5 am, stay in a roach motel in the middle of nowhere, then fly back at night to be home by 8 pm to see the family. With winter weather coming up, even later some nights. Just be able to live on a split sleep schedule, and you'll be fine. Most people sleep a couple hours at night in their own bed, wake up at 4 am, go fly for about 1.2, then sleep a couple of hours in Bumble Crack, ID, fly home for 1.1, eat some dinner go to bed for a couple of hours and do it all over again. Be able to function as a zombie and you'll be fine. Oh yeah, you get weekends off too. Off of work at 8pm Friday - Report to work 5am Monday . . . It makes for a short weekend. You can even work Saturday too if you want to make some extra $$.

Seriously, the schedule is ridiculously horrible. I don't know how I did it, and I don't know how the guys over there still do it. It was truly my only gripe with the job though. Descent company, fun flying(although not much of a time builder), good management at the SLC base, and a good group of guys over there. If it wasn't for the schedule, I'd still probably be there.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by towhook

Mmmm... AMF. I am 1.5 months away from 1200 and they are my first choice.

Other then just being lucky what is the quickest way to a metro in SLC? I hear bur or oak will give the quickest upgrade to the 99. True? How do you get upgraded to the 99 and get to change bases at the same time? What are the multi mins to get a 99 off the street? Somebody give me the scoop, I'm hungry.

The aprox. multi requirements for the 99 have been posted alot of times. In fact it's been hinted at twice in this very thread. Not too be an ass but you can't be that "hungry" for info. Quickest upgrade is to work at AMF and too upgrade at your soonest given opportunity.

[towhook]

Originally Posted by Hootie9750

The aprox. multi requirements for the 99 have been posted alot of times. In fact it's been hinted at twice in this very thread. Not too be an ass but you can't be that "hungry" for info. Quickest upgrade is to work at AMF and too upgrade at your soonest given opportunity.

So is it maybe 275, or a solid 400+? How about something non approx? Does that exist or is it all subjective? What is the lowest you have heard of? Do you fly for AMF?

[towhook]

Originally Posted by robair73

I like how nobody wanted to take this one. That's the fun part of flying for Ameriflight . . . the schedule. Just be available to be on duty for 15 hours a day 5-6 days a week and you'll be fine. If you get SLC right away you're in for the time of your life. You report to work at 5 am, stay in a roach motel in the middle of nowhere, then fly back at night to be home by 8 pm to see the family. With winter weather coming up, even later some nights. Just be able to live on a split sleep schedule, and you'll be fine. Most people sleep a couple hours at night in their own bed, wake up at 4 am, go fly for about 1.2, then sleep a couple of hours in Bumble Crack, ID, fly home for 1.1, eat some dinner go to bed for a couple of hours and do it all over again. Be able to function as a zombie and you'll be fine. Oh yeah, you get weekends off too. Off of work at 8pm Friday - Report to work 5am Monday . . . It makes for a short weekend. You can even work Saturday too if you want to make some extra $$.

Seriously, the schedule is ridiculously horrible. I don't know how I did it, and I don't know how the guys over there still do it. It was truly my only gripe with the job though. Descent company, fun flying(although not much of a time builder), good management at the SLC base, and a good group of guys over there. If it wasn't for the schedule, I'd still probably be there.

Do some bases have better schedules? Do some aircraft have better schedules? What did you do with your time other then sleep?

[EatSleepFly]

Originally Posted by towhook

Do some bases have better schedules?

Yes.

Do some aircraft have better schedules?

Depends on the customer. Schedules are customer-driven. In SLC, almost everyone is on the same basic schedule.

What did you do with your time other then sleep?

You can do whatever you want with your layover time. Some guys use it wisely, some don't.

The only thing that Rob said that I disagree with is that we stay in roach motels. Most of them are pretty good, with a few exceptions. The bad one or two will hopefully get changed eventually, but it's not as simple as just picking a new hotel- especially in the podunk towns like Vernal that don't have a wide selection.

Everything else he said is basically right on, so if you don't like the sound of it, don't apply. You have to want to work here, or you'll be miserable and you won't get anything out of it.

Also, to answer your question about times for the 99 (for what seems like the 1000th time), it depends. Technically the mins are 1800 total, 350 multi, 100 turbine, so there's some hard numbers for you. It can be had with less than that if someone walks your stuff in. I got a guy an interview for the Be-99 who had 1300TT and 250 multi/100 turbine.

[newty]

Originally Posted by robair73

I like how nobody wanted to take this one. That's the fun part of flying for Ameriflight . . . the schedule. Just be available to be on duty for 15 hours a day 5-6 days a week and you'll be fine. If you get SLC right away you're in for the time of your life. You report to work at 5 am, stay in a roach motel in the middle of nowhere, then fly back at night to be home by 8 pm to see the family. With winter weather coming up, even later some nights. Just be able to live on a split sleep schedule, and you'll be fine. Most people sleep a couple hours at night in their own bed, wake up at 4 am, go fly for about 1.2, then sleep a couple of hours in Bumble Crack, ID, fly home for 1.1, eat some dinner go to bed for a couple of hours and do it all over again. Be able to function as a zombie and you'll be fine. Oh yeah, you get weekends off too. Off of work at 8pm Friday - Report to work 5am Monday . . . It makes for a short weekend. You can even work Saturday too if you want to make some extra $$.

Seriously, the schedule is ridiculously horrible. I don't know how I did it, and I don't know how the guys over there still do it. It was truly my only gripe with the job though. Descent company, fun flying(although not much of a time builder), good management at the SLC base, and a good group of guys over there. If it wasn't for the schedule, I'd still probably be there.

Rob thanks for the info. Sounds just about like the schedule at the place that offered me a job in SLC. Now I have to weigh no insurance against having to live in Cal. Thanks again for your help.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by EatSleepFly

The only thing that Rob said that I disagree with is that we stay in roach motels. Most of them are pretty good, with a few exceptions. The bad one or two will hopefully get changed eventually, but it's not as simple as just picking a new hotel- especially in the podunk towns like Vernal that don't have a wide selection.

I agree. I've stayed at alot of different layovers (around 15-20 i'd guess). And there is only one or two that I hated. One was a really nice clean hotel with internet, and everything, but had no crew car, was a 20 minute shuttle each way, and no food without walking 40 minutes through whatever the weather was. Thats why I don't think Vernon is that bad. Courtesy car, food everywhere, wallyworld, old dingy but QUIET room with a fridge...Vernon is more of a inside joke if anything. I've stayed at the Embassy suites before as well as Comfort suites.

Some bases take really good care of you and have pretty decent schedules. Unfortunately you will never see those bases. My base it currently takes about a year to be the most junior 99 guy and about three years to have a metro run. I've been here a year and that is the only reason I am leaving. I don't want to move for an upgrade.

[robair73]

ESF is right, they are not all roach motels. In fact some are quite nice. Some on the other hand are pretty bad. If both of your options have the same type of schedule, then you're probably better off with AMF. You'll have the opportunity for Turbine PIC which is nice. It will probably only take a few months, if that, to get back to SLC with your times.