The Plan
04-21-2009 | 04:38 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
My plan WAS to get hired after college with a regional (at 21), spend 2 years in the right seat then upgrade when I turned 23. Spend about a year and a half as a captain and then move over to a certain major to fly with my Dad for like 5 years before he retires and my cousin for like 15 years before he retires.
So far, I got hired after college at 21 with a regional. Sadly, it was with a retirement regional so 55 of our current captains were hired before I was born and 93 of our captains were hired before 1990 with the most junior captain being on for 4 years! Not to mention the top 3-4 captains were hired before 1980. So because of these guys that wouldn't move on to bigger and better things, I am now worrying about my job in the right seat praying that I don't get furloughed. Since when did a regional airline become a stopping point in aviation?
The moral of the story is that having a plan is great! It helps to set in motion what you need to do to get things done. Just make sure that you are flexible and know that not everything works out the way we want it.
So far, I got hired after college at 21 with a regional. Sadly, it was with a retirement regional so 55 of our current captains were hired before I was born and 93 of our captains were hired before 1990 with the most junior captain being on for 4 years! Not to mention the top 3-4 captains were hired before 1980. So because of these guys that wouldn't move on to bigger and better things, I am now worrying about my job in the right seat praying that I don't get furloughed. Since when did a regional airline become a stopping point in aviation?
The moral of the story is that having a plan is great! It helps to set in motion what you need to do to get things done. Just make sure that you are flexible and know that not everything works out the way we want it.
04-21-2009 | 11:44 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: single pilot cargo, turboprop
Having "a plan" is a great idea and everyone should have "a road map" they plan to follow. No argument there.
Your plan of getting 1,000 hrs of PIC turbine time and an "online college degree on the layover, then go to brown or purple" is half-baked at best. If those are the qualifications you plan on applying with, be prepared for disappointemnt.
You asked for comments...and mine are to be taken constructively. Plan on getting more than 1,000 hrs. PIC and some "real experience" rather than being so pre-occupied with the upgrade time and the factors that are considered to be upgraded.
Getting selected to be a Captain is a function of flight experience, command ability, the abilty to accept responsibility and crew resource management ability rather than just "how much flight time one has, how long they have been sitting in the right seat and where they are on the seniority list". Without being sarcastic, the sooner you break that code, the better off you'll be. It brings to mind the old saying "some people are so busy learning the tricks of the trade, they never learn the trade".
Just my two cents, devalued to $ .00000187233 on Friday's market close.
G'Luck Mate
Your plan of getting 1,000 hrs of PIC turbine time and an "online college degree on the layover, then go to brown or purple" is half-baked at best. If those are the qualifications you plan on applying with, be prepared for disappointemnt.
You asked for comments...and mine are to be taken constructively. Plan on getting more than 1,000 hrs. PIC and some "real experience" rather than being so pre-occupied with the upgrade time and the factors that are considered to be upgraded.
Getting selected to be a Captain is a function of flight experience, command ability, the abilty to accept responsibility and crew resource management ability rather than just "how much flight time one has, how long they have been sitting in the right seat and where they are on the seniority list". Without being sarcastic, the sooner you break that code, the better off you'll be. It brings to mind the old saying "some people are so busy learning the tricks of the trade, they never learn the trade".
Just my two cents, devalued to $ .00000187233 on Friday's market close.
G'Luck Mate
I think you really have to look at these companies in depth too. FedEx, for example, is replacing 3 crew planes with 2 crew planes (727s for 757s). To expect them to be in the market for a pilot with 1000 hours in the BE99 in 3 years (or hiring at all) is a little bit of a stretch.
On the other hand, say our friend does get into AMF this fall, 1000 hours turbine PIC after 3 years may be realistic provided he's willing to relocate to where the opportunities are. And who knows, maybe in 3 years 1000 turbine PIC will be more valuable that it is right now. But back to Phantom Flyer's key points, don't get so caught up in the numbers and the scheme you've created that you miss the experience.
04-22-2009 | 10:03 AM
#23
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: 135, REALLY SMALL!
I had a scheme once... I think I was supposed to leave this job at least a year ago according to that scheme. Oh well, so much for plans in aviation huh!?! Just make sure you land a job that is two things; reliable, and at least some-what enjoyable!
04-22-2009 | 09:04 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: 'Bus Driver Right Seat
CitationShares, NetJets, Native Air, Avantair, Allegiant, Alaska, Jetblue, Frontier, SWA, Evergreen, Skywest, Eagle Air Med
04-23-2009 | 09:42 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: single pilot cargo, turboprop
Keeping your options open might also include finding opportunities outside of the part 121 world. The majority of pilots leaving my base recently have gotten air ambulance jobs and seem pretty happy about it.
04-23-2009 | 12:23 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: single pilot cargo, turboprop
You know, when I was really low time and applying for airline jobs, it was recommended that I fly for Mesa or Ameriflight. For the two reasons you listed, I'm very glad I chose the latter.
04-23-2009 | 04:45 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
You will exceed the mins with multi time so you are guaranteed the job........let them know that in your interview, that will go over really well.
" Im going to work for 'brown' or purple' after I get my 1,000 pic. Getting hired there means alot more than just meeting bare minimums. Do you know that a beech 1900 is not transport category? You are obviously not military! That will count against you at 'purple' as you call it.
You will be at brown or purple in less than 3 years guaranteed because of your plan. You will probably be a direct entry MD-11 captain, maybe even chief pilot, all before the age of 22. Maybe you should send NASA a resume and be a direct entry space shuttle captain because of all your multi-time at ATP.
Last edited by Convairator; 04-24-2009 at 02:04 AM.
04-23-2009 | 05:23 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
