Career Path Strategy via Cargo/Charter
 

I posted this thread over in the Career section but I haven't gotten a lot of replies, so I thought I'd try it here since it's related to flying for a charter/cargo carrier.


I've been researching these boards for the last couple of weeks since I started training at ExpressJet. I have 1000 hours total time, having flown F-16s, with just over 700 PIC hours. My first priority is to get to the 1500 hour mark so I can get my unrestricted ATP, and then start applying. My goal, like many, is to make it to one of the majors, or UPS/FEDEX.


Obviously the typical route is to hang out at the regional line of choice and start applying at the majors when eligible. But I'm wondering if going a different route might work better. Once I get 1500 hours and an unrestricted ATP, would it be smart to hire on with a Kalitta or Omni to gain some widebody experience, along with the opportunity to fly international, to then have a better shot at hiring with one of the majors or Fedex/UPS? Yes I'm aware of the QOL of these cargo/charter lines, but that's for another thread. This would be a stepping stone to a major, but with better pay and (hopefully) flying experience that is more competitive than staying at a regional flying small jets.

Another way to ask this: will I be more competitive with some time in a widebody and international hours when applying to one of the majors?

And finally, by getting that experience, would I be able to hire directly into a widebody at one of the majors? For example, if I get typed in, say, a 767, would American hire me directly into a 767? Is this a common practice?


For those pilots that currently fly with a charter line, are you seeing any pattern like the above?


Finally, taking this route would give me the chance to actually experience the international charter/cargo pilot life. I know it's not for everyone, but I could picture myself enjoying it. I would not mind longer trips with longer breaks between them. Anyway, any advice is appreciated.

I’m not at an airline yet so my info would be generic since it comes from friends who are at 121 operators.

Having hours in a wide body aircraft is gold and it tells the majors that you can handle a bigger and more complicated airplane, but given you’re a F-16 pilot, I don’t think it would matter. Having flown F-16s will put your resume at the top of the stack of applications. Some will argue that TPIC is more important than wide body so you could stick it out at the regionals and get a 1000 hours of PIC before applying.

Now, when you do make it to the majors, you’ll get whatever aircraft is offered by the company. Since bidding is senority based, senior guys tend to pick wide body. So even if you have a 767 type, you’ll be placed in one of the junior airframes the company has slots in.

Since you’re military, I don’t think you’ll be at a regional long enough to upgrade before getting the call from a major. It’s not unheard of for mil guys to get 300-500 hours in the right seat of the 145 before they get a call. If flying wide body is your goal, you could go the cargo route (fastest way to that wide body) or just go to the majors and wait until your seniority can hold it. Either way, you’ll get there. It’s just a matter of when.

Again, I’m no expert, but my info comes from guys who’ve flown everything from regional jet, military, majors, cargos, barrow bodies, wide bodies, international, domestic, you name it, they done it. That’s as much as I can chime in, but I’m confident others will give you a response. Hope that helps!

Military guys usually do not chase down heavy time at ACMI (Kallitta/Atlas/Omni etc..) so you are kinda experimenting there as to how it will help. We are only recently getting military interest from new applicants and I am not sure how exactly this will play out for them. Most ACMI's require double the ATP mins so I think you'll probably be at a southwest or united or something before you have the chance to work for them.

Ultimately, the major passenger airlines don't care about widebody time but big cargo does. Pick a path and reduce your exposure to the regional system as much as possible.

I hear you on that, but right now the regionals are my only option if I want to make airline flying a career. I don't know of any other way to hire right into a flying job that will let me amass 121 time given my experience and recency, and they're paying for all my training. Yes, they will get their pound of flesh out of me, but if it's the only stepping stone available to the big leagues, then so be it.