I think you're better off going to the Bro the first year. The pay is no different but the experience in the turboprop leaves you with the ability to bid for a captain position in both planes. I know a bunch of guys who are too intimidated to take the Bro upgrade because they haven't flown a prop in years. Sad, but true

I am going to go to the Bro for the upgrade. Now i know exactly what the plane is like, and the lifestyle. It is not the best but my seniority is great with the Bro captains. It was ORD or MKE as the only other options. With a girl in PDX, I had to back to the Bro.

 

With regard to making the assignment, I believe that long ago they attempted to to put CFIs in the Brasilia and prior 121s in the jet, and I think some of that still comes through today, but it's mainly based on their needs. From what I've gathered, the mentality was that the Brasilia would whip guys into shape a little faster because it's more challenging, you're in the terminal environment more, and you're doing 8 legs a day. I think they might still do that if they could, but given that the RJs far outnumber the Brasilias, it's not numerically possible.

I would have been all over the Brasilia had it been offered to me, mainly because I'm a Californian, but alas, I was shipped out to MKE in the jet. I'm not intimidated to take upgrade on the Brasilia as soon as I can, though. I figure they're not going to turn me loose as a captain unless they actually think I can do it.

But whatever. You're not going to get paid much either way. If you don't get what you want just suck it up until you do. You should know what you're getting in to.

 

It's not so much about intimidation...

Doing your first 121 upgrade in airplane you have never flown would be a handful for almost anyone.

At SKW, if you fail the initial upgrade, you don't go back to your previous position, you go to the unemployment line.

Anyone who can take an EMB upgrade would probably be awarded a jet upgrade before they finished bro training...so why bother?

 

Because you can hold Palm Springs on the Brasilia. At least that's why I would do it.

 

That's a good reason.

 

I took my first upgrade in the BRO. I had never flown it, and it wasn't a big deal. An airplane is an airplane.

 

I have read that it is not best to ask for a specific aircraft during the interview process. How true is this? I only ask, since I would really prefer to start with the BRO. It just seems that it would be a greater challenge.

 

Because I'll be 30 out of 46 in SLC. The other option is going ot ORD. I think I'll stay at home and ski rather than commute.

 

So are the bro's only west coast? And why would they fire you if you were with the company for a few years then failed the upgrade.. Why not just put you back in the plane you were already in?

 

The company has a policy of up or out. If you fail your upgrade you are out of a job. It has had a few victims this year. If you fail transition, you can return to your previous seat with a 12 month seat lock.