Originally Posted by
pitchattitude
Everyone is, and has been, hung up on 1000 hours of 121 PIC. It’s not a magical number. It’s all a function of supply and demand. You are correct, though, that if you want to be a 121 pilot, you should stay in 121.
It doesn’t sound like you are sour on 121, but if you aren’t happy in 121, then get out if you can find something that can. If you are happy and it’s what you want to do, then why give up nearly four years of seniority? Before any furloughs, you are probably at top 20-25% seniority.
If you’re a late 2016 hire, you aren’t likely to be furloughed unless the whole of Envoy takes a dump. Taking a leave of absence is a whole lot different than quitting in terms of what you can or can’t come back to, as is being furloughed as well as the reason and explanation at a later interview.
This business is vicious. Do what works for you.
It's not that I personally am hung up on the 1000 hrs, it's that almost everyone I talk to that's gone on to Fed Ex, Frontier, Spirit, SWA, etc have said that they don't 100% require it, but they do prefer it.
I really do love the 121 world. I take the downsides in stride and accept that it's part of the gig. I like that I get to work with a very diverse work group, both FO's and FA's. It makes the job more entertaining to me. I'm around the 650 seniority number, so I feel safe here until the boat actually sinks. I just want to have a backup plan other than the crappy ones I currently have in my back pocket (non-flying jobs).
I'm pretty apprehensive about the next few months. I'm a pretty positive dude, but the very real idea of a looming bankruptcy at AA (and likely the other two) has me a bit jittery. My degree is generic (business, no MBA) and my past experience is in the oil and gas industry...my options seem limited.