HerkReynolds

Hey guys,

Looking for a little(much appreciated) advice!

I'm a guard guy, mid-20's with just under 1,400TT and around ~420TPIC in the -130. A few college degrees, with my M.S being done soon. I'm at a regional whose future is apparently 'iffy' in the upcoming year.

My question is: Would you guys/gals recommend staying put at the regional, which I could upgrade to the left seat in ~6 to 9 months from now and build a lot of time in the next few months, or make the jump to an LCC(G4) and build some time there in the A320 as a better option towards working on getting on with the big boys? G4 is a possibility with things already moving along in the process with them.

At this point, it seems more TT would be more significant of a goal than anything else to help me achieve the dream of making it to a major...I currently live in my guard town and commute; G4 would assume a short move to live in domicile and commute to the guard. Either way is doable for me.

Thanks!

Phoenix21

I’d recommend moving on to the LCC.

crewdawg

If you were to get "stuck," which one would you rather be stuck at? Personally, since you're a C-130 AC and building PIC there, I'd jump to G4. Best of luck!

rickair7777

You need PIC for max career progression opportunity. If you can get enough of it, and fast enough to suit you, in the guard then do what feels good with the airlines.

Presumably you know that G4 schedules are conducive to living in base, not commuting.

ps2sunvalley

Bum your way to more C-130 PIC. Take a 120 day deployment is what I would try to do, while waiting it out at the regional to get to PIC at the regional.


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joepilot

I would move to the LCC and drop MIL leave as much as possible to get that magic 1,000 turbine PIC. After that, scale back the Guard, and build time in the 320.

Pay will be better after the first year, and you will be flying mainline equipment.

Joe

SaltyDog

Guess I'm the contrarian. Stay at the "iffy" and get 121 PIC now!
You can continue to build TPIC on two air frames. Desirable by any destination airline.
Having max TPIC now gives more career options later with better certainty with long term minimal downside.
LCCs will still hire you later if desire that path, or can go direct TPIC Mil/Regional to destination.

Sidebar: Airline managements collaborate and watch the use of MIL cycles and timing and claim to DOD Generals and Admirals we abuse USERRA. DOD generally agrees and we see said DOD leadership side with management and suggest we violate USERRA protection to help the airline. Ughhhh
Can you do this? Sure, but the rest of the serving RC and Guard folks do take a hit. Nuanced, but take a hit from DOD leadership

HerkReynolds

Thanks everyone! Seems like a pretty split opinion... I've never been the type to abuse the Mil leave because I know exactly the impression it leaves with the civ employer. Most of my Mil leave has been for upgrades, pulling 120's,etc.

One thing worth mentioning is that projected upgrade of six months is only due to the ~400 121 hours that I need. Seniority-wise I could've held it a while back, so I would enjoy the benefits of being a top 15% FO in my base in the meantime(18 days off to bust my ass at the guard)

The LCC seems worthwhile since I've got a shot at getting hired there so young. Yet, my efforts could be better spent working on proceeding direct to the fix, like Salty said.

Thanks again everyone, I guess I've got some more thinking to do...

jamesholzhauer

I assume you know up to 500 hours of crewed mil multiengine airplane PIC can be used for the 1,000 hours of required 121 SIC to upgrade? That would take your total 121 SIC needed to only 500 hours. Wasn’t clear reading your posts what your time breakdowns were.

Edit: 121.436

(c) For the purpose of satisfying the flight hour requirement in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, a pilot may credit 500 hours of military flight time obtained as pilot in command of a multiengine turbine-powered, fixed-wing airplane in an operation requiring more than one pilot.