Originally Posted by
PeezDog
I wanted to ask you guys about PIC time. Some people at the regionals, including management, are saying that PIC time doesn't matter as much as it used too, and that in a few years it won't hardly matter at all. Seeing the credentials of some of you on another thread, I'm calling bs on that. I have any opportunity to go get some PIC time at another regional immediately, well the job starts in Jan., if I get it. Should I give up almost 7 years seniority to chase PIC time at another regional if it looks like I should upgrade at my current regional in about 2 years? I'm still 300 away from upgrade and someone in mgmt told me that they are projecting to upgrade 100-150 next year. I think someone with 5 or 6,000 hours and 1,000 or more TPIC is more competitive and more likely to get an interview than someone with 6,000 hours, and the only PIC time is from instructing, which is less then 1,000 as well, not turbine. Also, would Delta look negatively at me for leaving my current regional to go to another to get PIC time? Would there be questions about my loyalty? Thoughts?
PIC time will always be better than not having any, all things being equal. That said, we will likely start seeing more people hired at majors without as much or even any. As for your situation, without knowing all the details, any one of which could change everything, I'd lean towards staying. Taking a paycut and starting over to *maybe* get an upgrade that is *maybe* a year or so sooner than not doing anything is an extremely risky proposition.
I'd lean towards staying where you are, getting 7th year pay and super senior FO QOL, and waiting for the aprox 2 year upgrade versus putting yourself at the bottom of the list at another airline in a very unstable sector (regionals). Again though, it depends on the exact situation. Obviously you might walk into a new regional and become a street captain. If you knew that would be the case, I'd lean towards doing that instead. But changing everything up to chase an estimated 1 year upgrade instead of an estimated 2 year upgrade is a lot of estimating, a lot less pay and QOL and a huge burden on yourself.
If you do stay, try to look for "extra" things you can do, like volunteer work, Safety Dept or CRM work, pro stans or knocking out an online master's degree.
Again to be clear, there are scenarios where I'd say jump ASAP. But based on the limited info WRT your sitch, my default would be to stay unless likelihood of a very, very fast upgrade somewhere else was pretty much assured…and that's a hard thing to assure in the first place. I'm not aware of any actual honest to goodness for sure street captain regionals right now. Yes it may happen here or there, but can you be absolutely sure? You say "immediately" but are you SURE its a street Captain position? Absolutely sure? 100% sure? If so then maybe I'd lean toward going.
Good luck either way!