Turbine

I'm looking for some career advice from the airline guys. I am currently a King Air captain at a 135 operation, that operates more like a large corporate flight department. I have few complaints about my job. $55K salary, 3 weeks on 1 week off, fly 3-4 days a week, 4-500 hrs. per year, free medical, brand new airplanes, upgrade to Jet likely within 1 year (that would only build about 200 hrs / year)

All things considered, I know I will not be able to go from here, straight to a major. (Not enough flight time, among other factors.) I am considering going to a regional to build the valuable 121 experience, and larger jet aircraft flight time. I realize I may be able to get on with a place like Allegiant, JetBlue, or Frontier, but even those I feel would require more flight time. I'm currently sitting at about 2,500TT 1200 multi, 900 Turbine, 400 Turbine PIC (all turboprop under 12,500). This was my first flying job and I don't have experience with anything else.

My question to you, guys and gals, is what regionals do you feel are best for my situation, or am I crazy for even considering?

My research has me considering:
Compass- good equipment, west coast flying, upgrade time.
Mesa - upgrade time, favorable bases
Envoy - flow to AA(someday), good training, contract/pay, best flight bens.

Most important things for me are pay, upgrade potential, base, good group of pilots to work with, AC (crj700 or e170 bc of potential international opportunities later on).

I'm also open to any other suggestions. I apologize for the long post. Thank you for your opinions.

Vidra

Sounds like the position I'm in also. My opinion is you need to stay put until you get 1000 Twin Turbine PIC. Fact is that Southwest, Fedex, UPS, and Virgin all still require 1000 Turbine PIC as a minimum requirement to even apply. Given that you're logging 400-500 twin turbine PIC right now it would only take a little over a year for you to check something off the list that could be a huge hurtle if quick upgrades don't work as planned at the regionals. If you can get a PIC jet type rating in the mean time and fly the king air too to keep your flight time up all the better.... but I wouldn't go for it unless it's a jet PIC position because that'll just slow your progression to getting the turbine PIC. Endeavor is already proposing a $20k/year bonus for 4 years for new hires. Imagine where things may be in another year? Not to mention, the entire time you're sitting right seat at the regionals you can have your application in with EVERY desirable company. Good luck with the decision.

JohnnyDingus

I left 135 for the regionals. Best decision I made, in terms of career profession in hopes of a major one day. First year pay isn't too bad since I credit more than guarantee. Upgrade will be quick and I live on base. My last 135 job worked me to death and I was gone pretty much two weeks at a time.

Flying Enoch

I don't have any experience in the 135 world. I went straight from instructing and Part 91 work, to the 121 world. But if you do make the jump to 121, you may want to consider putting Trans States on your choice of regionals to consider. DEN base is opening soon, great pilot group and relatively quick upgrade times. Good luck

DroopsN10

I left 135 for 121 about a year ago. It's a good call, hell the best call I've ever made! I'd also consider Skywest if you're wanting West coast flying and some decent bases. Yeah upgrade time at skw is longer than compass but it's getting shorter.

Luv2Rotate

If your end goal is to be at a Major or even an LCC, you'll find it'll be near impossible to get on with all "light twin" time. Yes, King Airs are considered light twins and the turbine time in an aircraft less than 12,500 won't do you much good.
Do people get on at LCC's with King Air time? Yes, but many have 121 time under their belt or have very very high connections. There's a ton of 121 FO's being hired by majors and LCC's right now!
I would caution you chasing the 121 quick upgrade. If you're hell bent on upgrading ASAP, you should look at TSA. forget Mesa-poor contract, Forget PSA-sold out EVERYONE, I think the ship has sailed for Compass quick upgrades. If you want stability and upgrade times between 3-6yrs look at Horizon, SkyWest, Compass... Forget Endeavor that place is a wolf in sheets clothing hence their FO's bailing left and right. Good luck and do yourself a favor by throughly reviewing each airline before you apply.

Also, if you do choose a regional, remember you need 1000hrs of 121 time before you're eligible for an upgrade. That's roughly 2-3yrs at the regional you choose. In that time A LOT can and will change within the industry.

NoSidNoStar

If you want to get to a major, leave and go 121 ASAP. At least for the network that you will build.
Apply to each regional, the first one that gives you a job, go and don't look back. Time is of the essence.

Vidra

Luv2Rotate is spot on with his observations. But the point I want to emphasize is that you WILL be able to apply everywhere in a little over 1 year (except maybe Spirit if they keep their 4000 total time minimum requirement) if you stay put until reaching 1000 turbine PIC. However, your King Air PIC time is NOT counting towards the new 121 captain minimums required since August, 2013. Generally speaking the 1000 hours 135 PIC has to be in a type rated aircraft--such as a jet--where an ATP is required for 135 operations. With this in consideration, no matter what regional you go to you're looking at needing 1000 hours 121 SIC time before upgrading (2-3 years).... then an additional 600 hours PIC (1-2 years) before you'll have the 1000 hours turbine PIC. So that's anywhere from 3-5 years in total before you can apply to ALL companies IF (and that's a big if) you upgrade immediately upon reaching 1000 hours 121 SIC.

I don't forsee Delta/American/United adding the 1000 hours multi turbine PIC back to minimum requirements for applicants. In fact, I anticipate just the opposite happening..... Southwest/Fedex/UPS/Virgin, etc. will likely drop that requirement in the near future to follow suit with the big 3. But at the end of the day you gotta look at it like having a backup plan. Things change fast in this industry and while I don't think 1000 hours turbine PIC in a King Air is gonna light anyone's hair on fire, it WILL make you insurable to hold a captain's spot on turbine equipment.

No doubt 121 is the way for you to go but the big boy jobs will still be waiting for you when you finally head over to the regional of your choice. And if all the hype about the legacies/majors/lcc's hiring FO's straight from the regionals is true (and becomes even more common), then you will be sitting nice and pretty in that regional right seat (all while having made more $ flying the King Air for an extra year). Either way you're likely to end up at your career destination job at roughly the same time, but one way you'll make a little more money and undertake less risk than the other.

NoSidNoStar

This numbers are way off. Go to the first regionals that hires you, move in base, pick up open time, you will fly 900-1000 hrs a year.
Flying in a King Air PIC will not make you marketable as flying in a CRJ in any seat. Same goes for a light GA jet. The minimum requirements are just for rare particular situations. Something is minimum, something else is your competition. Competitive minimums are still 6000+ just about anywhere.
Finally, by going 121 ASAP you will fly with a bunch of guys going in the same direction, before you, and they will get you an interview faster then you can by yourself. You don't want to be among the last ones hire in the hiring spree, because you will be junior forever.

Luv2Rotate

MNot necessarily true. Training 2-3months more likely 3-4mos due to sim avail. IOE at many carriers are anywhere from 2-4mos after finishing sim due to back log of guys and lack of check airmen.

Also, don't go to the 1st regional that hires you. Better advice would be go to the first regional YOU want to go to. Whether it's Horizon, Skywest or Mesa. In all honesty my assessment of 2-3yrs to hit 1000hrs 121 isn't far off once you consider training back logs ect... Heck, in another yr the regional landscape can change dramatically. Ask any GoJet FOs who made the jump for a "fast upgrade" and still stuck in the right seat with a horrid contract. Some of these regionals promise a fast upgrades will eventually have trouble staffing leaving them unable to staff flying example Republic 175s for American, and will eventually lose that contract resulting in your "fast upgrade" disappearing. Just my .02