Originally Posted by rokking566

I'll give you a few pieces of information:

1. You should start making connections with pilots at the legacy carriers. I for sure know that Delta really won't "score" your application until you have an internal recommendation. I know you're saying "While how do I do connect with legacy pilots?" While there are a couple of ways. When I was in high school, and even today, I would go on LinkedIn and look up legacy airline pilots who lived in my area and ask if I could connect with them. Once I would do that, I would send them a message and ask them if I could complete an informational interview, either on the phone or in person, and ask them questions about working at that airline and how to get to their airline. It sounds creepy however it works really well and now I can say that I will have PLENTY of internal recommendations when I apply to the legacies.

2. Legacies do prefer that you work in a 121 setting because that is the setting you will be working in. I can't determine whether you should jump ship from your current organization to a 121 company because I do not know enough about you. However, if it were me, I would go to a 121 airline that has the quickest upgrade time. You will hear guys say that you don't really need the PIC time anymore but I would recommend getting it because it does set you apart from other applicants. Now this airline should have jet only aircraft, otherwise I would not leave the 135 company for turboprops at a 121 airline.

3. Hours vary for pilots getting hired at the legacies. If you're a military guy, you could have as little as 2,000 hours TT. However, if you're a civilian guy, the lowest I've seen is around 5,000 hours TT with the most being around 18,000 hours TT. I do know, for a fact, that the guys with 5,000 hours TT usually had a special thing going for them. i.e. Line Check Airman at a 121 regional, 5+ internal recs, etc.

Overall, this is what I can tell you. If you don't have a bachelor's degree, I would STRONGLY recommend getting that because, more than likely, you will not get a job at a legacy with no degree.

Originally Posted by TheAv

Thank you so much for the advice

to be more specific my next question is: can staying at my 135 scheduled turboprop gig and getting 1,000 hours turbine PIC time eliminate the need for quick upgrade times in a regional? if i have the PIC turbine time already can it make me less dependent on upgrade times?

Originally Posted by rokking566

I will say this. I do recommend going to a 121 regional because it does look better on the resume. If you don't want to become an FO at a regional there are some regional airlines that allow you to get hired right away as a captain. Trans States Airlines is one and GoJet Airlines is another. I can't think of any others off the top of my head but I'm sure there are more. I understand that you don't want to leave your 135 carrier however most pilots getting hired at the legacies right now are either from the military or the 121 regionals.

Here is how this could play out if you followed the 121 regionals track. Let's say you get hired as a Captain at GoJet. After two years, you become a Line Check Airman (this is a guess by the way. You could become an LCA earlier or later.) You work for one year as a LCA and then you apply to the legacies. By this time, you should have met some pilots at the legacies and befriended them and, hopefully, you get a recommendation from them. At this point, hopefully you get an interview.

Now that's a possible track. I'm not saying that if you stick with your 135 job, you won't get a legacy job. I'm just saying that you have better odds going to a 121 regional.

Hopefully this helps.

Originally Posted by rokking566

I will say this. I do recommend going to a 121 regional because it does look better on the resume. If you don't want to become an FO at a regional there are some regional airlines that allow you to get hired right away as a captain. Trans States Airlines is one and GoJet Airlines is another. I can't think of any others off the top of my head but I'm sure there are more. I understand that you don't want to leave your 135 carrier however most pilots getting hired at the legacies right now are either from the military or the 121 regionals.

Here is how this could play out if you followed the 121 regionals track. Let's say you get hired as a Captain at GoJet. After two years, you become a Line Check Airman (this is a guess by the way. You could become an LCA earlier or later.) You work for one year as a LCA and then you apply to the legacies. By this time, you should have met some pilots at the legacies and befriended them and, hopefully, you get a recommendation from them. At this point, hopefully you get an interview.

Now that's a possible track. I'm not saying that if you stick with your 135 job, you won't get a legacy job. I'm just saying that you have better odds going to a 121 regional.

Hopefully this helps.

Originally Posted by rokking566

It depends on what you're flying. If you're flying a jet, it MIGHT save you a year. And that's a big might. If it's a turboprop, more than likely no.