Originally Posted by
aero550
Don't discount flying some on-demand 135 charter, either. You'll learn more in a shorter time flying piston twins in and out of diverse, remote airports than you will flying a regional jet in and out of the same regional/hub airports for a month at a time off of the same canned flight plans. Find a good large charter company and you'll be able to progressively upgrade through turboprops and into jets.
I know a lot more people that went straight from a 135 job directly into the majors, than left a 135 job for a regional job. The turnover is high enough that positions can be found and you'll probably make about the same, if not more at a 135 than at a regional, at least for the first several years.
Why would any modern airline pilot really need to know anything other than what is contained in the FOM and operations handbook of the airline that they work for? I can see how that kind of experience would benefit a 135 pilot but the airlines are on rails and there is no room for innovation or problem solving.
SkyHigh