Career advice 121
 

I have 8k hrs 1500 multi 3k pic turbine single engine. 135 experience and 91 corporate both in cabin Pistons. I'm planning on getting my ATP multi in a few months with probably a type of some sort. Have a degree in business administration and in my mid 30's. Am I marketable to a major airline? Where would you go from here if you were me?

I think the hours should be competitive, your experience is excellent. Your biggest challenge is lack of 121 experience, and possibly lack of large aircraft experience.

Someone who's either in hiring, or been recently hired should be able to chime in to give you their perspective. I do have many friends who are at the regionals, about 8k hours 121, couple thousand Turbine PIC (121 RJ) and haven't received a call yet...but plenty of others who've received calls with considerably less time.

Internal RECS are always going to be a big deal, and all of my friends who've moved onto the majors had several at minimum.

Update.
I now have my ATP written completed.
I have two options it seems
Fly my current situation and build some multi engine turbine time and be a line pilot for an on demand 135 hauling pax, between the two operations I'll make around 100k
Or look at going to a regional.
If there are other options please feel free to say.
Would flying the king air and possibly a jet for the 135 still give me an opportunity to get hired at southwest or a legacy in the future. I'm currently 36 with a family


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Career advice 121
 

Also I might be able to get typed in a cj or phenom 100 as a single pilot pic at the 135


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I would not take option b) go to a regional. What would you gain other than 121 time? There have been MANY pilots being hired at majors from 135 back rounds.

My recommendation would be to build up some extracurricular resume builders (volunteer work etc), attend a career fair with WAI or OBAP, and try and get a "title" at your current position "Director of Safety" for example.

Who knows what HR is looking for, BUT... I would think that strengthening your resume would come by expanding it over showing more of the same. Branching into 121 would do that but as a guy who just did something similar, make sure your bank account supports your dreams before you jump out of a good paying job.

Yeah that's my problem I think showing more of the same doesn't differentiate myself enough but I've also got to make a living too.


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I can only tell you the approach that I took... of course now I'm sitting right smack in the middle of it so it isn't a total success story yet. The wife and I ran the numbers on regional pay, fattened up the bank account on top of our emergency fund to the point where we can make it to FO year 2 pay. We came into this knowing that we would budget in the red for a year. We can make it on year 2 FO pay and I should upgrade to CA sometime around there anyway... all of that becomes mute the day I celebrate with a job offer from "the show". Financially I think that's what makes sense, supplement the bank account to the point where your expenses meet your anticipated income and then make the leap. If you aren't there the stress of the situation would make an already challenging situation downright miserable.

DD

Did your wife work too? I've been flying an Ag plane for the past 8 years and making 120k+


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She "works" supporting the family but to answer the intent of your question; no, she does not produce an income. However, that doesn't change the math of anticipated family income to anticipated family expenses as a year 1 FO. I had a phenomenal annual salary prior to making the move. Ironically it was that income that allowed me to chase the dream since it provided the surplus that we are living off of in year 1, much like you (if you chose to do it).

It is comforting to know that she is a source of potential income, if we should find ourselves there... but I don't anticipate that. I guess that's the point of the entire discussion. If a person is going to attempt the regional lifestyle. They should have a realistic financial plan (with margin) that supports fiscal survival prior to taking the leap, and then execute that plan.

I hope that helps,
Dubz