savethetires

A few years ago I was applying for regionals and working in a 91 department flying a falcon, which I only did for a short while. My wife got pregnant and I desperately wanted to be home a lot as we were going through multiple life transitions. Instead of heading for a regional or staying in the falcon where I was gone 75 percent or more of every month and most always on call, I landed a captain job at a small 91/135 outfit running king airs and CJs. Quite frankly it’s been an absolute dream job, but Life has settled, she’s done with school, and I want to get into the 121 world. Any suggestions? LCC is my obvious thought, but that first, and depending 2nd, year pay is a pretty nasty pay cut. Could try for the newly well paying regionals in exchange for being at the bottom of an infinitely huge pool of pilots as well as a commute. West coast based and would like to stay here. Ultimate goal is a solid 121 job narrow body for life is fine.
3200ish hours, 1600 TPIC in king airs and CJs. Anyone with more life experience have any advice as I start applying?

Excargodog

You don’t ask, you don’t get. Apply everywhere you’d be willing to work. The West Coast used to be fairly senior, but with median home prices out of range for even legacy FOs it isn’t that hard to get based there if that’s your preference. Your lack of 121 time may slow you up, but you do have TPIC. F9 recently raised their first year pay to not awful, but that should probably be a backup to one of the Big Six.

But if you don’t put in apps, they’ll never know you exist.

rickair7777

Apply to top tier, all have west coast bases. Do job fairs if possible.

If you don't get any bites within a few months apply to LCC. You should get called by one of them.

jaxsurf

Why on earth wouldn’t you apply to DAL/UAL/AAL/SWA/UPS/FDX?

Apply to the ULCCs/LCCs by all means, but I don’t know why you’d stop there, unless that is your desired end state.

Gordie H

Life circumstances will probably change again for you at some point...so one of the things a bigger company, like Delta or Fedex, can offer is a variety of flying. So later on if you want to try international you can easily do that (or not but still likely make more $$ than an LCC). Of course there are other important considerations...like commuting.

FWIW...sounds like you've made excellent decisions so far

widebodywannabe

In a similar situation as you, just a little behind experience wise. 2100 TT, 670 TPIC. Trying to decide if I should keep building PIC in the 135 world or if I just need to try and jump to an LCC or regional for the 121 time to get on a legacies radar.

savethetires

Good advice everybody. Thanks for taking time out to give me a little shove. End goal is legacies obviously but was not certain if I should go for it now, and had to remember that the time to apply is always yesterday. Appreciate it

savethetires

I don’t know everything but I do know that 121 time is good. If I could go back a year or 2 I’m not sure I’d do anything different but I’d sure as hell consider trying to make the jump a lot more

widebodywannabe

Ya with a recession inbound tough to say if one is better off staying put till at least November and see how things might shake out. Always a gamble I guess in this world.

rickair7777

There's always something looming. The chicken littles have been calling for the "7 year" recession since 2015. If it's actually here now, it's seven years late

Unless unemployment would be catastrophic for your family finances (or retirement planning if 50+), I wouldn't delay a career move based on "what ifs". There's still a shortage of workers in almost every field, even if you lose a pilot job.