Upgrade time for someone with >1000 Part 121?
03-07-2019, 05:27 PM
#41
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Originally Posted by word302
That's a pretty short time to figure out how the operation works and more importantly, how to deal with FAs.
03-07-2019, 06:33 PM
#42
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Originally Posted by Flyboy68
Not even for a Near-DEC position? It's essentially an early upgrade.I've looked at all of them, but the DEC or Near-DEC is so tempting.Not even on me? lol
This is how I see the choices. Commute to a nearby base (IAD, DFW, ATL) and be an FO for a while, then hopefully upgrade to CA and be sent
to a junior base and have a difficult commute and reserve.
Or go the Near-DEC or DEC route, have a difficult commute and reserve right off the bat, and hope to eventually get based somewhere a little easier to commute to.
Basically, it's suffer now, or later.
BTW, Bike Handles literally had me crying with that meme. lol
This is how I see the choices. Commute to a nearby base (IAD, DFW, ATL) and be an FO for a while, then hopefully upgrade to CA and be sent
to a junior base and have a difficult commute and reserve.
Or go the Near-DEC or DEC route, have a difficult commute and reserve right off the bat, and hope to eventually get based somewhere a little easier to commute to.
Basically, it's suffer now, or later.
BTW, Bike Handles literally had me crying with that meme. lol
03-07-2019, 06:35 PM
#43
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Originally Posted by Flyboy68
Are the FA's really that bad? lol
03-07-2019, 06:37 PM
#44
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Originally Posted by word302
It's just another dynamic that you haven't experienced. You're going to have your hands full as a new captain, you want to have a little experience dealing with all aspects of the operation. And yes, some can be extremely difficult, especially senior ones that think they know everything.
03-07-2019, 06:43 PM
#45
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Originally Posted by word302
You have to understand, if you're jumping the line, those guys Jr to you that don't have the hours will keep pushing you down in seniority until all of them have upgraded. So you're looking at a loooong time on reserve. If you go with an operator that has a fairly Jr base in ATL, IAH, or DFW, you can have a 1-leg commute as an FO, a 2-leg commute for a short time when you first upgrade, and then an easy 1-leg commute again for the rest of your time there once you can hold CA in one of those bases. I think you are underestimating the amount of suffering you will have going somewhere where you will always have a 2-leg commute and likely be on reserve much longer than you are anticipating.
Mesa and SkyWest have bases at IAH, DFW and ATL.
Endeavor has ATL
Envoy has DFW
ExpressJet has IAH
Republic has IAH
Last edited by Flyboy68; 03-07-2019 at 07:01 PM.
03-07-2019, 06:51 PM
#46
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Originally Posted by Flyboy68
Which regionals would you suggest?
Mesa and SkyWest have bases at IAD, DFW and ATL.
Endeavor has ATL
Envoy has DFW
ExpressJet has IAH
Republic has IAH
Mesa and SkyWest have bases at IAD, DFW and ATL.
Endeavor has ATL
Envoy has DFW
ExpressJet has IAH
Republic has IAH
No IAD base at OO.
03-07-2019, 07:00 PM
#47
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Originally Posted by Paid2fly
No IAD base at OO.
03-07-2019, 07:26 PM
#48
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Originally Posted by Flyboy68
Which regionals would you suggest?
Mesa and SkyWest have bases at IAH, DFW and ATL.
Endeavor has ATL
Envoy has DFW
ExpressJet has IAH
Republic has IAH
Mesa and SkyWest have bases at IAH, DFW and ATL.
Endeavor has ATL
Envoy has DFW
ExpressJet has IAH
Republic has IAH
Republic
Skywest
In that order. The only caveat to that is I believe you will get a class at Skywest much sooner, and upgrade much sooner.
You will never upgrade at ExpressJet, I believe DFW is pretty senior at Envoy and they have terrible reserve rules (Skywest's reserve rules aren't great either). You know how I feel about Mesa.
The other thing I would do is start courting Jet Blue now. Spirit would be a great option as well.
03-07-2019, 07:34 PM
#49
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Originally Posted by word302
I believe DFW is pretty senior at Envoy and they have terrible reserve rules (Skywest's reserve rules aren't great either). You know how I feel about Mesa.
What's so terrible about our reserve rules? Name a few concrete examples?
Here's the only reserve rule you have to know about any regional:
If you commute, it sucks. If you live in base, it's fine (apart from CommutAir with endless airport standby).
03-07-2019, 07:42 PM
#50
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Originally Posted by word302
Endeavor - Waiting to hear back from them. Would love to work for them as they are the top paying regional.
Republic - Not hiring, classes full for the year.
SkyWest - I was contacted by them, but haven't talked to any of their pilots yet.
In that order. The only caveat to that is I believe you will get a class at Skywest much sooner, and upgrade much sooner.
You will never upgrade at ExpressJet, I believe DFW is pretty senior at Envoy and they have terrible reserve rules (Skywest's reserve rules aren't great either). You know how I feel about Mesa. - Why?
The other thing I would do is start courting Jet Blue now. Spirit would be a great option as well. What are their minimums? I know Frontier requires 500 jet PIC.
Republic - Not hiring, classes full for the year.
SkyWest - I was contacted by them, but haven't talked to any of their pilots yet.
In that order. The only caveat to that is I believe you will get a class at Skywest much sooner, and upgrade much sooner.
You will never upgrade at ExpressJet, I believe DFW is pretty senior at Envoy and they have terrible reserve rules (Skywest's reserve rules aren't great either). You know how I feel about Mesa. - Why?
The other thing I would do is start courting Jet Blue now. Spirit would be a great option as well. What are their minimums? I know Frontier requires 500 jet PIC.
BTW, who do you fly for?
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