What would you do??
 

Looking for advice from those who have been there, done that....

I am currently employed at a regional that I've worked at for 4 years now, and have finally racked up 500 or so hours in the left seat. I have some PIC turbine from flying 135 before this. But, I am half way to being able to "check the box" on some majors 121 PIC requirements, and I'm beginning to struggle with where I should go from here. Meaning should I stay or should I go. I can stay here for another 6 months and get the rest of my 1000 Part 121 PIC, or jump ship and start building seniority at whatever legacy airline might take me.

I know that just because I start submitting apps, it doesn't mean the phone will be ringing off the hook tomorrow. And even if it did, I'd still have to do well in the interview and get the offer. I also know that just because you can check the box, it doesn't mean that you're going to get the call. But after watching friends around me with less time & experience get interviews and jobs, you just never know.

It's just that all this talk about mergers and consolidation and seeing what has happened to those before me---I can't help but be a little nervous about the "what-ifs." What-if I put it in and for some freak reason I get a call from Delta, NW, or UAL? I'd be dumb at that point not to take the shot. But what if whomever it is merges with someone and I'm on the street...it'd be nice to be able to check that box and have the option of applying at UPS, FedEx, SWA. With my views of the airlines having all changed, I don't really see any as truly better than the rest to call it my dream airline.

I also know you can't plan for everything, but I'd like to be as prepared as I could be. So, it would seem that getting the time would be the smartest thing, but is it worth passing on the potential seniority?? What would you do?? I know times are changing, but what did YOU do??

Thanks for your serious advice and opinions!:confused::confused:

I really have no place to be giving in advice in this situation, but since you asked, I am going to tell you what I would do. I would apply as soon as you meet the mins, chances are it may take a while to get the call from the date of applying. If you wait until you get the 1,000, just think of the thousands of other people that beat you to the application process. There really is no perfect answer to this, if you leave with 990 PIC Turbine and you never get furloughed or merged, you made the right choice, but if your airline goes belly up, or you get furloughed your going to kick yourself for not staying to get the 1,000. But whos to say you would even be there if you stayed and waited until you got the 1000? I am rambling so Ill stop, but if it were me, I would leave as soon as my dream airline called, even if I had 999hrs PIC Turbine, but thats just me

Nobody can predict the future. Minimums are minimums, if you've got them then apply to carrier x, y, z. Waiting 6-12 months could cost you hundreds of seniority numbers. Start networking the majors and good luck.

Apply now. In most cases it takes many months to get a call, interview, wait on training etc. You will probably get the add'l 500 hrs in the next 6-7 months while you wait for the phone to ring.

Good luck!!!

Apply now. All they can say is no (not yet).

Stetson20

Ditto what REAL Pilot said.
And continue to update your filed apps as you get the additional hours.

Good luck.

I checked the "apply now" box, but if you want to go to UPS, FedEx or Southwest, you'll need to stick it out where you are. You should be at 1,000 within six months or so. When you're hired,there will ALWAYS be people senior to you and eventually there will be people JUNIOR to you too. As I'm typing this I've changed my mind and would now vote to stay put. Good luck to you, you'll end up where you want to be.
fbh

I would apply now but pray that noone calls until you get the 1000. I started applying as soon as I met the mins, got real jealous when people with less time than me were getting calls and then thanked my lucky stars later that noone called me before I got my 1000. Of course, in the end, noone called until I had well over 2000 PIC turbine but it all worked out for the best. Good luck.

Always apply now, keep copies, spend the time to make it perfect. If you ever get interviewed you will see that application again.

I would apply soon but not necessarily yet. I was furloughed TWA/AA and if it weren't for the 1000 PIC I wouldn't be here at UPS today. Think of the state of the industry. Any one of the pax outfits could merge tomorrow. If your outfit is the weaker airline the apes at the stronger airline start jumping up and down and will put you at the bottom of the list. I know a lot of pilots that I've worked with that are now stuck at schmuck outfits or that are waiting to be recalled at the all-time schmuck AAirline because they didn't get 1000 pic.

Also, think about being a check-airman. The HR people at UPS dig that (SWA too).

I used to fly for two commuters. It was hard work. The Legacy and even the Fedex and UPS jobs are much easier.
Even here at AA we are more productive since 2003. But all in all it is a much easier job than flying for a regional.
When I was at a regional, many of the guys I flew with had "put on the golden handcuffs" meaning they bought an expensive house with toys and couldn't take the 1st year pay cut to go to a major.
Just ask yourself, if the interveiw phone never rings, could i be happy here?

apply period. with this shortage thats seems to be hitting most of these mins. are going out the door anyways. good luck!!!

Flyer,

I'm in the same boat. Its hard to see the majors finally hire and not be in the game. I'm between 400-500 TPIC and I'm going to wait till I'm about 850-900 to apply places. I consider UPS/FedEx/SWA the top of our industry in terms of pay/retirement (save SWA)/stability/overall good companies. I'd hate to go to say NWA, get furloughed and then be kicking myself for not staying three or four more months and then not have the chance to throw my hat in the ring at the above companies.

Not applying till 850-900 (I'm flying about 90/month and figure 2 months from call for interview to class date) because I'd hate to get lucky and have to make the call on leaving without the 1000.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Wait , Wait
 

Wait for 1000 hours. If you don't you could end up getting hosed in a middle aged furlough. Most of my generation went to majors prior to reaching 1000 turbine PIC (back in the mid 1990's it wasn't necessary) and had to sell cars when the furlough came.


Without 1000 part 121 PIC you are near worthless to the outside market. Stay till you have it.

SkyHigh

I have to agree with Skyhigh on this one.
I would not even apply until the 800 turbine pic mark, and try like heck to get 1000 before you leave. When UAL hit the canvas, I probably had 9000 hours total time with a 777 type and I could not even fill out an app for SWA, UPS, or FDX (still can't). It worked out for me, but it was a very scary experience.

Ironic isn't it?
 

It is silly that some pilots are discarded over others by little more than hiring fads and convenience.

To me it is evidence of how worthless we really are that someone with 9000TT and a 777 type can't even fill out an application at SWA.

In the late 1980's DAL for a time did not want to hire anyone with command experience. They thought that people with jet PIC were to difficult to train.

Most of us are building worthless careers and don't even know it. The future could come along and invalidate everything we have worked for.

SkyHigh

I vote for applying now...never hurts to throw an app in w/your top choices if you meet the minimums. You can always update as necessary, and it may take longer to get hired than you think.

That said, if you really are worried about PIC time, six months is not that long a time to wait. You gotta decide which is a more important factor--getting hired with a solid airline (and getting seniority), or getting furloughed.

Apply now, unless, and it's a gamble, there is a given airline you really want to be that requires 1000 121 PIC or 1000 turbine PIC - IE: SWA. Again it's somewhat of a gamble to wait, but may be worth if targeting a specific airline.

Apply now.

You don't want to be across from an interviewer some day and have them ask: "why did you wait to apply?"

I know of one interviewer at UPS who asked someone why they waited to upgrade. I realize that's a little different question, however, these interviewers tend to love where they work and they want to hire captains, so get in the left seat ASAP (which you already are--good), and get out ASAP--apply.

JMO

I think you should take some time to think about about which job you really want. This is a crazy industry and most of what happens is beyond your control. If you set your sights on your dream job now, you will have no regrets later on if things don't work out.

Getting interviewed and hired somewhere you don't really want to be in the long run has limited value anyway, especially since you are established at your current job, building good time and probably have a decent lifestyle right now. You will be most successful at the interview if you have decided in your mind that this is THE job you want.

In my mind, your options are very different and your lifestyle will be different with each.......Freight or People and then Domestic only or International.

First, decide if you want to carry boxes or people.

If you pick freight, your decision is easy, get the hours and apply asap to UPS and FEDEX.

If you pick people and dream of flying international wide-body one day, then you have to consider NWA, Delta, United, CAL. [Of those I would pick CAL- IMHO] You really need to spend some time researching these 4 and coming up with your best educated guess as to your future there. Also, think domiciles, equipment, international destinations and the all important --management and future of the airline.

If international is not vital to you, you can't go wrong with SWA.

If you can't decide, do some reading, soul-searching and talk to pilots who work at these places and find out what they like, dislike and what the lifestyle is like.

Once you've made up what is most important to you and you pick your Dream Job, your PIC decision will be much easier.

Hey Skyhigh.........
I'm sorry to break the news to you, but, your man Evil Kinevil passed away today at the age of 69.

Oh boy....here we go again.

The world could come to an end tomorrow too Sky! :D

Yikes, SkyHigh and I agree on career advice. Time to rethink that plan...