Bill Lumberg

Why not get some jet experience at a regional? You can kill two birds with one stone: get some jet/glass time and experience life as an airline pilot. That way, you can make an informed decision as to whether the fractionals or airlines are the path to take going forward. Seriously, go apply to Republic and reapply to COEX and enjoy yourself for a few years. I don't fly for either but I wish I did - those are both great choices with nice equipment. Perhaps you will want to stay on that track but you will never know until you try it...

You can always get another twin-prop job elsewhere if needed.

kls81

Hello,
Thank you for all of the input.
I'm only 26 now, but I do feel like time is just flying by, and I feel like I will be missing out on this hiring boom. Missing out on senority numbers, etc., etc.
Staying here for another 2 years, I'll be 28. If in fact I do get checked out in the airplane. I want to get in somewhere somewhat stable, start a retirement, fly something cool and have a halfway decent QOL.
I only have about 100 hours of instrument time due to all of the part 135 vfr flying I do, I do struggle to stay instrument current. I've been studying up on Instrument regs, Jepps, etc., etc. as best I can to at least keep a foot in just incase I reapply to Expressjet.
I do have some things to think about, a girlfriend, her son and I just bought a house and we do live together, however, I do live near Cleveland and from what I hear I could get based at CLE quickly. I wouldn't mind moving to Houston eventually to possibly upgrade quicker.
The pay isn't that big a deal to me right now, We would have 2 incomes and I think we could work through it.
My current obstacle now is, would Expressjet make a big deal about not being instrument current? Should I go up with an instructor and log some instrument time to show that? Would that do any good?
If anyone has any ideas please let me know, aside from being nervous as hell in the first interview I think I could've studied up more on instrument stuff.

Thanks again,
Ken

Slice

Ken,
As an airline pilot your whole life is about IFR flying. It is imperative that you be instrument current and have a working knowledge of the system.

kls81

I realize IFR flying is very important in the airline industry, however, if they are hiring at 600/100 how much instrument time/experience can one have?
I just want to go into the interview more confident especially on instrument flying and was looking for some advice?

Ken

Slice

Honestly, not enough experience coming in for my liking but it is what it is right now. Your knowledge should match your experience level. I would expect a 2500 hour pilot to know more than a 600 hour pilot. Both should(ideally) know enough to operate safely within the system. ASA makes an Instrument oral exam guide. I used it to study for an interview with CBP and found it to be helpful. Many local flight schools sell them. Also try Amazon, Borders, etc.

kls81

I believe I have that one, I just bought a technical interview book as well as that Jeppesen DVD. I also have the Jeppesen legend from work and some others.
I wish I had the opportunity to do more instrument flying with my job. Thats one reason I want to leave.
My last instrument flying was at the end of last year when they were training me in a Navajo, but they sold the plane. Do you think they would like to see more recent instrument time?

Ken

cac737

Don't waste your time and money buying some instrument time. If you have kept up with the books and and are diligent in your scan even if flying vfr you should not have a problem. When you fly jets, it doesnt really matter if you are ifr or vfr, your scan should still be paramount as you reference instruments the moment you break ground. Now of course having actual time, and doing approaches to mins over a career establishes experience, but the point is that at your specific point in your short career thus far, with the regionals lowering their mins and having a hard time dealing with attrition, I believe you are sitting good where you are. During the Q&A session, your work ethic and study habits will become apparant ifr current or not.

really helpful for people who have no jet time is a turbine transition manual. do a google search and youll find 2 books out there! they will do a good job of prepping a newbie for a first jet ground school!

best of luck!

box-hauler

Depending on career goals you will need the 1000 PIC turbine. If brown or purple is your goal you also better get the over water time. A regional is good for time building but you will need to leave to get the over water time. If possible look into a cargo type position (Atlas, Polar, Kalletta) Get in upgrade quickly to a heavy, build a crap load of time flying rubber dog ##it and move on to Brown / Purple. If your dream is flying for a Legacy, (why?) a regional is a good route. Build your time get the PIC time and then wait for the call.

Good luck, remember nothing trumps PIC international turbine time.

P.S. 26 is still young. Even if it takes 3 years to get qualified and hired by your dream company you will still be under 30 years old. That will leave you with 30 (35 if this stupid age 65 passes) years of dream job flying.

UPSFeeder

Freight Runners is looking for two or three pilots to fly the BE-99. It is an easy job, in a good aircraft, turbine PIC. Pay is about $32k a year. They would hire you at your hours - you just gotta be good at single pilot IFR.

http://www.freightrunners.com/employment.htm