To apply or not apply...?
 

Hi everyone. Have a question.
I am a low time pilot (just over 300TT 200PIC 26ME). Right now I am in the middle of my working on my CFI. I know a senior capt over at Piedmont and he says if he walks in my resume I will probably get the interview. I know I can get the job if I get the interview, I'm not really worried about that part.

My question is, should I go for the job with the props, or finish out my CFI and then apply for a jet job in like 6 months?
FYI I live on the west coast and would have to relocate to the east if I go for the PD job.

Thanks for the input!

Finish out your cfi, get some experience.

If you want to relocate to the east...then I say go for it.

If you want to stay on the west, then instruct until you can get a job on the west coast.

And prop or jet, it doesn't matter.

Regardless of where you want to live- don't accept a job unless you feel your ready for it. Airline training isn't easy- particularly for low time pilots. You might get hired at 300TT, but the real test is surviving training.

Remember- you can also go to PDT and work there for 6 months or so. Nothing says that you have to move across country. (Although your time it home will be limited significantly- particularly during training). Since PDT doesn't have a training contract, going there for a stint can make you more marketable to other airlines.

I know that I can survive the training. I study well and learn quick. Always have.
How realistic is commuting to the east coast though? I dont mind not being home much, but I dont want to pay rent on a place I will only be at three days a month.

PDT training is very very intense. It is the AQP program, meaning you learn most of the stuff outside of class, then are tested on it in class. When I was a new hire there, we had 5 out of 19 fail out. My sim partner got the boot after 2 sim lessons. He had well over 1000 hrs, and was sharp. Flying a full motion sim for your first time, while shooting approaches with engines failed, things on fire, all while trying to get the thing on the ground is not easy. Good luck with your decision, I have never regretted going there, but if you decide it is for you, be prepared for it.

I'm not doubting your study habits and abilities, but I do detect a red flag here... 121 training is a totally new experience unless you are a graduate of certain military training programs. It is a HUGE ramp-up compared to general aviation. Do not underestimate it...10-30% of first-time 121 trainees don't make it. Failing your first 121 training event is NOT a good way to kick-off your airline career.

I did commute West to East as a new-hire. There are a lot of factors, but if you live in a big city in the west and commute to a large hub in the east, you should have access to enough non-stop flights.

However...the transcon commute is really hard on your health and social life, 6-8 hours in a jump seat ain't no fun, period. Also if you need to do more than one leg to commute, I would say no way. You will want to research the commutability of the city pairs you are considering.

I eventually changed airlines to get away from the Easterly bases. If QOL is important to you I would suggest doing the CFI gig to qualify for Horizon/XJet/SKW/eagle. I think eagle and Xjet will hire you with 400-500 hours.

Thanks a ton for the input guys. I am now leaning more towards staying with my CFI and shooting for Xjet or something. I really would rather say west coast.

One last Q though. If 121 training is such a huge step up from anything before, how will being a CFI prepare me for it? Sounds to me like it would be a totally different experience from being a CFI too.

You don't know what you can survive. you have 300tt and 26 multi! My god 26 hrs of multi ,, your ready to fly jets. sounds like SJS to me

I agree, thats scary to be teaching people how to fly let alone flying an airplane. I have flown with many CA's and talked with some from other airlines and a majority of these low low time guys are way behind the airplane and lack basic airmenship..........

The CFI experience will really pay off when you upgrade to CA at an airline. You will already have experience as a PIC in a professional environement where you had to balance safety, on-time performance, Mx, Wx, Management pressure, and customer demands all while supervising another pilot.

In their first 1000+ hours, new pilots are still getting used to the aviation environment...there are things that you have to think about now that will become second nature 1000 hours from now. More comfort in the aviation environemnt will help you with airline sim training (but not groundshool, that's just academics).

Rickair, like most of his posts, is dead-on 100% accurate,

plain and simple 300 hr. pilots do NOT belong in regional aircraft with 50 pax behind them.

Thanks for your useless posts. You should call all the regionals here and all the airlines in other countries and let them know how you feel. I am sure they will listen.

Rickair thanks a lot for your insight. I was leaning towards the CFI route anyway to get the comfort down. Now I will do that for sure. I appreciate your non-flame approach. ;)

Have a Pulse? Breath on a regular basis? Send in your resume to 9E! With west coast flying and a east coast pilot group you could be the senior FO in LA!

Useless post,, sorry buddy , forgot you have 26hr of multi time. Youre ready for the big time. go for it , you don't have a clue. beware of SJS

How about this, would you like a 300 hr pilot flying you from here to there? Someone who may very well be qualified in the jet , but has no real world experience? No high altitude exp. No weather exp. Believe me , you're not as ready as you think you are.

650 is just saying what alot of guys think.... whether they will admit it or not.

300 hrs isn't jack. It is kinda like screwing when you are a teenager. You think you got it down and are pretty good. Many years later you realize you didn't know anything.

With you 300 hrs, you are going to get your lunch handed by you by a check airmen on IOE when he lets you in on how much you don't know.
blasting thru the skies @ 300 kts and you still sitting back in row 14 is a humbling experience.

Giving IOE in the RJ you could easily tell a 1500+ guy vs a 1000/100 hr guy. Granted there is always the exception to the rule, but they a FEW and far between.

Get your CFI and "learn" to fly.

Good luck in your flying and sit back and realize 300 hrs is a long way from knowing how to fly.

He doesn't appear to have SJS, he's considering applying to PDT not mesa. He's also considering working as a CFI. Not his fault he has an opportunity that none of us had...at least he's asking the right questions.

Jesus, your AVATAR is amazing...........

"It is kinda like screwing when you are a teenager. You think you got it down and are pretty good. Many years later you realize you didn't know anything."

HAHAHA.. that's awesome

Wow glad I asked.
I know I dont know SH*T. That is why I asked. I want to get my CFI, I always have, but the opportunities now are amazing so i figured it would be worth inquiring about.

Rickair and his constructive answers have helped me. So thanks for that.

How did you guys ever manage as CFI's when you tell people who ask questions that they are stupid for asking and they dont know anything... The point of a question is to learn right?

I would recommend at least teaching through 1 cycle of the 4 seasons, or at the very least the seasons out where you live, where you have the most adverse weather. I'm sure that you can fly in 'clear and a million' weather like the rest of us, but flying in reduced vis, clouds, the mountains, is where you really hone your skills.

Like rick said, if we all had the same opportunity you have, I'm sure we would think twice about instructing over getting 121 T-prop time. Good luck with whatever choice it is that you make bud.

Lax

PS. If you decide to instruct, take the interview anyway. That way, you have a pretty good idea what one is like once you feel you are ready to start interviewing.

I would only take a "practice interview" at a company like mesa or gojet...where you have no intention of ever working. If you decline a job offer, you will likely never get another shot with that company, and you never know what the future holds.

Good point...