I need some help with making a decision
 

I know how much everyone likes to give opinions. I've got the bare minimums for some of the majors (2200 total, 800 turb. PIC, 1300 Multi, sll of the turbine and most multi are in king airs on a 135 cert.) and recently lost my job. I have the opportunity to take a job PIC on a CJ and King Air. Or I can take a position with a regional who operates the largest fleet of ERJ 170. My ultimate goal is to get on with a Major or of course UPS of Fedex. What is more important PIC turbine or 121 turbine even if it's right seat?

Without 1000 TPIC I'd go with the corp gig. After that consider getting Part 121 experience. Your total time and TPIC are too low for UPS/FDX right now.

I can't really comment on FedEx or UPS. The only people I know that have gotten hired over there had quite a bit of 121 PIC time. I'm not sure if they typically hire people out of King Airs and CJs. Maybe ask over on the Cargo board and see what those guys say.

If you're happy with getting hired by a major that flies passengers (CAL, DAL, UAL, NWA, JetBlue, AirTran, etc) - then maybe stick with the corporate stuff and get about another 1000 hours of Turbine PIC and I bet you'd be competitive. I know several people who have come from the corporate world and are now working at the majors.

An important question is: How long is the upgrade time projected to be at this E170 operator? SIC E170 time is turning out to be a dime-a-dozen these days. You really need the PIC time to get looked at seriously, and I don't know that "800 hours in a turboprop a few years ago" is going to hold as much weight.

I agree with the previous poster that getting more PIC time and also getting some 121 time will cover all of your bases, but I'm just wondering if that would end up wasting more time in the long run... Maybe if you just stuck with one or the other you would be better off...

At any rate, I'll give you the same advice I've heard my whole career... Never turn down an upgrade. Never turn down PIC Turbine time. That would be my 2 cents, but definitely get more input.

Quality PIC is valuable. Jet PIC is best.

Do we still have the requirement of turboprop PIC being over 12,500 MTOGW or am I thinking of somewhere else?? I don't think a King Air qualifies over 12,500........

King Air 90's, 100's or 200's are below 12,500 but 300, 350 are above. But we do hire people with only King Air (less than 12,500) time.

i think the weight restriction is for reciprocating props (eg. DC-3) no weight restriction on turboprop

THX for the clarification........the 350 is sweet IMO.......'

Go try to get a job with the military flying F-18's or F-16's in Iraq. Much more gratifying. Pays about the same anymore too. And I guarantee it is much sweeter than whatever a 350 is.

And with the year it takes to get your package together and get assigned a training date, two years of training to get your wings and your ten year commitment, you will be ready to come to the majors about the same time the planes start flying themselves!!! Of course now you are more than half way to 20yrs so why not stick around a few more years and get that retirement. LOL
For a guy in your situation, who already has some time and wants to be an airline guy, I'd go with the place that you can get the most turbine pic the fastest. Seems to me like a lot of the regionals are hiring guys straight into the left seat and that you would have enough flight time to do that. You have enough time to go to almost any regional you want and worst case scenario, you could pick one with a short upgrade time.
There are some sweet corporate gigs out there but don't think you will get as much time as in the airlines. Also make sure that you talk to some corporate guys first, I did a short stint in a King Air years ago and the flying was fun although mainly short trips with lots of waiting. Just wasn't for me in the long run. You're almost there man. Good luck with the job hunt!

Agreed

FWIW, I know several guys who are stagnant FE's who want to bail to a better outfit, but they never got the 1000 PIC time. One guy bailed to a promising jet freight operator just after upgrade in the regionals and now he is stuck after 7 years as FE (non current) and <1000 PIC to boot.

If you have the opportunity to "check a box" do it.

14

Agreed......regionals are the way to go with a fast upgrade. FedEx loves the regional guys........

well I am CRJ CA (MEM based regional airline). i did upgrade over a year ago 1300 jet PIC (almost 1000 PIC last year), now I need FedEx or UPS to start hiring again so maybe I can finally hold weekends off.

Unless you have mil time, my next bit of advice for you would be to become a check airman. RJ line only Capts are a dime a dozen these days.

Looks like I will have to, but at THIS airline it might be dangerous, I heard IOE stories with 250 hours FO...

Well, you'll be flying on the line with them anyway. May as well get the override pay! ;) If they're not ready, don't sign 'em off...

Might as well, any hope for people like me to be able to apply to UPS....
FedEx will do as well...

Thought he might like to have some fun in a real high performance airplane doing ba!!$y stuff, before he settled down to the boredom of the airlines.

Peannuckle......??

LCA is a must not to mention a sponsor you've flown with......and a VISA for HKG:eek:

Got that LCA box filled Slice. Still hasn't opened any doors for me yet.:mad:

Sorry man, wish I knew the code. Most of the civilian only commuter guys I know were LCA's at one point. Most of them at FDX now.

Lca
 

I would definitely try and get an LCA position at your current employer. It can only help (unless you allow one of the 250 hour guys to get the best of you ;-)

If you elect to go to the sim IP jobs, make sure you continue to fly enough to stay around the 200+ hour per year mark. I have a buddy who has all the blocks filled, but since he is an APD his current hours in the past 12 months is low. This is an issue for him getting in the door here at FDX according to the ACP.

I would say Yes, there is hope... UPS seems to go out of their way to spread the wealth, so to speak.... all of the classes around mine had a very diverse background set.... That being said, everyone that was civilian had a "feather" in the form of IOE Checkairman, DO, CP, Test crew, one or two even owned charter airlines.

Good luck and dress warm when the window opens back up.

14

Similar situation. All i need is turbine PIC to get to UPS or FedEx.

I have mil background with heavy ME for the rest. I'm debating between cargo specifically Air Cargo Carriers going in as street captain (unless someone has a better suggestion). I figure if I can't get on with FedEx, UPS after 1000 hrs PIC at ACC, then I'll go for AirTran or someone like that.

In the meantime, to get the 1000 PIC it seems the quickest (not easiest obviously) way to jump straight in as PIC at Air Cargo Carriers than sit as an FO at a regional for about a year before upgrading. Thoughts?

I second what 14 LEDS said. My class of 17 had just about all walks of aviation represented.

However, it seems that at UPS most of the hiring done from 1995 to 2001 was mostly military and mostly Air Force to be specific.

Seniority-wise, 1995 hires are mostly in the junior Capt ranks. However, up in Anchorage the Capt ranks are mostly in the 1997-1999 range with a few 2000-hires rounding out the list on the MD11. I'm not sure what the 747-400 Capt list looks like.

Finally, to get back to the thread, it is my own opinion based on the aircraft slated for delivery that in 2008, new hires will have to have oceanic experience. When the 767s arrive in 2009, applicants will be hired from a more general background.

Good Luck,

FF

Who is hiring off-the-street Captains at the Air Cargo Carriers ?

Not to sound snazzy, but if you have the quals to be an off-the street Capt, for example 10,000 TT 2,500 PIC 8,000 M/E, why not just apply to FDX or UPS.

Best of Luck,

FF

I read several threads that said if you have 1,200 TT you would be FO for a month then Capt there. Is that incorrect? Sounded too good to be true except the flying...

I call them Pinch-nickel... and I think you know why...
LCA might be possibility, knowing couple of guys OK... but Visa for HKG, I go to Paris...

Slowly Net-Jets is looking better and better, or Cathay Pacific at least they pay for your housing and kids school...

thank for the hope...I dress warm and standing by...