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:D

Looking for honest opinions...I'm a military pilot looking for a career in 121 flying. I'm currently full-time reserves instructing in C-130s. I've put in apps with the majors but I've noticed I'm on the lower end of experience (3100TT, 2850 MEL turbine, 1850 PIC/instructor).

I hadn't really considered regionals because after 15 years of flying I was making too much to justify going to $20k a year, but if upgrades are quick, Gojets CA pay is reasonable and I could get some more PIC time without going broke. Plus I have family in STL and basing from there would be easy (I'm at LIT).

Anyone have any insights? Not looking for flame wars but real opinions from those who've worked regionals. Thanks!

It is my understanding that upgrades are quick, if you have over 4,500 hours.

+1

Also, I think you would need 1000 hrs of 121 experience before you can act as CA per new regs, somebody correct me tho, haven't gone over the new regs in a while...

Thanks. I'm not planning on making the jump to 121 flying till the fall at the earliest, but I'll keep some of the regionals in mind. The major downside to the military is we just don't rack up hours anymore. By the end if this year I'd guess I'll have closer to 3,400TT and 2,100 PIC, but who knows with this budget nonsense.

As it is, I'm looking at a 20% cut in pay (I'm an Air Reserve Technician), so that's not much different than being a CA at an airline like Gojets...and I'd accumulate more relevant flight time faster. I can always fly part time with my unit as well.

Can anyone confirm this?

And Does this part of the new reg have a grand-father clause?

It wouldn't hurt to do 6-12 months in the right seat first if you have no prior 121 experience.

Found the document...

http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...0-AJ67NPRM.pdf

To be more accurate, you will need 1,000 hrs of Air Carrier Operations in order to act as PIC. Be it Part 121, Part 135.243(a)(1) or Part 91.1053(a)(2)(i).

Right...I wouldn't want to go straight to the left seat in an operation I'm not all that familiar with, but at the same time after years of being in my current line of work I've wound up with a mortgage, three kids and stuff. Working as a regional FO for years and years wouldn't make financial sense. Upgrading in a year or so would be doable, especially since Gojet CAs make about what I'll make while on federal furlough (we're losing one days pay a week).

I'm all for learning the business from the right seat.

Funny, I did just that when I flew Learjets for the USAF...flew pax all over, to military airfields, major airports (ATL, DFW, IAD, etc) and even small uncontrolled airfields in BFE...but since I was military, none of those 1000 hours in the Lear 35 count I'm guessing!

There are lots of job openings for lear pilots on the orange website. I'm sure they would love to snap up a military guy too.

I would take that over a regional gig any day.

I'd love to fly the Lear again but moving from the LIT area right now isn't an option. My wife just started a new civilian job here and her Army Guard career has her in line to command a unit later this year. We will probably relocate at some point but that's 4-5 years out. There aren't a plethora of good corporate jobs here.

My honest opinion is that I find going to GoJet morally reprehensible for some individuals, myself included. However, if you are outside of that box, I find that it has become a good option. There is certainly a quick upgrade time, and if the domiciles work well for you, even better. I have spoken personally with GoJet recruiters and captains who honestly are happy there, but I've also seen the other side of that coin.

If you go, understand that the quick upgrade may disappear at a whim, and then you will really be in a jam. Good luck, I hope for the best for what works for you.

Also keep in mind that a quick upgrade for you means your FOs wont have much experience, and neither will you (in that environment). I'm sure with your background you will make it work, but you aren't going to be flying with the same type of people you have in military flying once you do upgrade. That said GoJets could really use some people with your background to help steer them in a better direction.

I recently retired from the AF and I'm now flying with one of the regionals. I can tell you with some confidence that coming from C-130's, I assume your an AC as well as an instructor, it will not take you a year to get used to the 121 world and to feel comfortable with an upgrade to CA. I thought the same till I got here and I think I could handle it as well as many of the CA we have now. That's coming from a C-5 FE! lol.

Just be careful of the quick upgrade promise. Like someone said earlier that can disappear in the blink of an eye...

When I was a C-21 instructor I regularly flew into Class B airspace with copilots that possessed less than 300TT. I'm currently a C-130 schoolhouse IP with over 1,000 instructor hours mostly flying with unqualified students...I'm sure I'd pick up the airline business fairly quick but I wouldn't want to head to the left seat overnight. I'm going to keep my eye on the industry and if no bites from the majors later this year I'll look into Gojets. Thanks for the info.

Good stuff. Its a tough job market right now for sure - best of luck wherever you end up.

upgrade times will more than likely drop considerably just about at every regional once hiring begins to pick up at the majors. If upgrading is your top consideration then maybe find some airline that allows a little bit easier than one flight a day to commute?

It's not just upgrade time. I have family in STL. Being based there wouldn't be bad. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for some other opportunities...and until they officially cut my position I can stay in my current job.

Heard seven more planes are headed to GoJet, any truth to that?

Where are they coming from? (Allegedly...)

Not sure, just heard that seven more CR700's to be flown on the Delta side.

I hear helicopters flying over my house at night...

Any truth to this?

BTW, Delta is currently at the scope limits for >50 seat aircraft until the 717's arrive. So any "new" aircraft would just be a transfer from another DCI carrier. The only cr7 operators for DCI are Skywest, Expressjet (asa) and GoJetssss. Now. Think about your rumor again.

I have heard several different growth rumors. That said, I don't put any stock into growth rumors until the airframes are on property.

Aren't some of the CR7 contracts up in 2014? So they could very well begin the bidding process sometime in 2013. They could easily leave those companies and be transferred to somewhere cheaper, like the 900s that end in PQ.

Heh, there was a Lottery ad at the end of this thread. Mhmmmm, irony, delicious!

BTW, have an interview in a couple of weeks. On balance, it sure looks like a great opportunity to break in to 121 without going on food stamps...guess we'll see. I can say that I've spoken with three current pilots and they range from "happyish" to "thrilled". Take that for what it's worth.

~7k total time, ~4k TPIC, 800 or so jet PIC, all 135. I would most likely live in base if I'm hired. Wish me luck, I'll report back with the latest and greatest.

PS. Any info, thoughts, etc very welcome indeed from current GJ pilots, PM or otherwise.

Welcome to the wonderful world of 121... You're gonna love it at GJ.

*squint* Can't tell if serious...

FWIW, I don't have any illusions about working 10 days a month and driving my brand new Porsche around with beautiful stews, etc etc. And I like my current job a lot, but it's sort of a dead end in the long term (as far as pay goes, at least.) And while I never did it as much as a 121 crew, I've sat in line at LGA and spent ungodly amounts of time in borderline hotels, etc etc etc. I'm going to check it out with my eyes open...can't be anything wrong with that, can there?

Nothing wrong with that at all. You pays your money, you takes your ride.

Are there openings for the lower time folks?

I have ATP mins -100 hours XCTY -7 night.

Going to talk with them today at the job fair in ATL.

Seems like a lot of higher time applicants.

No. None are up in 2014. Nice wishful thinking though.

We have had several lower time folks. Really, we have had a wide variety of people coming here. They range from ATP-mins up to 10K+ hours.

That said, they are very firm, that you must have the ATP mins. I have a good friend who is just shy on the ATP time (like you are) and they have said repeatedly, that its ATP mins or no luck. I hope this helps.

Good luck on your interview. Please fill us in as to what the rumors are from the interviewers.

I think I speak for many of the G7 pilots, when I say we are happy to be employed. After Comair went under, the management at G7 was nice enough to give us all jobs, and I'm thankful for that.

Let us know if you have any questions, and good luck.

+1

(filler)

You do know that other airlines were hiring Comair guys right? IMHO, G7 MGMNT sucks and the pilots who show up in droves justify the suck. Hulas have no reason to make it better.


And they had to give you all jobs because they couldn't fill the seats with the new flying they undercut y'all for...

Ive heard the rumor of CRJ-700s going to 9E recently! Agreed...believe it when you see em on property.

To be fair, Comair guys were tossed to the curb through no fault of thier own. You can't blame them for taking refuge at Gojets until Delta starts hiring again. In the mean time, mortgages need to paid, and mouths need to be fed. Any port in a storm.

Anyone with a level head and a family to support would do the same thing.

I agree, but other airlines were hiring. G7 wasn't the only show in town...

You take what u can . Don't judge them .without knowing them .

You talk as if u can walk up into any airline and get a job .
I got friends that got shot down at eagle a week ago . Friends that got shot down at republic as well . Who knows what there are looking for . They all had the times and where flying part 135 and some were even md80 captains with 12000tt flying 121