Capt Upgrade requirments
 

HI
I am CFI 850tt 110multi trying to get a commuter job, I am just turning 21 next week and if I were to get hired in the next couple months by someone like colgan or commutair that have quick upgrade times, could I upgrade before I turn 23 if I meet all the requirments and have taken ATP practical and got the letter of competency? The only reason I would be unable to get my ATP and upgrade would be because of age? Can they and do they get waivers from the FAA for upgrades like that? Probably wih my experience two years is probable realistic to meet insurance requirments for PIC but I was just curious? Might be considering COLGAN. Their upgrades are 12-15months ( So I have heard).

Thanks in advance

Chris

Get the job first. Then you will have your seniority number. If you have to wait 6 months to upgrade, don't worry. When you turn 23, you can upgrade and those who made captain before you will be junior to you. It's all about getting that seniority number. Good Luck.

I don't know of anybody that has ever been granted a waiver for the age 23 rule. Back in the day there were several people that worked for ACA and had the time and experience to upgrade well before their birthdays... one was hired on at the company with almost 1500 hours, including some turbine when he was 19 years old... he still had to wait till his birthday to take his oral (when he finally did upgrade he jumped so far up the CA list he didn't sit a day of reserve).

There's a reason for the age limit, and now that I am a bit older it makes sense to me. Don't be in too much of a rush to upgrade- get into the airlines and get on the line... I think you will find that 2 years is a good time frame to get a grasp of what is going on, and the expecations/regulations that you will have to meet.

Just be sure that as the FO, you are observing what is going on and playing a proactive role in your learning. If you aren't asking questions about how decisions are made or observing what your CA's do, then you aren't doing your job. Take the time to learn what they do, by duplicating their work (read the releases and come to your own conclusions about the weather and the flight, then compare your decisions to what actually happens), and paying attention to their duties (like filling out the flight log and writing up MX). By doing that, when the time comes, you will breeze through your upgrade.

I agree with the previous post. Besides, you'll be building total time and turbine time while waiting for upgrade, which are 2 out of the three biggest elements (with regards to experience, the 3rd being PIC) that you need to move beyond a regional, assuming that's what you want to do.:cool:

Hey,

Thanks for all the responses and advice, I do agree that 2yrs is a good time to spend as an FO, and I am not sure I would be ready take the responsiblity of Capt until I had a few yrs experience under me. I was just curious if there was any truth to that waiver. Thanks again

Chris