So I'm wondering. Why are some airlines saying that they have 3 year upgrades and when I talk to some of their pilots, who are first officers, they have been woking for them for 5 years and still havent had an upgrade? Is it becasue of their pilot performance or is the 3 year upgrade a rough estimate for new hires?

 

Pilot performance???? Not sure what you mean.

When airline HR personnel discuss upgrades, they are likely giving you a projection for what you, as a new hire, can expect for upgrade given planned growth, expected retirements, pilot attrition, etc. It may not reflect what the current date of hire for the most recent upgrade class is.

Bear in mind, NOBODY can accurately predict upgrades, and anything that anyone tells you -- whether an airline executive, a pilot or a gypsy with a bag of potions -- is just a wild guess at best.

Regionals' growth can change on a moment's notice for a zillion reasons.

 

There are also various other factors such as the company's specific policies on the times you have to have to upgrade. Several companies (e.g. Pinnacle and Mesaba) essentially have "street captains" IF you meet their upgrade mins. Most companies also require you to have 1500+ total time calculated such that your total PIC time + half your SIC time equals at least 1200. This is due to the ICAO restriction placed on your ATP if you have below those numbers. If your regional operates outside the US, chances are they'll require a non-ICAO-restricted-ATP.

Example: Pinnacle will upgrade you at 1800 TT and 1300 with the company, or (I think) 3500 TT and 250 turbine? Not sure on that one.

With age 65 passing, it might be advisable to go to a regional where growth (i.e. new routes, new flying, new aircraft) drives upgrades more than attrition (i.e. a company who isn't getting any new planes any time soon, who only loses existing captains due to pilots going to majors, etc.). Also, while it's uncertain how age 65 will affect the industry, it'd be a good idea to be somewhere you wouldn't mind staying for 7-10 years.

 

You must have interviewed here at Horizon. Who knows, if age 65 happens then it will be even longer here. I believe that it is a recruiting thing why they say it and the koolaid just gets thicker.

 

Two more possibilities... some of the FO's you talk to may not upgrade ASAP. I waited a full year after I could have upgraded for better QOL. If money isn't an issue, senior FO life can be way better than junior CA life. Also, the stated upgrade times are for the most junior CA, which means the most junior base. So say you live in IAH and fly for XJT. Most junior CA may be ONT and you're not willing to commute or move. So the upgrade time may be 3 years in ONT but 4 years in IAH.

 

The majority of pilots at SkyWest don't take the first available upgrade.

Most junior captain at SkyWest just went to a March 07 DOH. Less than a year. About #2400 out of 2800+ on the seniority list. However, some 900 FO's senior to him decided they didn't want it or didn't meet the upgrade minimums. We've still got hundreds of FO's with 3-4+ years seniority that could, but haven't upgraded because they don't want to go to a junior domicle, or sit reserve in a senior one.

A misconception about regional flying (at least at SkyWest) is that everybody is chasing the quickest upgrade for the PIC time.

 

fully agree with the fo's not upgrading and waiting forever. Everything can change in an instant, especially with regionals. Lose a contract, and upgrades can stop for a year, or here at trans states a few years, people get downgraded. It's a horribly rough estimate. I'm elegible for upgrade and people to junior to me are upgrading now, and I was hired just over a year ago. I'm liking my QOL as a commuter as of now, and if people upgrade who are junior to me, it's less time for me to wait on reserve before a hardline as well!

 

Atreyu. How do you like trans states? I was thinking about applying to them. I have applied to ASA and PSA, but I have a buddy that applied there and told me it was a good company to fly for, as long as i dont go to GO Jet.

 

Ask the many, many posters on here (myself included) who found that there really was, in fact, a greener pasture on the other side...Stray from TSA...

 

You got it. Thanks for the heads up!