Turbine PIC
 

Hey all...I was just wondering...if a pilot got 1500 Turbine PIC in a King Air as a corporate pilot or Beech 99 as a box mover would the major airlines such as FedEx, UPS, or Southwest be likely to interview/hire you? My major thing is that I am trying to figure out if I should stay as a CFI for an extra year and build my time up for a 135 gig like Ameriflight or go to a regional in 6 months. Has anyone ever been hired by one of these companies with just Be99/King Air/small turboprop PIC time (that wasn't dating the CEO's daughter)? Thanks all.

When I was a newhire, my sim partner had flown checks in 1900s in Alaska, and that is where he got his turbine PIC. Of course, he also threw boxes at the ANC ramp for a year and was hired as an internal.

Captain Teezy--

I think it's very common to get hired with only turbo-prop PIC time. At least it used to be. I was hired with by Southwest with only Jetstream, I mean "Super" Jetsream 3100 PIC time. My sim partner had only Beech 1900 time. Several more of my friends had only Metroliner time. We're talking 7-14 years ago so maybe times have changed. FWIW.

S.B.

We're losing Beech 1900 captains to majors, so I reckon it happens...

I know of one at SWA that had turbine crop dusting time as his PIC.

In today's environment some majors will hire folks with 121 turbo-prop PIC, but some seem to lean towards glass/jet experience...probably because there are SO many RJ drivers available.

If you are not 121 I would guess you have an uphill battle unless you know someone.

Most dusters are ASEL...usually the only folks who get hired with single-engine turbine time are the viper crowd.

Probably not the Norm
 

I do know of a 121 regional FO who was hired by Southwest. He was in my new hire class 2.5yrs ago, and we had recurrent in December. His PIC Turbine was from driving an AG Tractor for over 4 years. I don't know if he knew people in high places or not. I was suprised when we were in recurrent and he told me he was going to WN. Good for him though since he lives w/in 15 mins of Hobby.

Got a college degree?