Would you fly it

[fix it]

Hello all,
I am in the process of buying cargo turbo prop aircraft for an operator, but there appears to be a lack of pilots wanting to fly the aircraft(Metro liner based in Italy+Greece) is this because its not a shiny new jet or are pilots really that fussy on which aircraft they are willing to fly.

Rgds
F.I

[Nigul]

Dear friend i know some people like by one, but for airtaxi......
For flight it you find a lot.

[Mercenary Pilot]

there appears to be a lack of pilots wanting to fly the aircraft

Well if you are prepared to train them and pay them a fair wage, then i'm sure you will have no trouble finding pilots. :ok:

[An2]

MP,

:ok: My thoughts exactly!!;)

I'd fly anything that is in good working order and well maintained, at least if I can expect to be paid doing so.
Heck, I'd even fly a Metroliner!!:}:}

[ReallyAnnoyed]

MP summed it up nicely, but if you can not find anyone to do it for free, well, then good :} By the way, I'll do it for 20,000 euros/month, but that's just because I'm a lazy git and can't be bothered to actually fly the bloody thing instead of monitoring it :E

[MIKECR]

Give it another couple of months, of high oil price and ecenomic recession, there will be pilots breaking the door down for the job! Nothing wrong with flying the 'dart' either, its a perfectly capable turboprop. If the t's and c's are acceptable, soundls like a perfectly good job to me.

[crap pilot]

hhhmmmm, interesting aircraft and a great location, unless you are paying peanuts or asking pilots to pay for their own rating, which not many would as it is not a common aircraft, then you should be getting lots of interest.

[Canada Goose]

In N.America I believe the Metroliner had the nickname of the 'Texas lawn dart' ..........mmmmmmmm !

[MIKECR]

We had one crash in Aberdeen a couple of years ago.

The AAIB report is here - www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/dft_avsafety_pdf_029044.pdf

I remember it well. I was looking forward to a nice early shift at the airport and then all hell broke loose!

[ramon76]

I would fly it. If the aircraft is well mantained and the money is fair.

[pablo2973]

Hi everyone within the industry knows is a very critical airplane to fly in case of engine failure,would you give the correct training for the crew? ,not many people would like to pay their own training if they are not assured a number of hours a month and fair salary .
have you taken into consideration a jetstream 31 they are very cheap ones out there in USA around US$ 400.000 ,and same engines I believe ....
Good luck

[doctordoom]

I would fly it for food. After some of the C150s I flew in the U.S I would fly anything. If your looking for a pilot that is not fussy I am your man :ok:

[Orvil]

FI,

Please PM me. I'm ya man!!!

Orvil

[inner]

I think for fresh flesh it is a great opportunity as long they don't have to pay for the typerating, get paid and they can write it in their logbook as multicrew time.

[jyotipgayan]

fully agree with inner....pay for type rating and i will fly for boarding and lodging

[Luke SkyToddler]

is this because its not a shiny new jet or are pilots really that fussy on which aircraft they are willing to fly.

Rather disingenuous of you there my friend, if you have been around aviation long enough to be buying freighters then you know fine well the answer is neither of the above.

The metro's a great little aircraft, and there are plenty of Italian and Greek pilots working all around the world that would love nothing better than to go home and work in their own country if the money was right and they could get a chance, but sadly their respective national flag carriers (Olympic and Alitalia) are the two worst economic basket case airlines in Europe if not the entire world.

Sooooo, instead of all this ridiculous B.S wondering whether pilots are fussy, why don't you post exactly the terms and conditions you are offering the drivers. The market for experienced turboprop pilots is still very tight right now, anyone who isn't happy with their situation in Europe these last couple of years has got on the phone to Kingfisher and gone to make the big bucks flying ATRs in India. Maybe things will change after another year of these crazy oil prices but that's the way it is right now.

Also in the current economic climate everyone is looking over their shoulder, and no experienced pilot currently in employment will leave a secure job without a very compelling reason, even if they are unhappy where they are. If for some reason I was hit on the head with a blunt object, and awoke with a strange desire to leave my current job and go join a new startup airline that was proposing to operate battered 30-year-old light turboprops, in cargo operations, when fuel is running at $150 a barrel - I would want to see a very strong business case, several million worth of financial backing, and some highly experienced, well connected management with a track record of running successful airlines in the face of adversity.

Even if you meet all those requirements, if you aren't offering an absolute minimum of 55-60,000 euro for captain and 35,000 for FO, with decent per diems and no stupid buy-a-type-rating games, then don't be surprised if you can't get CVs from anyone except 200 hour wonder kids.

[Luke SkyToddler]

And while I'm at it, you might want to mention the routes this proposed Metroliner will be flying? - I am reminded of some charming people I encountered a couple of years back who were trying to recruit for a suspiciously well paying turboprop command position based in Dusseldorf. After a few very slippery discussions and phone calls and emails they finally admitted that the main contract would be flying night freight into Basra. :eek: