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What do the majors look for...

Old 10-02-2014, 11:27 AM
  #11  
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I would take the quicker upgrade on the Dash. More TPIC time will help get you in quicker at a major. In 1999 AA had so many apps (over 13k like they do now). Because they had so many apps, they said everyone had to have at least 500 turbine pic hours. I only had 487 and was sitting right seat at a regional. So you never know what the majors will do since they all have so many apps in. I eventually got on with AA, but it cost me several years of seniority etc. I don't see a shortage of qualified applicants at majors for another decade. Those with more PIC time will look better on paper. Good luck!
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Old 10-02-2014, 11:37 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by Pogey Bait View Post
At the end of the day, with either job, you will still be "just a regional pilot". I used to have the same train of though as you, however there is no perfect scenario. One thing is for certain though, things change. Do you have at least a bachelors degree? What type of degree is it? What is your GPA? Any sports or extracurricular activities in college? Do you volunteer anywhere?
Here is someone who gets it.
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Old 10-02-2014, 12:03 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Saabless View Post
I would take the quicker upgrade on the Dash. More TPIC time will help get you in quicker at a major. In 1999 AA had so many apps (over 13k like they do now). Because they had so many apps, they said everyone had to have at least 500 turbine pic hours. I only had 487 and was sitting right seat at a regional. So you never know what the majors will do since they all have so many apps in. I eventually got on with AA, but it cost me several years of seniority etc. I don't see a shortage of qualified applicants at majors for another decade. Those with more PIC time will look better on paper. Good luck!
Yeah ok. I've got over 6000 TPIC and there's guys getting hired at legacies with 10% PIC what I have. There's seemingly no rhyme or reason as to why someone gets a call over someone else.

Pick a regional based on who has a base where you live/close to it. Pay at regionals sucks. Everyone is pretty much within a buck or two of each other. Go for QOL and you'll be much less miserable than if you chase an upgrade time that changes like the wind.
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Old 10-02-2014, 12:41 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by flyguy81 View Post
Yeah ok. I've got over 6000 TPIC and there's guys getting hired at legacies with 10% PIC what I have. There's seemingly no rhyme or reason as to why someone gets a call over someone else.

Pick a regional based on who has a base where you live/close to it. Pay at regionals sucks. Everyone is pretty much within a buck or two of each other. Go for QOL and you'll be much less miserable than if you chase an upgrade time that changes like the wind.
Could you share your background with us ? Education, types flown, etc ? Thanks
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Old 10-02-2014, 02:43 PM
  #15  
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Absolutely, sorry my old Username "JLDWC" has me locked out.

I have a B.S in Aviation Management
I'm currently an assistant chief pilot for a 135 charter company
I am type rated in LRJET and LR60
A little over 2000 total time, 800 in jets, 40 PIC in the LRJET..just made captain
Flown KingAir 90's, King Air 200s, Lear 35 and Lear 60

Thanks for your help!
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Old 10-02-2014, 03:04 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by JLDWC View Post
Hi guys,

I am at a very fortunate but tough decision, I've been offered to fly Dash8's with a 2 year upgrade or E170's with a 6-7 year upgrade that's supposedly dwindling down to 4-5 year upgrades. I already have 800ish hours in jets and 1000+ PIC hours mostly in light single and twin pistons. However, I am trying to set my self up for whatever is best 3-5 years down the road when applying to a major. Would it be better to have the heavier jet time with a glass cockpit in the E170, probably around 3000 hours worth after 4 years or the 1000+ 121 PIC turboprop after 2 years?? Now both would most likely provide the base I want, however the Dash pays $7 an hour more first year. I am hung up on what the majors would prefer more, the glass cockpit jet time or 121 PIC time?? Thanks for your input!
Originally Posted by scudrunner13 View Post
Absolutely, sorry my old Username "JLDWC" has me locked out.

I have a B.S in Aviation Management
I'm currently an assistant chief pilot for a 135 charter company
I am type rated in LRJET and LR60
A little over 2000 total time, 800 in jets, 40 PIC in the LRJET..just made captain
Flown KingAir 90's, King Air 200s, Lear 35 and Lear 60

Thanks for your help!
It sounds like you are well on your way. Most likely you are currently lacking PIC turbine and total time to be a competitive applicant at a major.

If you just made Lear captain, have you considered staying put and racking up turbine PIC and total time where your at? 121 experience would probably help diversify your resume but I would bet 2000 PIC jet time would get you farther than jumping ship and starting as an SIC again even though it is 121 time.
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Old 10-02-2014, 03:21 PM
  #17  
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Identify your resume weaknesses and fix them. Or try reducing them. Some, like TPIC, are at the fate of seniority list progress. Others, like education, volunteering, union work, professional training, mentoring, working with the Flight Department, are not necessarily tied 1:1 to the seniority list.

Make yourself the best candidate you can.

The question has come up before - "I'm at a commuter as an FO. I can go to XYZ and become a larger jet FO or hope to upgrade at my current job in a year or two." The typical advice from guys, who aren't the decision makers but do talk with candidates and newhires, is typically 'take the upgrade'.

^^^ That becomes a tougher decision for the candidate who is 48 and not 28. The 28 yr old can wait. Or a 40 yr old with no college vs. the same 28 yr old. The guys less qualified vs. their peers have to consider "what if the majors don't call? What job will be a better long term option?" The 28 yr old has a long term outlook that the older guys don't have the luxury to have.

That's where the generic advice about taking the upgrade, even at lower pay, vs. taking a long term FO job that pay more might not be the best advice.
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Old 10-02-2014, 03:35 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by dckozak View Post

Best of luck!
I love your avatar. Don't ever change.
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Old 10-02-2014, 03:47 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by satpak77 View Post
Could you share your background with us ? Education, types flown, etc ? Thanks
4.3 GPA in high school/top 3% of class
3.85 for BS (completed in 3 yrs)
3.85 for MS (completed in 2 semesters)
After college became a CFI for almost 2 yrs, hired as a 121 FO with around 1400 TT (would have gone MIL route but couldn't get a flight slot with eyesight)
Upgraded in 2 yrs 3 mos to the EMB-145, got the 1000 TPIC in 13 mos. Started applying to legacies in '08 only to see the economy crash and age 65 take effect.

Took a lateral CA spot on the ERJ-170 for more pay and another type 3 yrs ago. Thought it might help get at job at US Air/JBlue by having time in type.

Now have over 6000 TPIC, 9500 TT. 8000 of that is 121. No check ride failures, disciplinary issues, etc. 3-4 parking tickets since '97 but that's about it. Applied the last 3 yrs to be a CKA but was told "maybe in a few years when I get more senior".

Volunteered quite a bit with missionary work, habitat for humanity in high school/college. Most of my 121 career was at 12/13 days off as a commuter so not much time to volunteer if I want to see my family/raise kids.
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Old 10-02-2014, 03:55 PM
  #20  
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"Make yourself the best candidate you can."

I'll mention a couple of success stories that I'm aware of. Obviously there's hundreds, or thousands, that have similar resumes but havn't got called. Sometimes the addition to your resume might be the trigger that gets you the call. The fact is no one knows what triggers 'the call' but that shouldn't stop you from improving your resume as best you can.

And sometimes guys are trapped by the seniority system. That doesn't prevent you from standing out vs. your peers. Look around, almost everyone can identify friends or coworkers that you believe are going places and guys that aren't. Make yourself into the guy that is going places.

All the guys in the examples below had other duties, awards, education, etc. IE, no known holes except for the one's mentioned. Are they major holes? No. But they might have been in the biggest weaknesses in resumes that were fairly strong. They identified the weaknesses and fixed them. I don't know if the pilot hiring data bases can identify the drive to improve yourself but it can't hurt.

Military heavy jet guy. Transitioned to civilian cargo flying. Was pursuing a commuter job. I recommended continuing because it would add a couple of key areas that were missing from his resume - 121 ops and passenger ops. He got the commuter job, qualified 121, and got hired.

Retired military. Recommended getting 121 passenger job ASAP. He was going to wait. No, get moving. Would fill 'no 121' and 'no passenger ops' squares. Got qualified, got called. Awaiting 'congratulations' or TBNT.

Military guy with 121 FO experience. Different boat then the first two guys. "Get your military IP qual ASAP". He pushed for it and got it about 6 months earlier than expected. Got called, got hired.

All three identified potential weaknesses and corrected them. Sometimes the correction is possible, sometimes it isn't. I switched jobs three times, sometimes going 'backwards', to fix my resume when I was trying to get hired. The opportunity isn't always there as the industry has changed since then BUT that doesn't prevent an assessment of the current environment and identifying, and fixing, weaknesses if possible.

Working with another guy who's upgrade is still sometime in the future. Instead he's focusing on building up his non flying resume, both professionally and not professionally related. If his non flying work doesn't get him noticed I think he'll get called shortly after he upgrades.

Another guy was going to get another rating (not type rating) on his license. Trying to see if that triggered the software to reevaluate him. It doesn't hurt. Otherwise qualified.

And network. Pay attention. Job fairs. Yes, it's money. No known payoff. Except you'll never know if you don't show up. (I don't get a dime for pumping this)

Lots and lots of qualified guys. Don't stop making yourself better.

Good luck.
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