Cape Air PIC time towards 1000 121 upgrade
 

Hey everyone, can you all give me some insight on what is a likely scenario coming into the regionals with 800-1000 hours of Cape Air 135 commuter PIC time? Would you foresee a pilot getting hired as a DEC or an FO with an almost immediate upgrade once through training. Cape Air is one of the few operators that qualifies for the 135 PIC scheduled commuter time towards the 1000 121 upgrade time. I am a few years out, and I know things will be different, but I'm trying to get some inside knowledge about upgrade trends. Thank you in advance

Going from an unpressurized piston twin to an RJ captain seems like an INCREDIBLY bad idea

I vaguely recall the hours requirement needing to be from a multiengine turbine-powered, fixed-wing airplane. I may be wrong but, I don't think CapeAir counts unless it's ATR.

Agreed 100%.

Yes the time counts but you will struggle going from a GA piston to a 121 jet. The FAA does count the time but sorry at the end of the day, you are flying a GA plane. It’s 1000% less complicated than what you would be going to too and yes I was a 9K pilot myself.

Do yourself a favor and get at least 500 hours in the right seat. Then you may feel somewhat comfortable upgrading. Just remember that if you pink your 121 ride, you can pretty much kiss any legacy career goodbye or at least it’s going to extend your regional career by a big amount.

Don’t want to be a downer, but if you don’t have 121 jet experience, there is no way you will become an effective captain after a 6 week class.

I wouldn't expect to be ready right out of the gate, but having the option to use that time as an accelerator would be nice. I do have some experience in pressurized turbo-props, but I hear what you're saying.

The regs state that multi-engine scheduled commuter time counts. A little backwards considering single-engine turboprops in a scheduled commuter operation doesn't apply (Pilatus)...although they are more advanced than Cape Air C402s

Thank you for the feedback. I agree with you 100%. I hear people who have a year or two of 121 jet time not upgrading because they didn't feel they were ready. I do see some of the regionals are forcing upgrades so I don't want to put myself in that position of being forced because of my qualifying time if I'm not ready.

Totally. Just make sure you are absolutely ready before the upgrade. I know a cape guy who did it after around 500 hours and he is doing fine. Good luck whichever way you choose!

Surely the union/chief pilot would intervene on your behalf in this case. Nobody would win making someone go from a 6000lb unpressurized piston to a 60,000 lb jet.

I would say that previous 121/135 time of any sort + 500 hours as a 121 jet SIC would suffice if you're reasonably sharp. Best to spend those 500 hours asking a lot of questions.