Decisions??
 

I completely realize what is about to be asked is a double edged sword, but I gotta ask.
Being a lower time pilot that is thinking about going somewhere to build some time, then try to jump ship to Skywest or Shuttle America, would it be better to commute to TSA, Mesaba, PSA (All 1 1/2 hour flights or less) or go to the dreaded Mesa & live in base???
Thanks for the help.....

Be a CFI, get your hours, then go where you want. There are flight schools hiring everywhere.

I don't want to spend the 4-6 thousand, to only work for 4-8 months. I already have a current flying job, but I'm only getting 20-30 hours a month.

what is your tt now? if you can get an additional 100hrs in less than 6 months, I'd say just wait it out. then go somewhere better. comair is taking people with a pulse right now. e-mail me your resume and I can get $500 bucks to boot.

Ya, but what I was asking is it better to live in base with mesa or commute to somewhere else??

I'd ask the 400 mesa guys who have quit this year.;) Seriously, commuting isn't horrible. It ain't great, but it is doable. Commuting should be something you consider in making your decision, but make sure you factor in the crap you would have to deal with at mesa. Where do you live? Could you move to a major later on and still not commute?

That is a very personal choice, some things to consider though.

Commuting requires-
-finding a crash pad, or a place to rent(extra cost)
-having a second vehicle(you will miss your commute home, and the last thing you want is to be trapped at the pad.
-time away from family or girlfriend(commuting can cause AIDS), you can expect to cut your days off in half just to handle commuting.
-job risk, Trans States has no commuter clause, a miss commute can cause you to get terminated(you will be on probation for the first year from completion of your check ride)

Working for Mesa

-Pay is worse there then even Trans States(though not by much)
-Management cares less about you then the general homeless dog or cat found on road DEAD.
-Moral(sp) at Mesa is lower then anywhere but Trans States!
-you'll be at home on your days off(when not being junior manned)
-low rent(if you live with Mom and Dad-Verrrrry important on first year FO pay!)

Hope this helps

Go to a company you plan on staying at. Stay there and get seniority. Even with your fewer hrs a month you need to take into account the two months of interviewing, getting hired, trained and then hitting the ground. Then you'll sit reserve and may not get as much flying as you are wanting. Some places might have training contracts where you'll be locked in for a year or two. Think about where you want to be and why Mesa is on the bottom as you stated. Then think about whether you want to be a supporter of those kinds of work environments. Joining them is fueling their success of running their operations the way they do.

Get your hours working either at your current job or as a CFI. A CFI shouldn't cost you 4-6k. It's only commercial maneuvers in the right seat. I did everything on mine in under 2k. The rest is bookwork and you can do all of that on your own.

There is also the consideration of the initial expenses with being hired. Unless you stay where you are you'll spend a little money no matter which route. My suggestion is to pick a company you want to work at then continue till you get there. Don't go somewhere with full knowledge of jumping ship.

Jester,

I agree 100% with ToiletDuck. Stick it out until you have the hours to apply with a company you plan to stay at. Regional jets aren't for "time building"!

Earning a CFI (CFII & MEI) was without a doubt one of the best investments I've made. I learned more in my first six months of giving dual instruction than probably any other time in my aviation career.

Become a CFI, you will learn some very valuable things about flying.
Flying is not about getting a job and building flight time. It is about being a good, confident, and most importantly, a SAFE pilot. Earning a CFI will contribute to all 3 more than anything else. It is well worth the investment.
Also, why would you want to work for a stepping-stone to another-stepping stone? That is a waste of time, effort, and life. Build up some real time as a CFI, become a real pilot, then find the best regional you can find and work there. You will be happy you did.

if you are making a living and happy with your current job stay there the grass isnt always greener on the other side

Go to a company you plan on staying at. Stay there and get seniority. Even with your fewer hrs a month you need to take into account the two months of interviewing, getting hired, trained and then hitting the ground. Then you'll sit reserve and may not get as much flying as you are wanting. Some places might have training contracts where you'll be locked in for a year or two. Think about where you want to be and why Mesa is on the bottom as you stated. Then think about whether you want to be a supporter of those kinds of work environments. Joining them is fueling their success of running their operations the way they do.

Get your hours working either at your current job or as a CFI. A CFI shouldn't cost you 4-6k. It's only commercial maneuvers in the right seat. I did everything on mine in under 2k. The rest is bookwork and you can do all of that on your own.

There is also the consideration of the initial expenses with being hired. Unless you stay where you are you'll spend a little money no matter which route. My suggestion is to pick a company you want to work at then continue till you get there. Don't go somewhere with full knowledge of jumping ship.

A friend of mine was reserve CA for MESA and lives in base, we both live in the same place, I commute. As an FO, I held two end commutable 4 on 3 off schedules. I was home more than him.

Granted, it took a while for me to hold that. However, when I was on reserve, I was also able to hold two end commutable reserve lines. So my 11 (or 12, depending on the bid period) days off were ALL spent at home. At MESA. reserves only get 8 days off per month.

Wow don't know where you got your CFI at or what u were flying. But where i'm at it's suppose to cost $10k and an extra $3k for the II.

Wow you guys are getting ripped off. There are no additional formal training requirements to go from commerical to CFI. Buy a ground school kit ($300-500), find a CFI buddy with 2 years in(initial signoffs), get the damn thing in a week. Its not that hard and you shouldn't have to pay a pilot mill for the extra training. $4k is absurd. $10k is downright robbery. Its not that hard if you are fresh out of training. Of course, it doesn't hurt to do your commerical training from the right seat either.

I wouldn't skimp on the training. If you were able to get a CFI right out of the gate...awesome. You must be one hell of a pilot. Unfortunately, the majority of the CFI, CFII, and MEI checkrides I've done for students, it required a lot more training then that. It's not about being able to DO the maneuvers...it's can you actually TEACH them.

Get your CFI/CFII and go instruct at ANY university that offers a flight program. A lot of places will offer an MEI for free to their employees (obviously with strings attached). Usually pays a little more and it's a guarenteed student base. I made a LOT more as an instructor then I do as a regional FO...but they don't let you teach commercial students in a turbine aircraft so I had to make the jump. By the time you make it through all that, it'll be one year later, you'll have a lot more hours and be able to go to any regional you want and be ready for it.

CFI is all on your own. Get the CFI oral guide by ASA then hit the bold questions. Know the part 61 requirements for everything. There is no reason to buy any kit. I didn't even walk in with the FAR/AIM as it's not a FAA publication. Read the FAA books that cost roughly $7 or you can download them for free. If you read the FAA books then study the oral guide you are good to go. All you have to do is learn to land from the right seat and you are good there. Start studying before you start flying for it. It only takes a week to get the flying down but roughly a month of flying.

I don't believe you need any CFI with two years experience just one with 400hrs of instruction given. I could be off on that and don't feel like looking it up. Either way read part 61 and 91. Should take a month to get it all down solid then learn to fly from the right seat. Most guys are able to get it down in 15-20hrs easily. Then go to the FAA for the checkride and they don't charge. It's true they have a very high fail rate,80% in my area, but so long as you admit you're human and don't know something you'll be ok. Just don't pull answers out of your ass. Same goes for any interview.

Flying is one thing, instructing is another. Those that bash it are the ones who haven't done it. Usually you end up learning more from your students then they learn from you. It's hard to imagine with that commercial certificate in your hand that there is more to learn within the realm you currently operate but there is a TON out there. You'd be amazed at how many people with thousands of hours fail the PPL written if they take it again. A whole group of us did it online for fun right prior to leaving for the airlines and the results were quite funny. From a US Air Force Lt. Colonel to 6 others of us only 2 passed. A Martin Air pilot and myself :D of course I went through it regularly with my students so I was up to date and shouldn't have been included in the group.

So I take it you have no aspiration of going to a major airline? Or some sort of better flying?

I am currently living in Columbus, OH, so Comair would be a great fit. Right now I'm at 600/70, would that be enough for an interview? If so, I'd send you my resume and get ya $500:D

RAH is based in Columbus OH. Quicker upgrades.

What the hell?

I wouldn't be surprised if you got a call.

I tried sending you a PM, but you aren't in the system yet. Get a couple more posts under your belt and send me a pm with your information. You also need to fill the application out on http://www.airlineapps.com/ and include my information. Until you can PM, I can't get you my information.

I wouldn't worry too much about it anyway, I don't plan on being here in 6 months when they would pay out anyway. Just go ahead and fill the app out. If you don't hear anything in more than a month, then send me a PM. I'll give one of our recruiters a call and see what's up.

AIDS = Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome

Thanks AB......