Hello, can someone please provide insight on what an FO would realistically make? I have seen duty hourly pay anywhere from $11-$15 with minimum of 40 hours/week. I am in the JetBlue gateway and am planning on coming to Cape Air and am just trying to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks!

 

Does anybody know if age 65+ pilots can fly in the Caribbean for Cape Air?

 

All,

Looking for some advice. I’m a currently SIC on a Citation part 135 and have only done about 250 hours in 8 months. My goals is to get to Delta, and reach 1000hrs turbine asap. I got an email from Republic about a flow through. Start at Cape Air as Captain and once you get to 700hours of part 135 PIC, move to republic as a DEC. Complete 300 hours in the right seat and then move over to Captain.

I already have 250 hours of qualifying time. Republic would pay for the ATP and I’m assuming get me flying quickly to upgrade. Is this a good idea, terrible idea???? Moving from turbine to no turbine time briefly. My problem is now, you can get any flying if you’re an FO right now and every regional I interview at is a class date in July, and I'm sure sit on reserve for a quite a long time.

I’ll add the deal is $2500 bonus at Cape after training, paid housing, and I’m hoping someway to commute or I guess suck it up and live in the housing. I have a serious girlfriend, no kids.

PS: the company I’m at is not a place I want to stay I will buy out the rest of my contract.

 

I would stay where your are. some points to consider:
1. turbine time will always be better than piston time.
2. jet time will always be better than turbine time.
3. better to have jet PIC or SIC before going to the Majors.
4. get your ATP on your own if the company won't pay for it. invest in yourself.
5. there is no rush to go to the majors since it is still a pilot's market.

Buying out your contract does not make sense and then downgrade to a piston that is 30 plus year old.

 

there absolutely is a rush to get to the majors. They are hiring 2000 pilots a year. That’s a major hit in seniority for the rest of your career.

 

Moving over to Cape Air and abandoning your access to turbine time to me doesn’t make as much sense as keeping your current gig and picking up some piston work or other flying on the side (CFI work, pipeline, other charter work etc.) Assuming that’s not forbidden by your current employer? You’re not likely to do much better than 250 hours in 8 months as a reserve FO in todays regional market with the captain shortage issue. I’d probably stay where you’re at, pick up some flying on the side if you can, get to ATP mins (pay for CTP if necessary) and try to get to a LCC/Major. Having some turbine time and atp mins should make you a likely hire at a LCC these days. The captain shortage at the LCCs is not as much of an issue as the regionals, so you’ll fly a fair amount as an FO at a LCC. Hang out there and keep your app updated at Delta if that’s where you ultimately want to go. In the meantime, LCC life and pay is pretty good compared to regional life. If hiring stops, being “stuck” at an LCC is not a bad place to be at all. Much better than being “stuck” at a regional. If your dream gig was the fastest path to FedEX or UPS where the requisite 121 PIC time still holds, the Cape Air to DEC at Republic argument would maybe have more merit. I work at a LCC and know several FOs with zero TPIC that have moved over to Delta.

Just one guy’s opinion. Good luck either way.

 

Good advice. If you are really looking for quality time avoid Cape Air. While you do get good experience flying in an airline environment there, racking up time in a 40(+) year old piston twin is not going to get you a leg up at the major carriers. Unless they change course and start flying turbine aircraft, your pretty much spinning your wheels at Cape Air.

 

All,

Thank you for the great replies and advice!

So my plan is to tough it out through my contract at the current company and hopefully flying picks up in a couple months. I have booked my CTP course in May. I already have ATP mins (1700hrs TT) for those of you wondering. I have flying jobs on my off time and will be trying to do as much as possible.

I actually have my applications in at all LCC’s but can’t get my application picked up. I think getting the CTP course done will do it. No red flags/incidents or check fails.

If I can do 4-500hrs per year with the current company, is it even worth leaving? I’ve heard you won’t fly much at an LLC starting out?

 

Thank you for the great advice! Would you recommend an FO position at an LLC today or are FO’s not flying very much? I’d like to move to 121 and I’d feel a bit more secure at LLC. I personally don’t like 135 but some people do and that’s fine. I’m happy I tried it but I think I’d enjoy 121 much more.

 

Any news about STL domicile/flying?