stang

Whoa, so they aren't flying that much - bummer to hear as Horizon is on my short list with a pre-interview phone call scheduled

WhiteH2O

FWIW, I've been on property for a year and 3 months, signed off from my upgrade in December (previous 121 time), and I now have 240 TPIC from the past 3 months. As I sit here typing this, I got 3 texts from scheduling looking for people to fly premium trips. I'm in the bottom 10% of SEA CAs, and due to senior guys bidding reserve, I've been holding a line as a CA. Although, that might change as the Pathways now requires the 1000 PIC, and I'm somewhat expecting to be reserve now.

porkchopexpress

As someone looking to start a 121 career, the change to the pathways program certainly gives me something to think about, but for anyone wanting to live in the PNW it's hard to go a different direction due to Horizon's domiciles. I'm sure the current backlog of interviews and training are a non-starter for many people, but my availability date is Nov 19 anyway, so an early-Fall interview works out well. I apologize if that makes me part of the problem...

Fit4Doody

Yes indeed. It’s quite annoying that Alaska will take pilots with less time than the new flow agreement from different regionals.

DashAviator

Our VP of Flight Operations estimated that it would take a Horizon pilot about four years to meet the new requirement (2000 + 1000 PIC). My own "back of the envelope" estimate is closer to five years, depending on how long you spend on reserve and how willing you are to commute or move to take an earlier upgrade. As a line pilot, I fly about 650 - 800 hours a year, but I've heard that some of the reserves aren't working that much. Each training cycle also takes about three months, so figure about six months of not doing much flying (except IOE).

I enjoy flying the Q400 and enjoy my job. If you think you'd like to work here, then put in an app. I share many of the opinions above about changes to the Pathways program, but no one really knows where the aviation industry will be in three or four years. Go to work for a company that you can tolerate for a few years.

Fit4Doody

Sage advice

Starchkr

Horizon is a decent regional airline. I enjoy the flying and the experience is great, particularly for a new professional pilot looking to build experience and live in the PNW. It may not be the fastest route but it’s a solid path IMO.

For me, it’s turning out to be a temporary stop considering my background with previous PIC time. If Alaska was my number one choice I might be better off going somewhere else first...

Considering the latest changes to the pathway I’m motivated to move on and take my chances elsewhere.

ASpilot2be

I feel the exact same way. Horizon is an awesome place to start out at, and it made an awesome place to fall to when my last carrier filed bankruptcy. But it is time to move up to some thing bigger.

I did some rough math and if I waited for my number at Alaska through Pathways I would lose out on a lot of income at the end of my career. Not to mention losing out on retirement money.

ftaba1

I totally agree with you on this! I know quite a few pilots hired by Alaska with zero 121 PIC time or no 121 time at all.

But ... Could a QX pilot NOT enter the pathway program and apply outside of the flow?

ASpilot2be

Nope. They seem to have put a stop to that.