Career Advice
 

I would like to get some advice from you guys as I am starting my aviation career and I would like to take the best choices.

A little bit about my background, I have dual citizenship US/Mexican, I have my FAA commercial multi and instruments as well as my CFI. Last year I got a job as a CFI on a big school and I had only about 50 hours of instruction when I got a call from the chief pilot in a local airline in La Paz BAJA Mexico.

They hired me to fly the ERJ 145 with only 250 hours under my belt. Right now I have about 800tt and about 550 in the 145. The company is growing a lot and I was told by the chief pilot that as soon as I get the minimums (1000 in type) I could be upgraded to Captain since they are very happy with my work. This could happen in about 6 to 8 months.

I am really happy living here in Baja, but eventually I would like to have a different job with better benefits and fly bigger airplanes. Or I would also like to fly private jets.

Right now we only fly domestically to about 20 different cities in Mexico, but there are plans to fly to the US next year.

Basically what I would like to know is if with the experience I am getting here and maybe in a couple of years when I have about 1500 PIC on the ERj145, I would be able to compete for a Job back in the states. Or should I consider going back to the US and join a regional airline?

If you want to fly for the majors in the U.S then join a regional in the U.S.. It is harder to get hired at the legacies if you are flying outside of the USA. Every regional is upgrading pilots fairly quickly and PIC time is not a requirement to get hired at most Majors. Only FEDEX, UPS and SWA require 1000 PIC Turbine, the rest don't...

Since you are flying Mexican registered aircraft, you must have been born in Mexico. The big advantage you have is that only Mexican-born can fly for airlines in Mexico. From what I have heard, AeroMexico pays quite well. If you prefer life in Mexico (I completely understand as my wife is Mexican also), you could do a lot worse than flying for AeroMexico or InterJet. I would love to have that option available to me. Then I could have a huge place on the beach for about 1/4 the cost of living in SoCal.

I'm approaching an "end" to my training to where I need to decide which path to take as well; My best advice would be to figure out where you want to live first and then tailor your desired job to how and where you prefer to live. Best of luck!

I'm in the opposite situation!, don't care about where to live since I don't have family in the US, no mortgage, nothing, just my car, my bags and in a couple of months my licence. I'd move anywhere, from Alaska to Puerto Rico lol as long as I can get a "decent" job.

"Compete for a job back in the States."

At one of the major US airlines once you get 1500 hrs TPIC on the 145? Based on the numbers your provided you'll have about 1800 hrs TT then. That's not competitive for a job with the major US airlines.

The average civilian guy is 5500-7500 w/4000 hrs PIC.

I'd take the upgrade, get 1000 hrs TPIC, and suck it up and move back to the US and get US 121 qualified and experience.

At 800 hrs a year you're probably 3+ years from maybe getting looked at(3000 hrs TT, 2000 hrs TPIC) and 6 yrs from being 'average' amongst the 2014-2015 new hires.

Make a steady plan for the future. Advance towards it. Re-evaluate it as the market, options, and your resume, change. Adjust your plan for the new circumstances. Rinse and repeat.

Get a four year degree. Without a four year degree, in the current market, your odds of getting on with the biggest US airlines is almost zero.

Young with no strings? Chase the quality of the job, not the location. Quality as a young guy isn't the shiny metal or the pay, it's the quality of the job preparing your resume for the next opportunity.

Don't be short sighted - getting a corporate job, in a great location, with great pay, but only 250 hrs/year, would be a mistake if your ultimate goal is to get to a large US 121 carrier ASAP.

What would be your advice guys for a 33 years old pilot with no strings at all and willing to fly for a major in the future? 350h aprox.

Can move anywhere, literally.

1. Get your CFI
2. Teach until you get your ATP
3. Get a jet job with a regional
4. Fly until you have a lot of hours
5. Apply to a major

or

Learn to play golf really well. Bump into one of the VPs from one of the majors at the country club. Let him beat you by just a few strokes, stroke his ego with compliments. Marry his daughter. Eventually he will bring you in through the back door at his airline.

How generous of you, now to get them to be willing to hire you.

GF