Best Career Path?
10-01-2015, 01:45 PM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Best Career Path?
First let me say that if anyone has seen a similar thread to this and would like to post the link as a response I'd appreciate it. Did some digging but have not turned much up.
I'm a C-17 Reserve baby with about 1,000TT 680 on the airplane. I'm trying to earn an upgrade to AC (hopefully this year)and wanted a sanity check on my situation.
I'm a commuter, I live 7 hours away from my squadron. Although I'm very active and take MPA orders all the time I could be more of participant if I lived closer. Just like everyone I want to focus on my flying and upgrade so that I can some day go to mainline.
Because being gone for 30 day flying stints is so difficult on my family we have decided to move near the base. My squadron sees a lot of action and I think I'm pretty well respected there. I feel like this is the best move for us both career and family wise.
Question is this, I'm not making a mistake by trying to bypass the regionals am I? I feel like focusing on AC and flying my butt off when I become one might be the quicker path to mainline? I'd appreciate any constructive comments.
I'm a C-17 Reserve baby with about 1,000TT 680 on the airplane. I'm trying to earn an upgrade to AC (hopefully this year)and wanted a sanity check on my situation.
I'm a commuter, I live 7 hours away from my squadron. Although I'm very active and take MPA orders all the time I could be more of participant if I lived closer. Just like everyone I want to focus on my flying and upgrade so that I can some day go to mainline.
Because being gone for 30 day flying stints is so difficult on my family we have decided to move near the base. My squadron sees a lot of action and I think I'm pretty well respected there. I feel like this is the best move for us both career and family wise.
Question is this, I'm not making a mistake by trying to bypass the regionals am I? I feel like focusing on AC and flying my butt off when I become one might be the quicker path to mainline? I'd appreciate any constructive comments.
10-01-2015, 02:33 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Center seat, doing loops to music
Posts: 825
I'm a Reserve baby as well. I opted to trough/bum in my younger years versus seeking civilian employment. 9 years later it has better placed me for airline employment than if I had sought employment with the regionals near my region. I lived in the reserve unit town and my QOL was choice. Deployments on my own time and preference. It wasn't great money, but it was better than the regionals and a true Burger King schedule lifestyle.
You are imo better served by doing your time building strictly as a reservist. TT is immaterial these days for those who have military TPIC available to them. 121 box is also not a great discriminator these days. All the dudes in my unit getting picked up are non-121. Lean on that reserve gig brother, you won't regret it.
You are imo better served by doing your time building strictly as a reservist. TT is immaterial these days for those who have military TPIC available to them. 121 box is also not a great discriminator these days. All the dudes in my unit getting picked up are non-121. Lean on that reserve gig brother, you won't regret it.
10-01-2015, 03:14 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: A-320
Posts: 1,122
If I were in your shoes I'd work my butt off to get the AC upgrade and get some turbine PIC under your belt. Once you have that box checked and have your apps in at the Majors, then consider going to regional to get some 121 experience and build your total time faster.
10-05-2015, 06:29 AM
#5
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,232
Originally Posted by Gilligan13
Is the pay really better after a year or two at the regionals?
Most of the regionals have raised new-hire pay from 20K to 30K+ plus (hourly rate, bonuses, or some combination). Some regionals pay high-30's second year and then FO pay typically stagnates around 40K. At some airlines, you could get to 50K by aggressive schedule manipulation (may require some seniority in base).
A few regionals get into the mid/hi-40's based on hourly rate alone within a couple years.
As to whether the 121 time will help...don't let it interfere with acquiring military PIC in a tactical aircraft. But it is another box to check so you might consider it if you get 1000+ mil PIC and don't get called.
Regional time doesn't seem to be an instant cure for mil dudes who have weak resumes (or "issues") to begin with but we are seeing a lot of mil "pack" guys getting hired out of regionals during their first year or two. Maybe some of those would have gotten hired anyway, but maybe not.
I imagine the regionals are important for ex-AD guys who don't have a reserve flying gig.
10-05-2015, 07:24 AM
#6
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Originally Posted by rickair7777
The big jump used to be after the first year. But there's a bidding war on for new-hires right now...
Most of the regionals have raised new-hire pay from 20K to 30K+ plus (hourly rate, bonuses, or some combination). Some regionals pay high-30's second year and then FO pay typically stagnates around 40K. At some airlines, you could get to 50K by aggressive schedule manipulation (may require some seniority in base).
A few regionals get into the mid/hi-40's based on hourly rate alone within a couple years.
As to whether the 121 time will help...don't let it interfere with acquiring military PIC in a tactical aircraft. But it is another box to check so you might consider it if you get 1000+ mil PIC and don't get called.
Regional time doesn't seem to be an instant cure for mil dudes who have weak resumes (or "issues") to begin with but we are seeing a lot of mil "pack" guys getting hired out of regionals during their first year or two. Maybe some of those would have gotten hired anyway, but maybe not.
I imagine the regionals are important for ex-AD guys who don't have a reserve flying gig.
Most of the regionals have raised new-hire pay from 20K to 30K+ plus (hourly rate, bonuses, or some combination). Some regionals pay high-30's second year and then FO pay typically stagnates around 40K. At some airlines, you could get to 50K by aggressive schedule manipulation (may require some seniority in base).
A few regionals get into the mid/hi-40's based on hourly rate alone within a couple years.
As to whether the 121 time will help...don't let it interfere with acquiring military PIC in a tactical aircraft. But it is another box to check so you might consider it if you get 1000+ mil PIC and don't get called.
Regional time doesn't seem to be an instant cure for mil dudes who have weak resumes (or "issues") to begin with but we are seeing a lot of mil "pack" guys getting hired out of regionals during their first year or two. Maybe some of those would have gotten hired anyway, but maybe not.
I imagine the regionals are important for ex-AD guys who don't have a reserve flying gig.
Just want to see if it's realistic to expect that I could get picked up my mainline in the next 2-3 years if I took the Reserves route.
10-05-2015, 08:58 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,196
Will joining a regional reduce your C-17 flying or increase the upgrade time? If you fly on your days off and mil drop you could probably get a high percentage of your C-17 + a bunch of 121 FO hrs (TT bump).
If the impact to C-17 upgrade is minimal I'd get a 121 gig now.
And move to the reserve town. Commuting s*cks. Double commuting is ugly.
What's your TT going to be in 2-3 yrs if you stay with the reserves? Write down your resumes if you'd choose either choice. Be realistic. Compare the two resumes year by year. Make assumptions on how many guys you've heard about that get hired with resume A or resume B.
Every guy I've worked with that has gotten MIL IP/121 qual'd has been hired. Four guys got interviews within two months of adding either MIL IP or 121 to their resumes. Three got called within two weeks. The only guy that hasn't gone 121 made the decision after a year(?) to get 121 qual'd. It will be interesting to see if, and when, he gets called.
If you can get C-17 IP before you can get 3000 hrs TT with a regional job (ie within the next two years) I'd say chase the C-17 IP job. If that's not happening in the next two years I'd recommend getting a 121 job. If 121 is the decision sooner is usually better.
If the impact to C-17 upgrade is minimal I'd get a 121 gig now.
And move to the reserve town. Commuting s*cks. Double commuting is ugly.
What's your TT going to be in 2-3 yrs if you stay with the reserves? Write down your resumes if you'd choose either choice. Be realistic. Compare the two resumes year by year. Make assumptions on how many guys you've heard about that get hired with resume A or resume B.
Every guy I've worked with that has gotten MIL IP/121 qual'd has been hired. Four guys got interviews within two months of adding either MIL IP or 121 to their resumes. Three got called within two weeks. The only guy that hasn't gone 121 made the decision after a year(?) to get 121 qual'd. It will be interesting to see if, and when, he gets called.
If you can get C-17 IP before you can get 3000 hrs TT with a regional job (ie within the next two years) I'd say chase the C-17 IP job. If that's not happening in the next two years I'd recommend getting a 121 job. If 121 is the decision sooner is usually better.
10-05-2015, 09:11 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,196
Your previous post showed 370 hrs TT just over two years ago. That's 300 hrs a year. If that's the current flying rate you'll be at 1600 TT in two years and 1900 TT in three years on the C-17.
That's on the low end of the resumes that I've looked at. IMO I'd be trying to get more squares checked off. Type ratings, upgrade, IP, schools, safety/training experience, 121 job, job fairs, etc, etc.
Regional route might get you 500-700 hrs/year plus 200+ (?) C-17? 1000 hrs a year should be reachable. In two years you could be 3000 hrs TT, 1000 hrs+ C-17, and closing in on 500 hrs TPIC. Year three would be C-17 IP upgrade? 500 hrs+ TPIC?
What's your age? I spoke with a 33 yr old guy recently. Less than 5% of the guys hired ahead of him are younger than him. Airline's been hiring for 3(?) years and he'll retire under 100. AA's OTS averaged 37 hrs old. Under 30 is a very small number.
That's on the low end of the resumes that I've looked at. IMO I'd be trying to get more squares checked off. Type ratings, upgrade, IP, schools, safety/training experience, 121 job, job fairs, etc, etc.
Regional route might get you 500-700 hrs/year plus 200+ (?) C-17? 1000 hrs a year should be reachable. In two years you could be 3000 hrs TT, 1000 hrs+ C-17, and closing in on 500 hrs TPIC. Year three would be C-17 IP upgrade? 500 hrs+ TPIC?
What's your age? I spoke with a 33 yr old guy recently. Less than 5% of the guys hired ahead of him are younger than him. Airline's been hiring for 3(?) years and he'll retire under 100. AA's OTS averaged 37 hrs old. Under 30 is a very small number.
10-05-2015, 05:01 PM
#10
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Originally Posted by Sliceback
Your previous post showed 370 hrs TT just over two years ago. That's 300 hrs a year. If that's the current flying rate you'll be at 1600 TT in two years and 1900 TT in three years on the C-17.
That's on the low end of the resumes that I've looked at. IMO I'd be trying to get more squares checked off. Type ratings, upgrade, IP, schools, safety/training experience, 121 job, job fairs, etc, etc.
Regional route might get you 500-700 hrs/year plus 200+ (?) C-17? 1000 hrs a year should be reachable. In two years you could be 3000 hrs TT, 1000 hrs+ C-17, and closing in on 500 hrs TPIC. Year three would be C-17 IP upgrade? 500 hrs+ TPIC?
What's your age? I spoke with a 33 yr old guy recently. Less than 5% of the guys hired ahead of him are younger than him. Airline's been hiring for 3(?) years and he'll retire under 100. AA's OTS averaged 37 hrs old. Under 30 is a very small number.
That's on the low end of the resumes that I've looked at. IMO I'd be trying to get more squares checked off. Type ratings, upgrade, IP, schools, safety/training experience, 121 job, job fairs, etc, etc.
Regional route might get you 500-700 hrs/year plus 200+ (?) C-17? 1000 hrs a year should be reachable. In two years you could be 3000 hrs TT, 1000 hrs+ C-17, and closing in on 500 hrs TPIC. Year three would be C-17 IP upgrade? 500 hrs+ TPIC?
What's your age? I spoke with a 33 yr old guy recently. Less than 5% of the guys hired ahead of him are younger than him. Airline's been hiring for 3(?) years and he'll retire under 100. AA's OTS averaged 37 hrs old. Under 30 is a very small number.
We are seeing increased tempo at work recently and I think after moving to the city where my unit is it will make it so much easier to fly missions and local training flights. Not to mention have a better work/home balance. Striking the correct balance is important to me but I also do not want to stagnate in my flying career.
I guess the real question here is what do the mainline folks like to see, slightly lower TT and a good amount of PIC time or the opposite? Of course a diversified resume is important also. Perhaps in a year or two it would not hurt from me to go 121 once the pay has come up a bit? Either that or after I have obtained AC?
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