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Help plz:Fastest way to AA

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Old 05-29-2015 | 10:57 AM
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Default Help plz:Fastest way to AA

Hello all,

I am at a fork in my career and needed some guidance from fellow pilots. Im an RJ pilot who is about to upgrade in the CRJ but just got offered a job with Southern Air, would be flying the 737. I only have 400 hours pic from my CFI days. Which do you think will get me to AA faster? TPIC in CRJ or right seat of a 737.

Thank you in advance!!
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Old 05-29-2015 | 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by gonza6bb
Hello all,

I am at a fork in my career and needed some guidance from fellow pilots. Im an RJ pilot who is about to upgrade in the CRJ but just got offered a job with Southern Air, would be flying the 737. I only have 400 hours pic from my CFI days. Which do you think will get me to AA faster? TPIC in CRJ or right seat of a 737.

Thank you in advance!!
You don't need either one. There is no fastest way maybe unless you're already w/one of the WO's. Others may say different, but I'm just speaking from my experience.
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Old 05-29-2015 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by gonza6bb
hello all,

i am at a fork in my career and needed some guidance from fellow pilots. Im an rj pilot who is about to upgrade in the crj but just got offered a job with southern air, would be flying the 737. I only have 400 hours pic from my cfi days. Which do you think will get me to aa faster? Tpic in crj or right seat of a 737.

Thank you in advance!!
tpic….. Imho
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Old 05-29-2015 | 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by gonza6bb
Hello all,

I am at a fork in my career and needed some guidance from fellow pilots. Im an RJ pilot who is about to upgrade in the CRJ but just got offered a job with Southern Air, would be flying the 737. I only have 400 hours pic from my CFI days. Which do you think will get me to AA faster? TPIC in CRJ or right seat of a 737.

Thank you in advance!!
CRJ.

Stay away from Southern Air. I speak from experience.
Keep your record clean, aim for a check airman or training dept spot, volunteer.

Repeat. STAY AWAY from Southern.
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Old 05-29-2015 | 11:08 AM
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You'd be crazy to leave for Southern for SIC Guppy time if you're about to upgrade on the RJ.

A 737 type without PIC is as worthless as a 777 type without PIC. Ask any of the guys stuck there with thousands of hours of that shiny 777 time, all in the right seat.

Yeah, upgrades are happening fast on the 737, but it's unlikely you'll be offered a shot soon, with only 400 hours PIC from your CFI days.

If you were stuck at your current regional with no upgrade in sight, it would be a different story, but since you're about to upgrade, STAY PUT. Get your turbine PIC.
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Old 05-29-2015 | 11:19 AM
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AA is projected to hire very little off the street for the foreseeable future. If your hope is AA you'll be waiting a while. I would honestly focus your efforts more on UAL or DAL if you can get a check airman slot. Otherwise I would personally leave for another major like SWA, jetBlue or Spirit after you get some TPIC if there is no hope of a check airman position opening up.

It's not completely bleak but the few off the street hires AA will have are mostly going to go to the ex-mil crowd.

The good news is, if you want to leave for jetBlue, 500 TPIC is pretty competitive. They want guys that have a demonstrated ability to upgrade and not screw up but aren't top heavy with hours. That's pretty much their sweet spot.
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Old 05-29-2015 | 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by gringo
You'd be crazy to leave for Southern for SIC Guppy time if you're about to upgrade on the RJ.

A 737 type without PIC is as worthless as a 777 type without PIC. Ask any of the guys stuck there with thousands of hours of that shiny 777 time, all in the right seat.

Yeah, upgrades are happening fast on the 737, but it's unlikely you'll be offered a shot soon, with only 400 hours PIC from your CFI days.

If you were stuck at your current regional with no upgrade in sight, it would be a different story, but since you're about to upgrade, STAY PUT. Get your turbine PIC.
This guy is correct.

If you have turbine PIC your resume will be in a completely separate stack (figuratively) than if you only have SIC, even if it's in heavier equipment.

Not to mention, Southern has a particularly bad rep for the way it treats people. Plus its DHL flying that's farmed out to the lowest bidder so the rug can be pulled out from under you just like at your regional.

Good Luck.
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Old 05-29-2015 | 11:35 AM
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My two cents is stay put unless you're fine with getting stuck at Southern, especially since AA hardly takes anyone off the street. TPIC also is not the same requirement it used to be. I know numerous people at the big three hired within the last year with zero TPIC, a few of whom had zero connections. The gates are just starting to open.
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Old 05-29-2015 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Name User
AA is projected to hire very little off the street for the foreseeable future. If your hope is AA you'll be waiting a while. I would honestly focus your efforts more on UAL or DAL if you can get a check airman slot. Otherwise I would personally leave for another major like SWA, jetBlue or Spirit after you get some TPIC if there is no hope of a check airman position opening up.

It's not completely bleak but the few off the street hires AA will have are mostly going to go to the ex-mil crowd.

The good news is, if you want to leave for jetBlue, 500 TPIC is pretty competitive. They want guys that have a demonstrated ability to upgrade and not screw up but aren't top heavy with hours. That's pretty much their sweet spot.
I think that will change next year and they'll start hiring more off the street. If one were to get hired off the street they'd be closer to the front of the wave at AA vs DAL & UAL. The later have hired over a 1,000 each in the last two years. And most of the Envoy flows are in their late fourty's and fifty's (just a guess based off new hire photos)...so less younger and senior to you on the seniority list.

Of course my advice is always apply to all the majors and get a bird in hand. Then try to parlay that into your number one choice if you want.
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Old 05-29-2015 | 02:10 PM
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Default Thank you!!

Thank you everyone for speedy response and honest opinions. I will be staying and upgrading. Appreciate all the help!
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