155mm

What's the scoop on this Rotorwing Transition Program (RTP)? Does the regional foot the whole bill? Is it a loan? There must certainly be contractual agreements to fly for the regional for x number of years? What are the Pros and Cons?

BrownDoubles

"Most military rotor pilots qualify for the FAA’s lowest minimum restricted ATP. Although many of you have the 750 hour total time, you fall short of the 250 hour fixed wing PIC requirement or 25 hour multi engine requirement. ... will contribute up to $23,000 towards your flight time requirements in order to achieve the R-ATP."

I looked at two websites they both look similar, I think the obligation is a year or two but if a major called in the meantime it would be well worth the buyout. I suspect HR departments are finding great successes through this program because it spread like wildfire. Glad to see my rotor brothers have an avenue.

155mm

Thanks for your response. In the case of USMC RW pilots, they are dual rated so why not get a 135 PIC or SIC job to start and later get hired by a Regional with a hiring bonus versus paying to fly a pos piper something? Perhaps it's a faster track going RTP?

"c) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve, as pilot in command of an aircraft under IFR unless that person -

(1) Holds at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings and, if required, an appropriate type rating for that aircraft; and

(2) Has had at least 1,200 hours of flight time as a pilot, including 500 hours of cross country flight time, 100 hours of night flight time, and 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours of which were in actual flight; and

(3) For an airplane, holds an instrument rating or an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category rating; or"
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/135.243

Am I reading this correctly? It doesn't say the total flight time/x-c/night/instr necessarily has to be in an airplane just that you need the time and appropriate airplane ratings.

If this is correct, one could get a 135 PIC or SIC job flying a Caravan or Pilatus and use the income to get a multi commercial on days off. Of course Safety first, wouldn't want you to get hurt flying for some crap outfit. At a minimum, can't hurt to interview.

BrownDoubles

My short answer is to get to your ultimate destination as soon as possible (pretty close to) no matter what the cost (at least financially). So if you are going to route through a regional anyway just go to the regional. Look at your resume from that airline's recruiter's standpoint and ask yourself what you need to fill your gaps to be competitive. I would recommend setting goals for each stage and then move on so that you can get to your final job sooner.

Not to mention quality of life as a general rule is better as you move up the ladder; regionals better than 135; LCC better than regionals; majors/legacies better than LCC.

Just my opinion...

155mm

I appreciate your viewpoint. Here's mine. If a commercial pilot is qualified to get paid for the job then why lose a chunk of change flying mickey mouse airplanes to pad a logbook? Flying around the patch in a single engine recip is virtually worthless "experience" and it will take about 3 to 6 months to build the time. At least get a 135 operator to send you to Flight Safety and learn to fly a Caravan for a few months. Now you are gaining experience and getting paid. In addition, you are not committed to the couple of Regionals that offer the RTP program. I do agree the search for an optimum QOL will always be an issue!

BrownDoubles

Again, I'm not overly familiar with that segment but if you are able to accomplish the same thing on basically the same timeline then there isn't a time sacrifice to your dream job so it is exactly in line with what I said.

I have many friends "trapped" at the regional level with in excess of 10000 RJ PIC. Great quality of life and making good money and they don't want to give that up to take a pay cut and head to an LCC. I would venture to guess that when a legacy recruiter looks at their resume to day or a year from now it holds the same strength. How does another 1000 RJ PIC strengthen their position? The 135 flying will do little to nothing for your resume other than get you to your ATP which is your goal. I simply caution you and my friends going through it to not get too comfortable anywhere. My trapped friends could do things at their current airlines like LCA, union leadership roles, CP, recruiting, etc. They have fallen in love with where they are but can't understand why their phone isn't ringing.

I hope that better explains it... I wish everyone could get a call tomorrow from their dream job but the facts still remain that pilot shortage or not there are still 10000, 12000, 14000, 18000 resumes (depending on the airline and their counting methods) on file competing for a few hundred positions each year.

collegedropout9

Browndoubles is spot on... If your ultimate goal is to get to the legacy 121 World then start building your FW time ASAP. I have ridden in far too many Jumpseat’s in my career where the crews became “comfortable” in their career’s and never did the dirty work to get to the next step. They don’t network, they don’t update, they don’t attend Job Fairs, etc. Military guys are guilty of the same. If I had a nickel for every fellow RW pilot that asked me why I was spending money on obtaining my own ratings on my own dime instead of waiting for a FW Q course I would be rich. What I mean by that, is that a individual thinks they always have more time to update their resume. For example, Do you have any idea how many pilots are going to retire in the next ten years at AA??? You have a very big check mark on your application. You are a trained USMC aviator. If you wait a couple of years to let someone else train you to build more FW time, then you will allow “THOUSANDS of Other APPLICANTS” to pass you by. Go out on your own and obtain more ratings. The regionals DO NOT CARE if you built your time giving dual in a CEssna 172 or in the right seat of a TP. The more ratings you have scores points on the application. Take personal control of your career. The quicker the better. Best of Luck, CD9

Merle Dixon

collegedropout9 could not be more correct. Hell, Delta alone is hiring 1,000 pilots in 2018. If you haven’t yet, look at the major airline profiles here on APC. The retirement numbers for DAL, UAL, and AA the next 8 to 10 years are staggering. Get out now, do not wait. Good luck.

Synixman

To the OP, here's some perspective on RTP programs at Regionals from an Army RW perspective. You've already got ~125 T-34/T-6 hours from Primary, so you're a good chunk of the way to your R-ATP.

https://theaviatoragent.wordpress.co...tion-programs/

On his site, he also did some research and ranked the different programs since all are not created equal and some regionals have high FW time requirements for an eventual Captain upgrade, which would hurt you as a helo guy.

https://theaviatoragent.wordpress.co...r-pilots-2018/

Why are Regionals offering these programs with little to no strings attached? I'd argue the labor market is forcing them to. They're struggling to fill seats.

155mm

Excellent information with Pros and Cons!