Originally Posted by Tie Pilot

Hello everyone,

I'd like to end up at one of the fractionals some day, then either stay there or move on to some other GA. (I'm 75% sure 121 isn't for me)

Anyway, I just made 135 IFR mins and the flight school I've been working for is putting me in the left seat of their Navajo. It's not a bad deal; I get the whole plane to myself and I'm home every night (and I'm married). Of course it has the usual cons of a 135 outfit, including very few days off, low pay, dealing with the customers, etc.

I also have very good connections at a regional airline, and after a few months in the Navajo I should have enough multi for their minimums (I'm about 150 hours short right now).

Job for job, I'd rather stick with the Navajo mainly for the nights at home and b/c I'd rather be the PIC than read checklists. The pay would probably be better than my first year at the regional too.

The main thing is the turbine time that the frax seem to want. I'll probably get 2500T/500M in about the same amount of time either way, so am I wasting time in the Navajo since there's no Jet A involved? If that's the case I'm sure I wouldn't mind flying right seat of an RJ for a couple years; that has its good points too. (plus then I'd know for sure if I like 121 or not)

I always figured the Navajo would look really good on my resume. Part 135 single pilot isn't Mickey Mouse flying, and most jet pilots I've met in FBOs have flown one at some point in their career. I would think a frax would care more that I know how to treat pax right and think on my feet than if I can program an FMS, but maybe I'm wrong?

So, I guess the short version of this post is, do I absolutely need that turbine time?