Hi LBA,
Former 9k pilot here who just left, but commuted for almost 3 years while at Cape Air. This is how is works: If you have 1300TT, you would be probably top of the list for a new hire for Cape Air as they are looking for higher time guys that can upgrade quickly. You don’t have a choice as to when you upgrade. As soon as you have 1500TT you are going to ATP-CTP and taking your ATP check ride. Now comes where you are based. It all depends on what is available when you upgrade. You get to bid from the list of open spots. I live in Idaho and commuted to Puerto Rico and Billings for almost 3 years. Wasn’t great but I made it work. All new pilots sign a 1 year to 18 month contract and that contract time starts the day you take your ATP check ride. Not sure what they are offering right now with the pandemic. Boston has always been senior base but spots do open up. You can always take one of the surrounding bases and just take a 9k flight over to your base the day of and start work; ie hyannis, P-town, etc. and then fly home after your shift. I didn’t commute every day, I just did my 4 on 4 off shift. I really enjoyed my time at Cape Air, the only stressful part for me was the commute, but I survived and never missed a day of work because of it. There are plenty of options basing wise especially if you live on the east coast. PM me if you need any help, advice, or more questions. Happy to help.

 

PM me if you need any help, advice, or more questions. Happy to help.[/QUOTE]


Thank you so much! This was exactly what I wanted to know. I might take you up on the offer, i really appreciate the insight.

 

I've got an interview set up, currently have 1050 TT 500 Dual Given 100 Actual Instrument 75 Night and 20 Multi (this is probably the weakness of my hours), CFI/CFII, am I competitive? Also, if I were to get the job is it a bad idea to take it given the 15 month commitment if my end game goal is to be an airline pilot? Looking to hear some opinions/advice. Thanks guys!

 

I don’t think 15 months after you get your ATP is too bad considering the current climate. Not many companies are paying for ATP’s at the moment. “Not many” does not mean there aren’t other paid ATP choices are out there but why pay for an ATP when you can hire a guy with thousands of hours that already has one. After the commitment is over, hopefully the industry is in a much better place and guys like you and I will be competitive. Also Cape Air has a pretty good reputation throughout the industry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for the reply, I'm hoping to get the job mainly because im sick of instructing! But also think this would be a great job and lots of fun, I've heard great things about the culture of all the pilots over there. That puts it in perspective too, 15 months from my ATP isnt too bad, especially during at least half of that time most airlines will still be dealing with COVID, issues, maybe even longer, so to be locked into PIC multiengine employment would not be a bad thing at all

 

Doubt many airlines are going to hire much in the next 12 months. I’m at a major and they’re not hiring within that timeframe, which means there’s really nowhere for RJ pilots to go.

If airlines do hire within the next 12-15 months, then it will probably be ex-121 pilots with type ratings and plenty of experience. So, with that in mind if Cape Air offers a job, I’d jump at it.

 

I was just hired with basically the same exact credentials. I doubt regionals will be hiring anytime this year. When they do it’ll be all the experienced guys that were furloughed out of training or were at one of the multiple airlines that went out of business. I believe its better experience than staying as a CFI/CFII.

 

Congrats on getting hired! I agree, 100%, thinking about it further, in a worst case scenario I think the commitment would cost me just a few months of potential senority. In a more likely scenario, it won't even cost me any senority, and will get me an RJ job/upgrade faster than my peers who stayed teaching, because I will come out of it with a lot of 135 Multi PIC time. Also, the Spirit flow looks interesting on paper, don't know much about it how it actually works in reality.

If you don't mind me asking, how was the interview, and how long from finishing the interview to then getting a job offer?

 

Let’s be clear. Not just 135 multi pic. Which will better prepare you for sure. But 135 Commuter multi pic, which counts towards the 1000 hours required for 121 pic. Normal unscheduled 135 multi pic does not.

And you’ll build total time which will matter down the road at a faster clip than any other time in your whole career...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The interview was very straight forward. No surprise questions. If you look at some of the gouges they are spot on about what will be asked. It was about 4 days after the interview when I got the call that I was hired. The pilot hiring team meets once a week so you won’t know at the end of the interview like some of the other airlines.