etops777

Have you considered Republic Airways Holdings (Chautauqua, Shuttle America, Republic) is hiring big time. If you meet ATP mins you will get the ERJ 170, upgrade time is 2 years and 1 month. ATP mins, you will be placed in a pool for the 145, which is pretty deep right now. 170 pool is shallow in fact nobody is swimming in it!

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Etops

rickair7777

The JFK operation will begin in July and they are currently staffing for it. None of the west coast D-8 drivers are volunteering, so you might get hired as a street captain. However, unless you have previous 121 turboprop experience, I would strongly recommend that you try to go in as an FO, then upgrade when you feel ready.

Mesa has NO lock on turboprops, but obviously they won't let ALL of their D-8 pilots bid the jet in the same month, so there would probably be a 6-12 month wait list. But if you are awarded the jet based on seniority and they hold you back in the dash, you would get jet pay beginning when you got the jet award, IIRC.

sgrd0q

Thanks, rickair! I appreciate your taking the time to answer our questions and thanks for being so helpful. I guess I owe you a lot of beer by now!

rickair7777

Now you've gone out on a limb...I can drink a lot of beer.

Oh yeah, a D-8 captain does have an 18 month seat lock. D-8 FO's can bid D-8 CA or RJ CA whenever they can hold it.