I wouldn't jump ship to Cape Air just for piston PIC.

If you live in one of the St Louis outstations, or upstate New York outstations, or need no fixed address and want to move from New England to the Islands as the seasons change - for about what a second or third year Republic FO makes that's a different story.

I live on Cape, and had a 2 year old when I left Eagle to come to Cape Air - I think it was a wash career advancement wise - but being home (almost) every night for those three years much more than made up for it even if it cost me a year at a major.

If you do go to 9k you will be a better stick and rudder pilot, you will have a better instrument scan, and you will routinely shoot approaches and land in weather that you would never make the attempt in an RJ.

You will have a great time, meet great people, and work for a company that still has great ethics. You will also clean sand, trash and puke out of your own plane. You're the Captain, First Officer, Flight Attendant, Caterer, Cleaner, and Inflight Entertainment System.


Its a great place to be, but its not going to be a shortcut to anywhere.

 

Yup. I wouldn't leave an RJ for 402 time. OP: Cape Air was great (and I grew a ton as a pilot), but the previous jet time is what is getting people in the door elsewhere.

I also cleaned my fair share of puke while I was RUT based.

 

So are you at a major now? Eagle to Cape to major?

 

I have 1700hrs jet now, I figured go there get an ATP and PIC multi and apply to Jet Blue which is my goal anyway.

 

Lol, been there, done that. Ain't single pilot great

 

What's not the best thing to do? Go from 135 to 121 or 402 to A320?

 

NO!! You need turbine time, preferably turbine PIC. No major will touch you with only 402 (piston) time.

 

i was also wondering what this gentleman was trying to get at

 

I think he meant is would be more difficult to get a 320 gig from a 402 seat than an RJ seat.

The systems are more complex in a Transport category aircraft, but honestly its just more volume of information, not harder concepts to grasp.

The flight characteristics are somewhat different. It took me a couple sessions to get the feel for the whale, then it just clicked on. And I still flare late. But the weight difference is smaller between the 402 and the 320 than the 320 and the 747.


Anybody out there who thinks a 9K 402 driver isn't prepared to handle part 121 training at a major, you're wronger than 2 men... holding hands.


buffalo, I fly ACMI cargo, not a major. We're part 121 supplemental, aka the wild wild west. Rules are things you have back in the states. They put me up in 5 star hotels, then deadhead me around the world, in coach.

 

"buffalo, I fly ACMI cargo, not a major. We're part 121 supplemental, aka the wild wild west. Rules are things you have back in the states. They put me up in 5 star hotels, then deadhead me around the world, in coach. "

robthree ... sounds like the life I'm looking to live! Done it and looking back, it was some of the funest flying I've ever done!

Buff ... IMHO I agree with what the other guys are saying. The 402 will be PIC, but there is almost never a block on an app (with the exception of JB and a couple) that say's "Enter PIC Piston Time" ... it's always PIC Turbine. As far as the ATP, just knock it out at all ATP's or something. How far are you from upgrading on the RJ? You could get your ATP in your sim check then be building JET PIC.

Just my thoughts.