Gman007

Hello guys, I’ve been visiting this forum for quite some time now but I haven’t been posting much, I would like to hear some opinions from you guys on what should I do with so many different roads to take it is very hard to make up my mind.

A little background about me:

I have dual Citizenship Mexican/American I served in the USAF as a crewmember on C-17’s I was active for 4 years and 2 more years on the ANG on a non-flying job.

After getting out of the service I used my GI-bill to get my aviation training all the way to CFI, I also got a BA on Aeronautical Science from ERAU.
I got a CFI job after training and I only got about 40 hrs. of dual given when I got a call from a friend who was working at small Airline in La Paz, Baja Mexico. I sent my resume and to my surprise I got the job with about 250 hrs. total time.

It’s been a little bit over a year now and I have 1200 hrs. total and 950 on the ERJ-145, I’ve been having a lot of fun I get to fly a Jet I live in my own town and in my opinion one of the coolest places to live in the world if you love the ocean.
The company is expanding and supposedly I’ve been doing such a great job that I am probably next to upgrade, I just need to hit 1500 hrs. total time to get my ICAO ATP.

On the negative side the pay is very low, we barely make enough each month to pay all of our bills and eat. It is hard to have savings or any luxuries. Captain Pay is about $800 dlls a month more than I am making now, it would be much better but not great either.
Now having said that, I am sure of one thing, I definitely do not want to stay at this airline forever.

As far as I can tell right now I have a few options and I know that depending on my final goal one or the other option would be better. However, the main problem is that I still haven’t figured out what is my main goal, corporate, airlines, cargo etc.


This is what I have been thinking as far as my options:

- If my main goal is to get to a major airline, should I stay where I am get the tpic time and then go back to the US? Or am I wasting my time flying in Mexico and should I just quit and join a regional?

- If I join a regional with a few thousand hours of jet time and some tpic time would I go to the back of the line for an upgrade or can I upgrade faster? If so am I wasting my time now and go to a regional right away?

- Get a job flying a wide body internationally, I heard this is pretty good money but QOL is not that great. I don’t want to work in China or M. East for ever so this might be good only for a while and then come back to the US. I don’t know any of you guys with experience how hard is to get a job back in the US after flying in one of those countries. Is this an alternative to the regionals if I want to get in to a Legacy airline?

- If I decide I don’t airlines and would like to pursue a job in the corporate world I assume I should start looking for a 91 / 135 job. With my time and type I might be able to get a job flying a legacy or erj135. However, If I got a job flying a PC-12 for example (I’ve always wanted to fly one) would that be hurting my career going back to flying a single engine?

Sorry for the many questions but I hope you guys can help me make some decisions.

sourdough44

Dual citizenship, 4 yr degree from Riddle. I would upgrade when able and keep racking up some quality flight time.

If your goal is a U.S. major I don't see the need to move across the globe, at this point anyway. You may need more hours to be highly competitive.

Before long I would put in apps and update at least once a month. It's always best to look for a job while you have a job.

I haven't done the interview dance in a long time. There seem to be specifics today that had not been dreamt up decades back. I think it pays to hook up with some flavor of 'interview prep' when the time is right.

There are the handful of ways to continue up the ladder, do what works for you. Some essentials are, quality hours, fairly clean record, good education history, then the 'good citizen/employee' background.

Sliceback

- If I join a regional with a few thousand hours of jet time and some tpic time would I go to the back of the line for an upgrade or can I upgrade faster? If so am I wasting my time now and go to a regional right away?

Unless they're hiring DECS(direct entry CA's), which is uncommon, you go to the back of the line.

Get a job that gets you to 1500 hrs ASAP. Immediately get a US regional job with flow through rights (AA - Piedmont, Envoy, PSA(?)).

IMO you're probably wasting your time at a Mexican commuter hoping a US major airline hires you.

Getting hired from a foreign company is hard enough. The odds of getting hired from a foreign commuter might be zero

Gman007

Thanks for the advice I will start looking into the regionals

Gman007

Being so close to the upgrade here. Would it be worth waiting to get some Jet PIC time and then join the regionals in a couple of years. Or should I look for a regional Job right away.

My QOL is great right now, money as a captain wont be great but it will be much more than a F.O regional pay.

Thanks for the advice

Whale Driver

Career first, period. Get a flow through job in the US ASAP. That secures your future with a outside timeframe. Once you upgrade there, nothing stops you from applying at other carriers.

Fleron270

I would get some PIC. A few hundred hours. Might tick an extra box.

Gman007

If I get upgraded I have to sign a 3 year contract at my airline so Ill have to be stuck here for a while.

HeWhoRazethAll

REGIONAL. Especially one with flow-through. For sure. You'll get even better Turbine PIC when you upgrade at a regional.

Every month you delay the regional move, you're losing $17,000 on the back end of your career at a major.

Sliceback

The back end cost is more like $23,000 - $30,000, at today's rates, per month.
Add in more seniority every month, better bidding power, better vacations, and the value gets even higher.