Originally Posted by
BoilerUP
Unless one is flying for a VERY crappy charter operator that pays VERY badly, by the time one would get 1500 TPIC flying 91/135 (except maybe doing single-engine tprops like Vans or PC12s) I don't see much career upside for going to a regional...and a lot of earnings downside.
A few reasons I can think of:
- You'll build flight time like crazy. SIC is worthless, sure, but when you're just starting out TT is important, too. Once you upgrade, as well, you'll build PIC time faster.
- Schedules (at the better regionals) are pretty good, much better than being on a beeper constantly. Plus the ability to swap/drop/trade trips to improve your schedule. Even on reserve, you will probably have some sort of hierarchy/bucket system and a chance to be on long-call and sit at home on reserve.
- You'll make contacts with other pilots at the company who will someday move on and help you get your next job.
- You don't have to worry about the boss selling the airplane, especially in this economy.