kls81

Hello,
My goal is to eventually fly for a major or a fractional.
Right now I currently fly for a Part 135 company, mainly VFR flying. single and multi engine.
They have been talking about training me in their Cheyenne, they have been telling me this for awhile and things are moving slow. I don't know if they're talking out of their a$$ and just want me to hang around longer or what, but I'm getting anxious. They will also require a 2-yr contract. The pay isn't bad, around 40 with very few overnights.
I have about 2500tt and about 600 multi and not that much instrument time. I'm considering applying to Expressjet. However, I don't know what the best move to make is. Hang out and wait for the Cheyenne and get PIC turbine or go to a regional and get part 121 time and hope for the upgrade to captain?

Any info would be appreciated

Thanks,
Ken

captainkudzu

Two years is a long time to be under contract.

At the very least, I 'd send out some applications. Maybe you can force their hand if you have a firm class date.

Any regional airline job will be a pay cut for you, if you are making close to $40K. The upside is that you would likely be getting jet and glass cockpit experience.

A lot depends on your long term goals.

Slice

There's a thread on hear talking about 1 year upgrades at Skywest...I'd apply there and XJT with your times.

kls81

I don't like the 2 year contract either, I did interview with Expressjet back in April, but I didn't get the job. I thought maybe that would tip them off that I am looking. It's now been 3 months and I can reapply and I'm thinking about doing so.
The pay won't be that big of an issue, my girlfriend is an RN now and she can make up for the loss for awhile.

Thanks,
Ken

cac737

Hey buddy, I remember being less marketable than you and I was fortunate to have met the right people at the right time and went from a baron to a Citation. Now, it wasn't just luck, it took alot of work on my part to make this happen. 1 door out of 15 knocked on opened for me. You sound like you are pro-active and it's those people that get advanced more than those that just sit back.
Someone on here mentioned your long term goals and that is crucial. If you would like to work for a major one day it would be in your benefit to get your arse to a regional. You will build time much more quickly than a typical charter or corporate outfit. The pay may suck, but if you want that time quicker the good news is that if you are willing to fly more then you can help offset your low starting pay with overtime. Not the ideal situation, but unfortunately when you are starting out in this industry you just have to pay your dues and hold on to your goals (dreams).

If you think you hear rumors and innuendo at your current job, multiply that by 100 and that is what you'll get at any regional. Both good and bad, but at the end of the day what matters most is why you are doing what you are doing. (your goals/dreams)

That is my biggest advice. If you seek nothing more than pay or prestige, save yourself countless frustrations and seek a new career. If you got bit by the bug and just plain love to fly, then welcome aboard.
Now, before anyone gets the wrong idea, im not saying that the current bar is acceptable or that i am happy with current pay....IM NOT!!!
However, if money alone is at the top of your wish list, then history will prove that your "balloon" is subject to being popped more often over your career than would make anyone happy, and will only serve to make you miserable.
There are plenty of heavy captains out there that I have seen just beat down, miserable and flying is just a job for them now. They all share one thing: they came in when it was still their dad's airline and have always held onto that and still want it to be that. Well we all know that this aint "your daddy's airline industry".
These are some of the best sticks and people in general, but I just hated to see them the way they are, and would just warn people off of aviation just in case they bought into any one of the ads that showed a happy picture perfect fo in the right seat with the caption "zero time to right seat in 1 month".....it isnt that rosy......but if your intentions are in the right place, then I can opine on here that it is one of the most rewarding experiences that you can have and share!!!

hope this helps......

UCLAbruins

Get out of there if you can. You need to fly something more complex; that will increase your chances a great deal. The majors, Netjets, or Flexjet want to see applicants with experience on aircraft like business jets, regional jets, or even heavier props, like the Dash 8 or saab. Go to a regional, its s a crappy job, but you pretty much have to do it. Where else are you going to get 1000 turbine hours a year???? good luck man

Bill Lumberg

Don't stick around to fly that POS. There are plenty of regionals hiring right now - Republic (that would be my choice - nice E175s), Pinnacle, Mesaba (can't find enough pilots!), Colgan (might get on the new Dash Q400), Lynx (Frontier's new regional out of DEN), COEX (great choice if you can reapply) and many others. Check out www.airlinepilotcentral.com and look under the airline tab (regionals) for all of the contact information.

Don't sit around. Some newbies are getting hired into jet equipment with 500 hours total (500/100 multi). You need to focus on getting the experience needed to attract fractionals and majors eventually. Get some good regional jet time - that would be my focus in your situation. Try for Republic and COEX first in my opinion - those would be great operators and you would get some marketable experience.

Good luck

jonnyjetprop

Beat feet. They're stringing you along and in two years were will you be?

Option 1: Stay and fly the PAYE. 200-400 hours of multi turbine PIC. Is that holding you back froma job at a major or a frac? How many senoirity numbers did you lose? Will the airlines be hiring like mad? Is your 135 company going to get anything bigger than a Cheyanne? Will they be in business in 2 years?

Option 2: Run to your nearest regional airline. In 2 years, maybe a Captain? Maybe a high senority FO that can control his life? 1200-1800 hours in an RJ over two years. How will that look to Netjets? Delta, CAL, even UAL?

In my book, its an easy choice.

NJA Capt

As a matter of fact I have. I flew piston/turbine twins for a charter operation and they wanted a contract before they would upgrade me into a jet. I said no thanks, I'll stay put. A few months later I was at EJA. There is no way I'd take a 50% pay cut to fly for a regional. I'd rather fly a Baron for 40K than an RJ for 20K.

You didn't say how much instrument time you had. Depending on how close you are, I'd stay put and apply straight to NJA or a major. There are plenty of people hired at NJA with "0" turbine time. There are also a lot turned down with 20,000 hours of EFIS/heavy jet time.

UCLAbruins

If I was a young guy, I would never do such a thing, unless I had to (wife, kids, house). If you are a young guy, just bite the bullet, and go to a regioanl, even with the 50% pay cut. Its an investment for latter in life. The majors, NJ, Flexjet hire people without turbine time, but keep in mind that they are the exception. Play it safe, get the turbine-time, jet would be best, and but turbo-prop will work.