Originally Posted by
Flying Pig
I own, fly, and maintain my own Beech Baron and fly on a regular basis to keep IFR currency (100+ hrs. a year). I'm not saying I'm prime beef to the Regional Airline recruiters by any means...just trying to make a point.
I don't think I would be willing to sit right seat at a Regional for 2 or 3 years until upgrade anyways. I don't know why more aspiring shiny jet drivers don't go to a cargo operation like Ameriflight, grab their 1000 turbine PIC in a BE1900 and start tossing out apps. to the majors. Single pilot, IFR, white knuckle flying seems like it would be worth something to a major airline...a nice change from the 500th RJ captain they've interviewed.
Probably because the 500 RJ Captains have already proven they can handle airline style training programs, line checks, company BS, and still get the job done... while the pilot you suggest, may in all actuallity be the "better pilot" he/she has zero experience operating in an airline environment. The RJ CA's are known product, the pilot like you are describing could be good, or just lucky... who knows. All in all, the 121 Hiring people are more comfortable hiring somebody with similar training and requirements as their own. Does that mean they don't hire freight dogs, no... it simply means the RJ guys are a known product, and the cargo guys not as much. Besides, they don't want guys like you anyway; don't believe me? apply and see.
They want to suck up as many of the low time kids as they can, while they can.... once they can't, they'll start hiring all those furloughed and experienced guys.
Which Baron ya got... I owned an A55 and an E55 back in the day... both great machines.