Metroliner

[flyyyc1]

Any advice for a low Multi guy who has been given the opportunity to fly FO on the Metroliner?

[Diadem]

Don't.

[skybluetrek]

Don't.

Is it a bad idea to start as an F/O in a Metroliner ?

[indieadventurer]

I’d say it depends on which company you’re flying said Metro for!

There are decent and some not so decent operators of the Metro out there.

[skybluetrek]

I’d say it depends on which company you’re flying said Metro for!

There are decent and some not so decent operators of the Metro out there.

Thanks.

I was wondering about passing the PPC first. First turbine and two crew.

Any inputs are appreciated.

[altiplano]

I rode that Baltimore Bitch (skinny wings, no visible means of support) for years...

San-Antonio Sewer Pipes are more to handle than a Beech and loud as shit. If ever an Aeroplane was designed by clowns, it's the
Texas Lawn Dart...

BUT...

Many have done it before - low time no time wannabe to FO on the Death Pencil - so it's certainly doable. There have been a lot of airline careers in Canada built driving The Screamin' Weenie.

If a job on That noisy ****ing thing suits your needs and is a step up for you there isn't anything wrong with the Widow Maker, it is what it is... maybe a half shit job and good experience riding the Sweatro through a summer or 2...

Good luck.

[nwopilot]

I highly recommend flying the metro. It will make you a great pilot.

Hand flying a fast aircraft, with no Autopilot, will be one of the most challenging, and funnest experiences of your entire life.

I used to fly the Metro, and I miss it almost everyday. The most fun I ever had in an airplane, was while I flew the metro.

But as a previous poster said, it fully depends on who you working for. I would rate metro operators on this scale:

Best
- Sunwest
- Bearskin
(Owned by Perimeter, operated separately, not sure how
much longer)
- Perimeter
- PAL

Not Awful, But not Great - Carson Air

Avoid at all costs - Skycare




-

[altiplano]

LOL... only time PAL has ever been categorized "best"... Perimeter too for that matter.

[daedalusx]

I’d take it for sure. Challenging plane yes but it’ll build your skills. I’ve never met a bad metro pilot. Just make sure you double up on the ear pro.

[skybluetrek]

Thank you guys for all the comments about the Sweatro (loved all the names for this girl Altiplano)

[PositiveRate27]

Thank you guys for all the comments about the Sweatro (loved all the names for this girl Altiplano)

Don’t forget my personal favourite, the Turbo Dildo.

It’s a challenging machine but you won’t regret flying it. Hand bombing fast turbo props will be the most enjoyable flying experience of your career. Everything after that is about lifestyle. Make smart choices. If you feel uncomfortable, speak up. You’ll find more often than not people will listen to you when you raise concerns.

Embrace the chaos of your early career and you’ll have fond memories to look back upon.

PR

[skybluetrek]

Thank you guys for all the comments about the Sweatro (loved all the names for this girl Altiplano)

Don’t forget my personal favourite, the Turbo Dildo.

It’s a challenging machine but you won’t regret flying it. Hand bombing fast turbo props will be the most enjoyable flying experience of your career. Everything after that is about lifestyle. Make smart choices. If you feel uncomfortable, speak up. You’ll find more often than not people will listen to you when you raise concerns.

Embrace the chaos of your early career and you’ll have fond memories to look back upon.

PR

Lol! That's a great one too.

Thanks for your 2 cents, really good/useful reply.

[digits_]

The real question is: do you have a choice?

[skybluetrek]

The real question is: do you have a choice?

PC12

[goingnowherefast]

Depends on how many other job offers you have. Metro would certantly not look as good as some other types.

Job priority should go something like this:
Safety
Schedule
Pay
City (base)
Aircraft type
Career progression

So does the company have a good safe reputation? Is the schedule compatable with your lifestyle? They better pay well. Can you see yourself enjoying life there (is it commutable, see schedule?). Now we've made our way to aircraft type, although a 747 is safer than a 150, so the line can blurr a bit. Career progression will happen whether you plan it or not, so don't worry much about that, just gotta get that ATPL.

[altiplano]

I agree, safety #1...

The rest? I kinda disagree... but to each their own.

Assuming everything equal, I'd take the Metro over the PC12, especially so if it's a Metro 3 or Metro 23.

Good luck, first turbine is pretty exciting!

[digits_]

The real question is: do you have a choice?

PC12

Metro all the way then! Twin turbine is better for most career paths.

[skybluetrek]

Job priority should go something like this:
Safety
Schedule
Pay
City (base)
Aircraft type
Career progression

So does the company have a good safe reputation? Is the schedule compatable with your lifestyle? They better pay well. Can you see yourself enjoying life there (is it commutable, see schedule?). Now we've made our way to aircraft type, although a 747 is safer than a 150, so the line can blurr a bit. Career progression will happen whether you plan it or not, so don't worry much about that, just gotta get that ATPL.

Thanks. Helpful to think things through. I also agree on safety being N°1.

Assuming everything equal, I'd take the Metro over the PC12, especially so if it's a Metro 3 or Metro 23.

Good luck, first turbine is pretty exciting!

Not necessarily equal, although I'm still keen on the Metro 3. Exciting times ahead for sure.

Metro all the way then! Twin turbine is better for most career paths

That's my view as well. I just didn't want to bite more than I can chew.

[C-GGGQ]

It’ll teach you how to trim thats for sure. Tends to be a bit pitchy from what i know. Its gonna be fast at first. Drinking from the firehose as they say. You will fall behind from time to time. A good training program/ good captains can help you through it. Wouldn't worry too much about it.

[freakonature]

How did it get the name SAN Antonio flaming death tube?

[skybluetrek]

It’ll teach you how to trim thats for sure. Tends to be a bit pitchy from what i know. Its gonna be fast at first. Drinking from the firehose as they say. You will fall behind from time to time. A good training program/ good captains can help you through it. Wouldn't worry too much about it.

Good stuff. Thx C-GGGQ

[shimmydampner]

The real question is: do you have a choice?

PC12

I'll be the contrarian here and say Pc12. I don't think anyone really cares very much how much right seat multi turbine vs right seat single turbine time you have. However, they might be interested to see that you have some experience dealing with automation at least at the level that the PC12 has. When I train low time pilots it seems to be that dealing with the automation effectively and efficiently is the single biggest issue they have as it affects everything else they're trying to learn.
I'm sure the Metro is "harder" to fly than the 12, but I doubt very much it will be the limiting factor in your learning/progress. And let's be honest, if you were really interested in flying the trickiest thing possible to improve your skills, there are far trickier machines to fly and far more difficult types of flying than either of these options.
Also, it's been at least a month since the last single vs multi debate so in really hoping we can hear the same arguments again ad nauseum.

[altiplano]

I don't think it has to do with being the trickiest place to fly.

Multi-turbine
MTOW >12566

Those are points on your resume when it comes to moving ahead to 99% of opportunities.

Nobody cares that you can operate a basic autopilot on a small single turbine.

[digits_]

The real question is: do you have a choice?

PC12

I'll be the contrarian here and say Pc12. I don't think anyone really cares very much how much right seat multi turbine vs right seat single turbine time you have. However, they might be interested to see that you have some experience dealing with automation at least at the level that the PC12 has. When I train low time pilots it seems to be that dealing with the automation effectively and efficiently is the single biggest issue they have as it affects everything else they're trying to learn.
I'm sure the Metro is "harder" to fly than the 12, but I doubt very much it will be the limiting factor in your learning/progress. And let's be honest, if you were really interested in flying the trickiest thing possible to improve your skills, there are far trickier machines to fly and far more difficult types of flying than either of these options.
Also, it's been at least a month since the last single vs multi debate so in really hoping we can hear the same arguments again ad nauseum.

Are you honestly claiming that low time pilots need *more* automation experience? Their manual flying skills have barely been developed yet manually flying a metro doesn’t benefit them as much as operating an autopilot?

i admit I am surprised...

[altiplano]

Also to add, it doesn't matter what we debate, the fact is that those are the things the airlines are looking for... and jet or 705 experience.

Right or wrong, PC12 time ranks slightly higher than Cessna 172 time, maybe in par with the C208 guy, and certainly lower than a Turbo-Beaver on floats... At least that guy has some good stories...