Originally Posted by
cl601pilot
The big question that have is from what I have been hearing is that new hires with high time are bypassing FO's with seniority because they dont have the time to satisfy the insurance companies. What is this doing to the moral at the affected companies? How is it to have to fly with a ****ed off FO if you draw one for the trip?
All my PIC Turbine time is under Pt 91, and I want to fly for Airtran. My 1500 in the 73 or my 600 PIC in the 73 doesnt mean a thing to Airtran unless it was done under Pt 121. So it looks like I am going to have to go the Regionals to get the PIC time. Its sad that this 121 PIC requirement is in the way for so many of the corporate guys trying to make the transition. I guess the 2000 hours of oceanic flying dont count either.
Regarding the upgrade – many don't upgrade due to QOL reasons, lack of skill, lack of confidence, lack of minimum hours (as you pointed out). This is nothing new. Happens all the time. In fact the most junior captain in any airline is necessarily a lot more junior than the most senior FO. That's the way it is. People accept that.
It's different if the management wants to bypass upgrades for any specific reason. For instance Republic was short of EMB170 pilots – both CAs and FOs. So at one point they wanted to bypass EMB170 FO's (who were is short supply themselves) and instead upgrade out-of-seniority-order FOs from the smaller EMBs which is a clear violation of the contract. That didn't fly from what I hear.
The guys that can't upgrade due to hours are NOT upset, e.g. Pinnacle. This is because the rules are the same and apply to all. You just need your hours to upgrade. Everyone understands that.
Having said all that I think that with your time and experience you will be crazy to go to the regionals. If you still have the corporate job stick with it. Going to a regional will be a BIG step down. The industry is turning around - before you know it you will be able to move up. You need to network and you need to not put all your eggs in one basket. Airtran may not work out even if you got a million hours; other bigger and better things may just work out instead.
Good luck!