ACMI to Majors?
07-31-2025 | 05:39 PM
#11
Thread Starter
On Reserve
Joined: Sep 2023
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Stick it out, going back to the Regionals is exactly that, going backwards.
Even if it is PIC.
Does your shop offer another type you could bid on? 77 perhaps?
Switch types and get another successful training event under your belt to get rid of any ‘staleness’ on your resume.
Also good to find your mojo again.
Considering your age…don’t be in too much of a rush. You’ll be golden even if you wait for PIC time on your current type.
Even if it is PIC.
Does your shop offer another type you could bid on? 77 perhaps?
Switch types and get another successful training event under your belt to get rid of any ‘staleness’ on your resume.
Also good to find your mojo again.
Considering your age…don’t be in too much of a rush. You’ll be golden even if you wait for PIC time on your current type.
Definitely agree though, at the time felt really lucky being able to bypass the regionals and don’t want to go backwards now.
07-31-2025 | 06:40 PM
#12
In a land of unicorns
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,052
Likes: 70
From: Whale FO
1. The crazy hiring days are over, things are getting back to normal and that means turbine PIC is king.
2. Even more so since all of the legacies kind of got burned with social experiments in pilot hiring, and seem to be reverting to traditional, established industry criteria for sorting applicants.
Very roughly, in order...
Fighter time.
Other Mil FW PIC
MIL RW (with appropriate FW time from somewhere).
121 Jet PIC
135 Jet PIC
91 Jet PIC.
121/135 Turboprop PIC is in there somewhere too.
All SIC is lower on the list. If you work the job fairs and other events, you might have a shot at a decent major job with just SIC but even that's hard to predict right now and I bet it would take years if ever.
Bottom line, you probably need to make a move, even if it's night 135 turboprop cargo... I think you can get away with turboprop PIC because you've already demonstrated you can be trained to fly a big jet (that's not a transition everyone makes smoothly).
2. Even more so since all of the legacies kind of got burned with social experiments in pilot hiring, and seem to be reverting to traditional, established industry criteria for sorting applicants.
Very roughly, in order...
Fighter time.
Other Mil FW PIC
MIL RW (with appropriate FW time from somewhere).
121 Jet PIC
135 Jet PIC
91 Jet PIC.
121/135 Turboprop PIC is in there somewhere too.
All SIC is lower on the list. If you work the job fairs and other events, you might have a shot at a decent major job with just SIC but even that's hard to predict right now and I bet it would take years if ever.
Bottom line, you probably need to make a move, even if it's night 135 turboprop cargo... I think you can get away with turboprop PIC because you've already demonstrated you can be trained to fly a big jet (that's not a transition everyone makes smoothly).
And I think you are overrating mil RW unless you have pretty substantial FW experience (that is not just regional SIC).
08-01-2025 | 07:37 AM
#13
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,895
Likes: 690
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Based on who is getting hired from my airline, heavy intl SIC seems to be very valuable. Up there with regional 121 PIC time when comparing how my regional buddies are doing.
And I think you are overrating mil RW unless you have pretty substantial FW experience (that is not just regional SIC).
And I think you are overrating mil RW unless you have pretty substantial FW experience (that is not just regional SIC).
Maybe they've dialed back on that since hiring has slowed.
ACMI flying probably implies you have more type ratings than a one trick RJ pony, and body count is a factor too. But all else equal, as a professional pilot, I'd rather have 1000 TPIC under my belt sooner not later... opens more doors in the event you have to scramble for a job.
08-04-2025 | 07:53 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,418
Likes: 120
From: Window seat
Possible explanation of the "7 year" comment getting tainted - some airlines had, and might still have, a drop dead at 7 years in one seat. They've seen too many people 'hide' in a seat. They prefer to see that you exposed yourself to a training environment and switched seats, or equipment, in the last 7 years.
Your current path you estimated getting to 1000 hrs Part 121 TPIC in 7 years. Going to a regional might get you that in 4-5 years at the earliest. That's when you'll be the most competitive. Getting 2000 hrs more 747 SIC time isn't better than 1500 hrs regional SIC and 1500 hrs regional PIC.
As an inexperienced guy you need to get more ups and downs. With a bunch of long legs you might be getting 25 landings a year. You'll get 25 landings a month at the regionals.
Good luck.
Your current path you estimated getting to 1000 hrs Part 121 TPIC in 7 years. Going to a regional might get you that in 4-5 years at the earliest. That's when you'll be the most competitive. Getting 2000 hrs more 747 SIC time isn't better than 1500 hrs regional SIC and 1500 hrs regional PIC.
As an inexperienced guy you need to get more ups and downs. With a bunch of long legs you might be getting 25 landings a year. You'll get 25 landings a month at the regionals.
Good luck.
08-05-2025 | 04:10 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 42
From: Gear slinger
Appreciate the advice. I’m in my late 20’s so I’m not risk adverse by any means but being stuck at a regional is what makes me hesitant to jump ship. I’ve also had a pretty senior United captain say that at a certain point you become “tainted” to the majors for staying at a cargo operator too long, he claimed 7 years. Just need to decide if I want to gamble being stuck at a regional vs stuck doing cargo for longer than I’d like.
If you’re happy at ACMI, stay until you get an opportunity worthy of leaving (non legacy major etc.). Don’t downgrade flying (regional, part 135/91 etc.) and end up getting stuck in something more undesirable than what you’re leaving.
08-05-2025 | 08:36 PM
#17
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,895
Likes: 690
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I’ve heard that the unwritten HR rule for pilot hiring is 5 years in same aircraft/seat lead one to be considered stale. Once you upgrade, or change aircraft that 5 year counter resets.
If you’re happy at ACMI, stay until you get an opportunity worthy of leaving (non legacy major etc.). Don’t downgrade flying (regional, part 135/91 etc.) and end up getting stuck in something more undesirable than what you’re leaving.
If you’re happy at ACMI, stay until you get an opportunity worthy of leaving (non legacy major etc.). Don’t downgrade flying (regional, part 135/91 etc.) and end up getting stuck in something more undesirable than what you’re leaving.
I'd assess the risk of being in that boat will only increase going forward... the ERJ is now THE regional aircraft, the Q400's are gone and the CRJ is out of production and dwindling.
You might be able to circumvent the issue by buying a type rating. Maybe. Types are more valuable with actual line operating experience.
To avoid any confusion I'll caveat that this does not apply to military aviators, since they typically spend their entire career post-wings on one type.
08-10-2025 | 07:06 AM
#18
All is fine at .79
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 4,486
Likes: 42
From: Paahlot
I would be very hesitant to move employers and be #15,000 on a seniority list right now.
In my opinion your best move would be switching types without giving up your job security.
We may have some self inflicted economic impact coming down the pipeline.
In my opinion your best move would be switching types without giving up your job security.
We may have some self inflicted economic impact coming down the pipeline.
08-10-2025 | 01:46 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 42
From: Gear slinger
Delta and United (and UPS amongst the cargos) seem to currently be the industry front runners from a pilot career prospective. I would be hesitant to tell a someone looking for a 121 career to turn away from those companies, or even AA or potentially Alaska if they’re good matches for one’s life outside of work just because they’d have to start out at the bottom and a black swan event might happen.
08-10-2025 | 04:44 PM
#20
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,895
Likes: 690
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
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