[QUOTE]
Originally Posted by
On Autopilot
Don't want to pay a $24,000.00 hit pro-rated? Stay the two years. Your friend makes more at a regional than our first year Captains? Well tell him to stay where he's at. He'll upgrade, eventually in like what 3-5 years? then another couple of years to get the majors tpic time. In the mean time, we (bottom feeders - yea right) upon reaching 1500 hrs with this company total time will have upgraded, made captain, flew our 1000 hours and moved on to other things. Really perhaps if you and your friend took time to find out things for yourself and realize we are not the old gulfstream then maybe you could come to a fair and objective conclusion rather than listening to gossip.
We have a guy who did come over from the other regional with a five year upgrade. He plans on making Captain as soon as he gets his 100 hours. Our time varies, but when we get 1500 total time we are all going to bid Captain. Best of luck at the regional your at upgrading that fast.
At 1,500hrs NO ONE should be in command of an airliner, even a 19 seat one. I'm sorry, but that time is not hard to get and the ink is still barely dry on your Commercial, let alone your ATP. I speak from experience, I've flown the Jetstream 31/32 and I've flown the A320, I'm currently flying the EMB-145. Each aircraft presents a totally different challenge, but I would argue that the J31/32 flying I did was the most challenging by a long way. You are constantly in the weather, there is no autopilot and the weather radar doesn't paint a helpful picture of the ACTUAL weather. You may think it's just like flying a big Duchess, but the truth is that you have 20 other lives in your hands. That is not an environment in which to learn, it is an environment that requires a truly experienced aviator who has scared themselves half to death countless times without anyone paying to be in the back...and students don't count as paying passengers.
I don't personally have a problem with Gulfstream, they seem to be turning themselves around. However, the sense of entitlement you present is truly astounding. Just because you'll have 1,500hrs it doesn't mean you are good enough, or experienced enough for the left seat.
The flying will be fun, I have no doubt, and I'm sure you'll learn a lot from it. But please remember that you are not there for kicks, and that a command should not be taken just because it is offered. You need to be ready to sign for that aircraft and all of the passengers onboard. Not just when the weather is beautiful and you're island hopping, but also when it's blowing a gale, weather is down to minimums and it's gusting 45kts across the runway.
From your post I take it you are new to airline flying. The 1,500hr upgrade, followed by 1,000hrs TPIC and off to a major is a wonderful dream, but I'm afraid that is all it is, a dream. There are THOUSANDS of pilots, some with nearly 10,000hrs TPIC ahead of you waiting for that hallowed RHS at a major. I thought briefly about jumping to Gulfstream when I read about their offer at first. My company currently has a four year upgrade. However, in reality I don't think TPIC on a B1900 is going to get me much further than SIC on the EMB-145, J31 or A320 any time soon. Look at who is hiring today; JetBlue etc no longer have a TPIC requirement, they do however, want EFIS and FMS experience. I'll stay where I am thanks.
Enjoy the flying, good luck ,
Pretty much what this guy said.....
Good luck to ya there , some good friends of mine there. And some D bags like everywhere else ....