I do agree PIC time is very important, but I don't think it's the end-all. I would say look at the overall operation. If you took the SIC position, would you also get international? i.e. Canadian, Mexico, and Caribbean. Also Jet operations are slightly different than Prop ops. I believe there are "fair" regional jet operator's that have fast upgrade times.

I would also look at the stat's of current new-hires. Do most of them have RJ or prop PIC experience.

Ofcourse, in the end you have to do what's right for you.

 

Hey could you pm me or something with more info at BigSky, I havent been able to find out much about them, with such a small pilot group its hard to find a pilot there...

thanks

 

just looking at that list its going to take quite a while to get any pic time at some of those companies (eagle 8 years to be a tprop captain with a line, Piedmont another long upgrade). If you are going to try for a quick 1000 pic then you have to go to some of the lower barrel (term used with the understanding that all regionals are lower barrel places to work) tprop operators.

 

Obviously jet PIC would be ideal, however with Xjet it is a around 18 months for the upgrade, not bad compared to EGL I know. I have heard rumor that Republic can be less, maybe a year in the EMJ, but I think in a year with BigSky I "could" have 1000 PIC already.
So again, spend 2 years at Big Sky getting lots of 1900 PIC time or spend 2 years at Jet Airline A getting jet SIC and hoping for a quicker upgrade than everone else because you didnt get hired with 400/50 and still waiting to meet ATP mins....

 

Turbo props rule! I love the sound you make when you pull the PL's into BETA as you're cruising up to the ramp. People know you're there. Plus being a bugsmasher reduces the insect population every summer

 

In the old days, turbo-prop PIC was all you needed. There were only a handful of RJ's in service, so most civilian applicants to the majors had t-prop time only.

What's different today is that there a gazillion RJ's out there, so there are 5 gazillion RJ PIC's. Many majors have recently shown an unofficial preference for glass/jet time.

For this reason, I would be wary of taking a job at a company that only operates small t-props (like 1900's) with the intent of getting 1000 PIC and moving on to the majors...you are far more likely to find yourself moving on to a jet regional in 3-4 years If you have a solid connection at the major of your choice, this plan might work but what if you bomb the interview?

For those who are in a hurry (and I would recommend being in a hurry unless your family situation dictates otherwise) try to get on with a company wich has junior turboprops and also flys jets. Start in the prop, upgrade, get your 1000 TPIC, and try to get that major job. If it doesn't work out, then transition to the jet to get some glass/jet time.

There are not many t-prop only operations which have great pay and QOL...you don't want to get stuck at most of them. You also don't want to start over in the right seat at a jet regional.

Disclaimer: I know somebody is going to chime in about their father's uncle's brother's friend's sister who got hired at FDX after flying a metroliner for 6 months but it's very few and far between. Things have changed for obvious reasons, but not everybody is willing to accept that for some reason.

 

just to toss in more factors, im not SWA bound unless things change. I am a SLC based pilot (family reasons) and dont plan to move so Delta is where i'm focusing. RIGHT NOW they have mins at 1200TT and 1000 Turbine, no pic requirment. I understand that in a year, 2 years, etc that could change to some unknown whatever but if have to get 'stuck' at some regional i would think sitting around in a jet waiting for an upgrade or an interview would be a better life.

 

And if all else fails, fly a tprop with glass then you at least have 2 out of 3 conditions met such as the Q with horizon where you will get paid well (considering) and never upgrade or the Q with Colgan where you will upgrade but have no work rules, pay or contract or Lynx which has poor pay and I am unsure about their workrules but know they do not have a contract.

who knows anymore, just pick a plane and fly it till the wheels fall of

 

right on! thats probably some of the best advice i have heard in awhile. I am a 1 yr fo at xjt and while i love the company and pilot group i am sorry to say the 18 month upgrade is no more. If you were hired here now and the stutus quo continued for your duration here at xjt, the upgrade would be somewhere around 3 yrs. Of course there is no guaranteed way to judge upgrade. There is a lot of luck involved and companies are constantly expanding or losing airframes... theres no golden ticket but with the advice above you could make an educated guess at a halfway decent company. With that said you do not want to get stuck at a horrible company if the majors slow hiring or you are forced (family issues, etc) to stay where you are for awhile.

 

SkyWest is perfect for you my friend...super-quick upgrade in the Bro (a larger TProp than the 1900)...get the 1000 PIC and then transition to left-seat in the Jet and you'll be living large.