rolo

I’m thinking about switching to 121 early next year. I’ve been 91/135 until now and I’m starting to feel like I don’t want to do this forever. I think I’d be happier with the airlines and I’m currently looking at PSA.

I live near CLT, have friends here (some at PSA) and would like to stay where I am. I was wondering if I could get some input and advice on what it would be like if I decided to stay put and commute from CLT initially.

I’ve done the budgeting and could handle minimum guarantee pay for a couple years but would be wanting to upgrade as soon as possible. Is 24 months a realistic goal? Roughly how long until I could fly more than the minimum?

I’m currently at about:
2200 airplane
1500 jet
250 jet PIC
ATP
2 types
32 years old

That would at least get me an interview, I hope?

Any thoughts are helpful.

Jma313

Upgrade is running around 1 year I think currently. If you have a pulse you will get the interview and most likely will be hired if you’re a competent pilot. Getting CLT based would unlikely out of training but doable in the first 6 months

stillcantfly

I’ll second that but when you upgrade you’ll be ORF,DCA maybe PHL reserve for life! I hope you enjoy hot reserve.

Apejackson

Reserve times are currently a year. So unless you’re flying on every day off and can count your Jet PIC time for 121 upgrade (check the regs) you’re looking at more like 2 years to upgrade.

rolo

If I was dedicated to CLT, would I be better off doing Piedmont instead of PSA? My friends are saying to stay away from PDT.

Would I go nuts if I lived in CLT and, while having to commute, could do it easily? Do people commute for reserve initially and not hate their lives?

Swakid8

You have to be able to hold CLT at Piedmont as well. You can go to Piedmont if you are okay with 11 hard days off per month as a line holder......


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Thedude86

PSA only sucks on reserve. Piedmont sucks the whole time you’re there.

captande

Depending on how much of your time is eligible for time towards upgrade you may only be able to hold CLT as an FO for a few months. Then when you upgrade it’ll take a bit to get back there. My sim partner is still waiting to be awarded CLT and he was one of the more junior guys in class. So far looking at commuting to SCR for 6 months and increasing while he waits to get back to CLT.

turbinepilot2

How senior is the Knoxville base (TYS)? I am into quality of life and would really prefer either Knoxville or Charlotte for short commute. What are the most junior newbie first officer bases?

One more (thanks)- the PSA profile on APC says they can schedule pilots up to 6 days in a row. That's a bit much in my book. Is this actually happening much in real life?

SunnyFL

For a while most new hires were going to DCA and a handful to PHL. Usually can get what base you want a few months out of training. I've only glanced at new hire drops and it looks like its more spread out between other bases like ORF and TYS as well.

I haven't seen a line yet where its 6 days of flying in a row. Mostly 4 day trips. On reserve you can re-arrange days if the grid is green and put 6 days of reserve in a row. Typically if they use you on reserve plan to be out every single day once you are out. Most I have had in a row on reserve was 5 days of flying.