Hi guys, needed a little insight over a dilemma I am having which is making me consider the 135 Ops.

I am currently working as a CFI , logged about 1800 hours , out of which are 500+ light twin hours. I was ready to make the jump to regionals, but due to me not able to move away from my base FLL/MIA due to some reasons (commuting is a no go), it only left me with silver airways, or just continuing my job as a CFI for atleast another year.

However, i am also considering fractionals , preferably (netjets/flexjets) however it seems like i only fall under netjets due to their lowering of minimums. I just haven’t met any pilot yet who can tell me the typical lifestyle at being in a fractional.

My primary cause to working would be due to being in base, i did see through different types of scheduling 8-7, 7-7, PBS etc, now what i didn’t get is on a duty of 7 days are we expected to be on road away from home during those days or come back most nights (What’s the norm). Some posts do also mention spending a lot of time just sitting at FBOs?

I, however do plan on switching to 121 after 1-2 years at fractionals so realistically would i need to be starting as a FO at a regional after said time? Or is there any possibility to jump direct captain or even to a Major?

Lastly, i did read that there isn’t a contract signed by FJ and you can leave anytime
you want , but does anyone know do we need to sign a contract or any clause that stops us from leaving NJ after said time?

Thanks if anyone can fill me in.

 

Realistically, you aren't going to be competitive for a fractional with your low hours. So that's going to leave you with the regionals. Your best bet is Envoy or Republic for the MIA base. It's obviously not guaranteed that you'll be able to hold MIA right away at either place. I don't know what kind of guarantees Silver can give you for being able to hold FLL right away, but that should be your absolute last ditch place to go. Honestly, if you can't commute at all and are locked down into staying put in one spot, the airlines probably aren't for you.

 

You have the hours to get on with a Regional or a Fractional like Plane Sense. In both cases you will be starting as an FO. With both Regionals and Fractionals when you are on duty you will be in the road. The only exception is if you are in Reserve with a Regional and you live in domicile then if you aren’t used you will be home.

 

Definitely look into PlaneSense. You can be home based. They operate PC12s. Check them out.

 

You seem to be hinting rather strongly that you don't want to be away from home for anything more than maybe a day, if I'm reading this correctly.

If that's the case, career CFI may be the way to go, unless you can figure out a way to be away for days/weeks at a time. (yes, weeks, for training)

 

If you plan on going to the regionals in 1-2 years then just go to the regionals.

 

I would suggest you go to the Regionals to build commercial flying ops experience and then decide if the airlines are for you or if you prefer the Fractional life. Going straight to NetJets without prior job (non-CFI) experience isn't going to be easy.

 

Try these guys: https://makersair.com/

 

What about Envoy? They have a MIA base.

https://www.envoyair.com/pilots/

 

Exactly. Silver seems like the last place to head! I guess i will have to keep instructing until i reach a point where i can commute, because landing MIA initially at either Republic or Envoy seems almost impossible.