Originally Posted by
Armarsh24
Never mind, I pretty much got my answer when I read the rest of the thread posts
ops: seems like it's not the trend based on stats to go straight from AMF -> Major. Im curious how many folks got hired on to Majors doing AMF for TPIC, then got CRM/glass/121 experience as an FO at a Regional and then got hired on to a Major?
Finally, is there any website or thread on here that tracks current or average upgrade times at the various regionals? I've heard anywhere from 3 years to 10+ (with no sight of an upgrade) as an FO on here and other forums. Thanks!
There is never a 100% solution to getting hired by a Major. There is plenty of history available to consider.
The qualifications of those hired by majors are very fluid depending on how much the majors are hiring at the time. Today will likely be different than the time when retirements begin to occur again UNLESS the industry enters another recession. Which is very possible.
The airline business has changed with the number of RJ's that are flying compared to 10- 15 years ago. Fundamentally meeting one airlines qualifications to interview has absolutely nothing to do with their qualifications compared to others available. Single pilot turbo prop time is good experience. Part 121 PIC scheduled airline experience is much better. The thought of a quick way into your career job is as simple as flying for AMF is not realistic. Someone always knows someone that may have done it that way but it wouldn't be a topic of conversation if it was not unusual. Putting your time in with a regional will be your best hope of getting the job you hope for. No one can argue that.
When it comes to hiring airline pilots, the competition for the jobs is a combination of qualifications and experience. For 140 pilot job openings recently SWA received over 7000 qualified applicants. How many of those do you think have higher experience levels than flying single pilot 135 turbines for AMF?
As I said in an earlier post, unless you have a strong in at the airline of your choice, the experience level of an AMF pilot does not compare that to an RJ Captain. But AMF experience can possibly get you a good Regional job for certain.
Good luck to everyone.