Originally Posted by
Arrow24
As part of B6’s agreement with Cape Air, I would get hired at around 500-700 hours, upgrade to Captain at 1500 hours, and then fly for 1 year as Captain before going directly to B6.
From the regional side, I would need to fly 1000 hours at that regional/Part 121 carrier and then I can return to B6.
[...]
would it be better to pursue the Cape Air option as it appears to be much faster in getting back to B6? From my research, the Cape Air option should take about 2ish years (give or take) from initial hire to complete. I have until March 2027 to complete my time building and return to B6 for my CJO to be valid.
It looks like you are thinking about this very rationally. You have done the math on both options, and come up with some pros and cons.
Cape Air:
Pros are that you can start there sooner, thereby spending fewer months instructing. And that you will get to B6 sooner. And that you will get a year of Part 135 multi PIC time.
Cons are that Cape Air's pay is incredibly low. And that you will be working harder there than you would at a regional. And that you won't be logging any turbine time or jet time or 121 time.
Spending 1000 hours at a regional:
Pros are that they will give you an ATP rating, a type rating, and 1000 hours of turbine time/jet time/part 121 time.
And the pay! Regional FOs start at $100/hour nowadays, which is a ton more than Cape Air. And of course that the experience there will be very applicable to working in the flight deck at JetBlue.
Cons are that you would have to spend more time instructing (all the way to 1475 hours instead of just 600). And that your class date at JetBlue would be delayed.
Conventional airline wisdom is: the option that gets you to your forever job soonest is the best one, even if that job pays less in the near term.
My two cents: If you can stand the low pay of Cape Air, it sounds like you will benefit by taking that job: (a) about a year less spent instructing and (b) quicker arrival at B6.
But if you are going to have to rent an apartment in Boston or Decatur or Billings or New Hampshire, and eke out a living on Cape Air FO pay plus food stamps... for two years... in a town where you don't know anyone and can't afford to rent a decent apartment... that prospect may sound miserable enough that you would rather spend an extra year living at home and flight instructing, then go straight to the air conditioned, well paying, jet-powered splendor of a professionally-run regional.
There is no wrong choice. Good luck!