CATIII

I've got a friend who's building time as an SIC right now on a Single Engine Turbine, C208 Caravan... they can upgrade with 1200 hours and continue to fly as PIC (FAR 135) or they can leave at 1500TT and go to a regional as an SIC on a Jet....

From a low time career building standpoint, which is more valuable if they want to make themselves a bit more competitive?

Is 1000 Single Engine Turbine PIC > 1000 hours multi-jet turbine?

if both are good to have, should they get the TPIC first? since it will be hard to go the other way? I believe upgrade at many regionals is still at 3-5 years, right?

viper548

With that little flight time I think getting TPIC is more valuable. I'd get 1000 TPIC before moving on to a regional.

IlliniPilot99

depends what his long term goal is...

airlines....1000 Single TPIC is a nice touch and a unique resume point but is essentially worthless

corporate....1000 Single TPIC is looked at better

CATIII

not so sure about that... Captain time weather single or multi engine is never worthless, and I could be wrong but doesn't Delta even recognize centerline thrust PIC, or they'd have to throw out all the F16 pilots (I know it's not the same, but it is single engine).

bedrock

Get some TPIC. Real PIC, with decision making under a schedule is essential to becoming a good captain in the airlines later. I've spoken to plenty of guys who feel they upgraded too soon in the past and I've flown with them. Building experience in a forgiving aircraft (not that single pilot IFR in the seeds is easy!), is a smart thing to do for your future state of mind and confidence.

rickair7777

DO NOT even for a second compare fighter time with civilian light ASEL. You are selling some poor soul down the river.

The ONLY reason SE turbine time is even allowed by the airlines is because some fighters have only one engine. You will NOT get hired by a legacy with only caravan time or the like unless you already have something else huge going for you.

That said, somebody who is already in the seat and partway there might as well get to a 1000 before they move on to RJs...that will allow them to at least apply to SWA/FDX/UPS and show long-term sustained interest. Also useful in corporate aviation in case he ever needs to go there.

John Carr

Or said another way. The ONLY SE TPIC they care is about is the kind where where you were strapping yourself into an ejection seat.

I can't wait till people chime in on the bold, "but but....I know a guy that got hired with NOTHING but SE TPIC!!!!!!"

Yeah, we ALL DO. But the bolded part in Rick's post STILL applies.

Seriously, the way this hiring wave is going, it doesn't matter as much as waves past.

The guy could go to a regional, start getting a good schedule, start networking, going to job fairs, volunteering, rescuing kittens, get a masters, whatever. He's go the SAME shot at getting on at a major/legacy (that DOESN'T require TPIC) as the guys that do. I'm losing count of the guys I know that went to DAL, AA (when they were taking OTS), UAL that DIDN'T have TPIC.

Anybody reading it NOT believe that? Seriously, take a look around........

CATIII

Ok ok... Everyone cool down.

The question is simple. SE TPIC vs ME SIC for a low timer ... Walk away from the PIC for the SIC or not?

IlliniPilot99

well this statement kinda showes some naivety to the such a scenario.

As pointed out above, if the goal is the airlines, SETPIC will not help you has much as METSIC...not the case for corporate

*I have a descent amount of Caravan PIC time...it was a nice conversation piece, that's about it....it was not the reason they hired me at any of the 121 ops I've worked

IlliniPilot99

again it depends what the goal is....but typically the SIC in a transport category jet will help you further than essentially a 182 with a turbine...