As a regional FO seeking to eventually become a check airman, what's the right goal: getting 1000 hours to upgrade to CA ASAP...or getting into the training department ASAP while still an FO?
Originally Posted by
rickair7777
You'll have no trouble with most regionals, AA regionals with flow *might* scrutinize you a bit more carefully.
If you get to keep your mil wings, then some quality time at the regionals should fix you up just fine, and you should still catch the peak of the hiring wave. If they pulled your wings it will be a little tougher, just due to perceptions.
Plan on upgrading at a regional, and try to get a check airman slot. Best way to do that is to get into the training dept ASAP as an FO (you'll want to have a clean training record at that airline too). Once in the training dept, you're known to management and will have an obvious advantage when applying for check airman and sim jobs. Regionals now tend to use FO's for ground instructors, so if you wait until you upgrade you won't have an obvious way to break into the training dept.
Other ways to stand out are to volunteer for test programs (software, etc), volunteer for union jobs or things like HIMS, run for union leadership jobs. Anything above and beyond just flying the line. You can also of course volunteer outside of the company... leadership is better of course (ie BoD for the nonprofit vice ladling soup once a week).
Expect to be at a regional 3-4 years, not 10+.