Where to start???
 

I've always planned on going to the regionals, but have started to have second thoughts lately. My goal is to fly for a major, but would rather go to a corporate operate, then major, rather than a regional. Is this possible? What is a good route I should take?

1400TT
100 Multi
75 Instrument
100 Night
500 Tailwheel

CFI/CFII/MEI Comm. ASEL ASES AMEL

I also have my bachelors degree, zero debt and no commitments and I'm in my early 20's.

Would appreciate any advice.

You may have guessed this already, but the airlines couldn't care less about conventional gear experience.

Yes, I've already guessed. I'm ready to make the jump into some turbine equipment, not sure where to start.

Go to a regional ASAP. They hire with less than 1500 hrs so you could start in April.

As a corporate pilot, you'll be at a noticeable disadvantage in building experience relevant to the majors (it's not 121, and there's usually less of it). You'll also be less competitive than a similarly-experienced regional CA, since he's a known quantity in the 121 context.

Check out the corporate and fractional forums to see what's going on there right now.

All that said, you'll get there eventually if you avoid fly-by-night corporate operations which will get you violated and/or poison your reference well when you pizz them off by quitting for a better job.

I would apply then take the best offer at a ‘regional’ you can get. Start the experience, and rack up quality flight time. Once you get settled, work on notables that would help with a future ‘major’ application, LCA whatever.

My advice has been to apply to most every Co you ‘may’ want to work at. Once an offer is given, then you decide. Even in a favorable employment environment, nothing is for sure.

If you want to fly for the major airlines, you will be better served by biting the bullet and going to a regional airline.

If you want to fly for a major airline, your best served by flying for a regional with a no interview flow through agreement... currently AA’s three Wholly Owned regionals (Envoy, Piedmont and PSA) are the only to offer that.

Go to one of them and keep your apps out, and with luck you’ll be Mainline pilot in your early 30s if not sooner.

Freight is a good way to get some turbine experience too. The nice thing about freight is you know your schedule in advance. There are limited pop up flights.

Id do regional......

i have aabout 280 TW and ive said the same thing..... "no one will give a flying f if i have 280 TW. it doesnt matter"

some guys in the FBO said dont think like that, there will always be someone who prefers a pilot with TW experience over all tricycle.