Take FO offer or wait until 1200 for IFR Mins
 

Just recently interviewed and received an offer for a FO position with Air Cargo Carriers. With the FO it is a year contract and 7,500 commitment.

I am currently with a survey company, and at ~940 hours, plan on hitting 1200 by the summer.

Their chief pilot was of the opinion that it was good to do the FO, as then you get used to the operations and larger aircraft. Versus just jumping straight into a larger plane solo, as most companies are solo IFR. I've had several colleagues though who have done the 1200 route and seem to not have a problem.

Any insight, suggestions, past experiences, all appreciated.

Thanks!

Short answer: It doesn't matter.

Long Answer: I did the 135.243c thing and went single-pilot IFR. I was under the impression it would make me a more proficient pilot for the rest of my career. Others did Air Cargo Carriers, etc. thinking it would improve their ability to function as a crew. In reality none of us had trouble working as a crew or flying IFR. However, other guys made it to better-paying jobs faster, AND they did it with failures and such in their records by just plopping into regional airlines.

So just take the shortest pathway between your current position and money. Don't worry.

It depends on what your long term goal is?

Airlines? Cargo? 135? etc

I went to a job fair in Miami when I was a newly minted 250 hour CFI, and the guy at Air Cargo Carriers grabbed my hand to sign up and gave me a class date. For what ever reason, I didn't do it. He looked at me in disbelief. I occasionally wonder to this day how my life would be different if I did it?
In your case, at 1500 hours you can go to a 121 regional. It is of my opinion that the 121 world is much nicer than 135.

My end goal ideally is cargo. Just recently read the post and checked out UPS FO requirements. They aren't bad, 1500 TT and 1000 PIC turbo/jet. Yes I know those are minimums and to be competitive most likely need 4000+ TT if not more.

My plan so far is to try and get into a Cargo position flying solo IFR, build up my PIC turbine time, probably 1-2 years. I was also looking into ABX though as they do hire at ATP mins, and then from there move onto a major cargo few years down the road.

Current ACC guy,

If your goal is anything 121. Go to a regional. The ABX flow is a joke and they’ll take you at 1,500 hours.

If you’re interested in ACC, take a long look at our bases. Most aren’t garden spots and with recent attrition you can be assigned any of them (Excluding the CAE lines). Pay is ok and the Shorts is an easy plane to fly.

I’d recommend taking the right seat before upgrading. You’ll learn a lot under a captain and about the operation vs being a direct entry captain. 135 doesn’t have IOE, so you’re off by yourself when you upgrade. It can be a baptism by fire.

If you want to do cargo, then take the cargo job. Or go to Ameriflight or something similar. In a few years you'll be able to move up to bigger equipment and do networking to get there.

Do they still hire FO's with 250 hrs? Those were the mins on their site a few months ago, but now they're wanting 800tt.

Plenty of guys hired at 250. 500+ is just preferred.

Awesome, thanks, what're the bases for ACC?

Former ACC guy here. I was FO and later upgraded to CA. Really enjoyed the gig.

Good company, good people, my check never was late I was never pressured to fly cowboy type stuff.

If you wanna do cargo ACC is a good place to start. The Shorts are easy to fly, but in bad weather and especially in ice the workload will pick up. No autopilot. So when it's RVR1800 in CRW or MDT and it's 6-7am you better be on top of your game for that approach.

I liked having a second pilot all the time. It makes it easier splitting up the duties on the back side of the clock.

If you do decide to go to ACC. Be an FO first. The pay is good and you'll learn a lot in the right seat that'll make your upgrade way easier. The time will go by quick. In my upgrade class there were a few street CAs and they were struggling much more. It's not the Concord, but for the Irish Concord there's still a lot of stuff to know.

I will say having that experience made my training in 121 way easier. But that's just me.

Good luck!

What's the typical schedule? Do they have CASS?

FO's flying Monday night through Saturday morning in the Lower 48. Captains are 3 weeks on/ 1 week off. San Juan is mostly day flying.

ACC does have CASS.

Learn how to operate as a crew. CRM will be implemented the rest of your career. The lessons will be invaluable.

What's difficult about MDT?

Be an FO first.
Period.

Great advice for any airline.