just out of curiousity
 

ive been around this forum for about 3 years now and have noticed that there are two general theories on this forum: one is the pay and management sucks, and the second is that there are sentiments around people going to regionals "just to fly a jet" and subsequently taking the seat of the career guys who are looking for upgrades and time..

my question is this. i am a guy who wants to experience airline life and fly a regional jet for a year or two, with no intention of ever looking for upgrades or for a major job. because of this, i will be deemed as taking the seat of someone who wants a career.

if both of us are using the airline for the same thing (to better our own causes), what makes me worse than the other guy?

Are you saying you want IN... but just for a year or two?

You would be well served to not care about what other people think of your career decisions. We all have our own individual situations, and reap the rewards (?) of flying in different ways. I suppose the ideal situation for most pilots would be having the luxury of flying out of want and convenience, rather than necessity and a paycheck. If you happen to fall in that category, more power to you. If people give you hell for that, they're jealous. Either way, we all make sacrifices to chase the dream. Good luck to you.

Like it or not, regional airlines are the "entry level" job for the majority of folks out there. Each pilot that applies to a regional has a particular reason why they are applying.

Almost always it's to build time to further their career (in some form or another). If you want to go to a regional and stay an FO or bail out for something else after a year or two, so be it. That's YOUR chosen career path. You're not "taking" a job from somebody else the way I see it. If that other person is more qualified for the job- he/she will get it over you.

If going to a regional to build turbine time is your goal before you move to a corporate/charter/fractional job- that's nothing new. I know plenty of folks that have left regionals without upgrading to PIC at those companies. I also know a handful of folks that worked as an FO at a regional in order to gain operational experience as a line pilot before seeking out a management job somewhere else in the aviation world.

Not to mention the number of people that try it out and then leave aviation entirely.

It's your career path and you make the choices. Don't worry about what others will think- the honest truth is that they don't have to know what your plans are (unless you feel inclined to tell them).

Simply put- we're all "career" guys. Some careers just progress differently and have different end goals than others. Don't allow the thoughts/opinions of others to sway your own goals and options.

As far as "taking" jobs away, most people view that as a conscious and deliberate action where a pilot accepts horrible compensation just to get an airline job. PFT is something that comes to mind. The airlines do love this idea, because it helps their costs, and the second idea you mentioned (SJS) is their marketing tool. I'm not sure why you'd want to pay for so much training and be a regional pilot for a couple years. Not a very good return on your investment IMO. But with airlines hiring at such low times, it seems unlikely that you'd be keeping someone else from getting a job.

Depending on where you go to work, maybe nothing. Since you obviously have life and job flexibility, hold out for a non bottom-feeder airline. Besides, if you're just doing it to have fun, you don't want to put up with the BS that many entry-level pilots tolerate while striving for the brass ring down the road.

Be advised that "hobbyist" airline pilots are not really appreciated in the industry...there is a perception (correct in most cases) that they don't care about, and will not bother supporting, the long-term standards that the career folks are striving for.

These types are usually early retirees with a few years left who want to "live the dream" for a while. Or girls who married money and want to have some fun before they start popping out the puppies.

More power to ya. However, as I'm sure you've heard two thousand five hundred thirty seven times, if you work for a place like Mesa, TSA, et al you won't really be living the dream at all. If you're not worried about fatal attractions come over to SKW. We have plenty of beautiful flight attendants that are absolutely crazy. Certainly keeps things interesting.

If you want a great contract with old hags in the bag try XJT. ;)