Av8er1550

I'm currently an SIC on a Lear. I would love to go to a major one day. Can you get there thru the 135 world or would I better my chances by going to a regional?

Apokleros

Sounds like we are both in the same spot. I have been doing freight and air ambulance in the Lear as FO. After about a year, I've chosen to go over to 121 due to increases in quality of life (the pay here isn't much higher either despite it being a 135 op).

Maybe some of the board members here involved with hiring will know something...I have seen one member here on the Southwest hiring board alleging that the total concept is taken into account, but if it comes down between one individual having 121 time versus another with 135 time and they are both equally qualified, the 121 applicant will be given more heed.

If I were an airline HR person I would choose a 121 airline captain over a 135 Lear captain any day of the week....

Another thing to take into account is how much 135 jet PIC that someone has. If a guy has, say, 5000 hours of 135 jet PIC, and some 121 time to boot, they'll still look at you and be glad to hire you.

Lots of things to keep in mind here....

Slim11

Your background makes the question interesting.

I assume you're making decent money in your current position and would likely take a pay cut going to a regional. Depending on your total time, you might want to stay put for a while.

Following a sign-off for the check ride as a new-hire, I was paired with a Part 91/135 driver. Everything went well. I upgraded less than a year later and there was a 135 guy in my class. Though not my sim partner, he also did well...no problems. Both flew the Citation X.

If you want to make the change, ask yourself the standard questions...

Will I have to commute? Will my family go along with this? Can I sustain the pay cut?

Good luck.

Av8er1550

Yeah I enjoy what I do partially, but it's on-call so I can see where 121 would be an increase in QOL. I'm not a big fan of the on-call world. I'm just not sure if I could sustain the pay cut that some of these regionals are paying. Thanks for the advice it helps!

Av8er1550

Yeah it would definitely be a pay cut. The work I do is on-call and I wouldn't mind an airline schedule at all. It's just the pay that is holding me back. I'm considering a move in a different direction regardless. There is another 135 passenger carrier I am interested in and the schedule is better than what I have currently (6 days off per month).

Overall, I'm just trying to do what is best now and for the future. I don't want to settle but I also don't want to take a step in the wrong direction. I'm almost up for my ATP ride so after it I will consider the change.

I keep hearing about these flow-thru programs and quick upgrades but I don't want to get sucked into false promises either...

Apokleros

Same here. I'm on call 24/7 with a lot of those calls happening at night now more than ever before. I have come to utterly loathe this practice. I get roughly six days off as well (over at Kalitta).

It'll be a paycut first year, but it's either now or never and the schedule will more than make up for it.

As far as the flow-through stuff...in five years the flow-through stuff will not make a difference....

Av8er1550

I know man it does get miserable. I have a friend who just got hired on at Kalitta and they were talking to him about going to 2 weeks on/ 2 weeks off. Not sure if it's true or not but that's what I have heard.