You can't delay upgrade. As soon as you reach ATP minimums you will be sent to upgrade training and ATP-CTP. You will be required to bid on the next vacancy bid. I believe per the contract you may temp out of your current assigned base until that happens.

Per diem is $40.00 a day so that is a plus. However, besides the two system bids in October and May you just won't know until it comes. STL could be an option or it could be all St Thomas and San Juan.

The pay is decent, especially as a captain and it is nice being under a contract with pay guarantee's per week. You will fly a lot but unfortunately basing is very transient until you have seniority to know what you can hold.

The good news is Cape Air embraces they are a stepping stone and people are constantly leaving the company. If you want anything besides the Northeast it should be easier to obtain.

 

Appreciate the honest info. Would commuting even remotely be a possible option to the Caribbean bases?

 

St. Louis is a decent city. Used to live there. Stay away from living in the city (restaurants and nightlife are okay) and north St. Louis County. (the City and the County are completely separate. The City voted to succeed from the County in 1876 and has lived to regret it.) West County and St. Charles County are very nice if you think of moving there.

 

Commuting is doable but would 100% bite into your off-days. Even as an FO, right after training you get KCM and CASS privileges. UPS and Fedex make commuting more doable. However, at any base except for Billings you would need a crash-pad because you are back in base after each shift.

 

What about crash-pad availability if most bases are in the outstations out of the main cities?

 

What's the current hiring situation at Cape Air?

I'm interested in the Caribbean bases. I have 3,000+ hours TT with lots of single engine turbine time but not enough multi. Would I get hired as an FO and then get put through upgrade training after 50 hours ME (ie 1 month). And what are the chances of getting a Caribbean base right off the bat?

 

Crashpad availability varies. Some places like Quincy, IL it isn't to bad because there is a college and is a larger-ish city. Places like Kirksville or Manistee are a lot tougher.

As a Captain the USVI seems to go very junior. San Juan is more senior but again this all changes each bid and as people move on to other companies.

 

Are people being hired at Cape with just the mins of 500 tt? Just wondering, reading this thread most people that are getting hired seem to have at least 1000 hrs or more.

 

If you are at the minimums I would apply but would not expect a call. A few have been hired with the mins but most had an insider connection to the company. It seems the backgrounds of most SIC's hired is around the 800-1000 hour mark.

Still, it never hurts to apply if you reach the minimums. Even for all the ups and downs I think Cape is a good place to gain expierence and the people you work with are enjoyable.

 

Does anyone know what bases to expect to be open for FOs with July class dates? If no New England bases, how hard is it to get out East as a FO if you’re hired with low time?