Am I ready for a regional?
 

Hey everyone, just looking for some advice...

My Times are: 390 TT 20 ME

I've got my ATP written scheduled, along with my 1st class medical during the 1st week of February. I've already got a radio operators license....

I currently live in Fort Lauderdale, FL. But my family lives in Boston, MA (Free Housing)

Which regionals would be of interest to me? (so far I've looked at: Eagle and Colgan. Any others based on my times?

I was also wondering if anyone could help me with a resume. If you could PM me and look over it. (just wasent sure where to put a few items)

Your times may be a little low for Eagle and Colgan, but it never hurts to apply.

Regionals that may interview you with those times: PSA, Piedmont. Maybe Pinnacle and ASA.

Pop open a beer and take a deep dive into this board and others to get as much information as you can. Leverage any friends who are already on with a regional. Ignore any postings that tell you to get your CFI and build some hours (although that wouldn't hurt, either).

Tough to get on with those times, but not impossible either.

your not ready to Instruct a private student, and you are asking if you are ready for a regional?????????????????? I am sure Colgan would love you, too naive to know any better...............to inexperienced to care.............

My impression from your post leads me to believe you are not quite ready. Has nothing to do with your times.

The statement about helping you with your resume concerned me the most. There are many resources on the internet, and templates in word that help quite a bit as well.

My first impression was that you were looking for someone to help you thrust yourself into the industry. That alone to me says take some time, and maybe spend a week of thinking of things to search for on this board that interest you, find something that does, and then do more research outside this forum and find your answers.

I cannot say how much time you have spent thinking about this, but there is not reason not to spend a little bit more.

Reeves

To answer your question, you are not ready. You most likely will not be able to get on at even the shisty companies with such low times now that hiring has slowed. You don't want to be at companies that will hire you with such low times anyway. You wouldn't be respected with times like that by most. CFI, get your time, get some invaluable experience, and then put in your resume at the good guys (Expressjet, Republic, Skywest, etc...). The regionals and majors both will be hiring for quite some time now, especially with the age 65 rule. But seriously man, you've got aways to go on your time. Try to get up to AT LEAST 600/100. That could get you on with XJT. Or at least get your multi time up to 50. Do it by instructing. By instructing, you will build time incredibly fast. Not to metnion you will gain more knowledge and experience than you realize. You've got time buddy.

Im sorry, not being a jerk. But how out of touch are you to think 390/20 is "ready" for a regional. What the hell has happened to ou profession. The regional step was something that you only obtained after hours and hours and hours of CFI'ing with private pilots how were so bad you feared for your life.

Any now anyone with 250/25 wants to fly a 900. One good thing about 65 will be the slowing of hiring at the regionals and we can stop this progression of regression with pilots.

Rant over

Get some CFI experience. From one low-time guy to another, the CFI and CFII will open up a new world of knowledge and skill that will help to further prepare you for the regionals. Keep flying that 402, especially if it's part 135.

The CFI was the best rating I ever got; and actually instructing for 2 years was invaluable experience.

I believe all pilots should instruct before even considering flying passengers around in a 121 environment.

As far as the resume goes, APC has some good example resumes you should look at. Just click the link below and check them out.

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/optio...temid,112.html

"Ignore any postings that tell you to get your CFI and build some hours"

Ignore anyone who tells you to ignore the vast majority of folks who are going to tell you to get more experience first.

Personally, I don't think you're qualified to be a pax jet F/O at those times. But I don't do the hiring, the airlines do, so it's sort of a moot point.

If the airlines think you're ready, they will offer you the job. If you get through training, you'll be good enough, as far as management is concerned.

There are many at this board who aren't happy with how low the experience levels to be an airline pilot have gone. Don't take it personal.

I disagree that he or she is not ready to instruct a private student. The majority of CFI's have given private and even commercial candidates instruction with even less flight time. There is nothing wrong having low flight time and giving instruction.

When you don't have to ask the question...Then you will be ready.

NO.

Get some experience first.

1. Instruct if you want. Not everyone will make a good instructor, but getting your CFI stuff and teaching will make you a better pilot. I did 1500 hours as CFI, CFII, MEI.

2. Fly traffic watch, banners, pipeline, etc. Get a time building job. I did traffic watch for 1500 hours in a C172. (1200 per year).

3. Fly corporate. Single or multi, left or right seat. I got my first "job" right seat in a Cheyenne 400LS, which is a single pilot airplane, but I learned a lot. Plus, they trained me and I did a Part 135 Charter SIC checkride with the FAA. I wasn't just sitting there in the right seat. I also have flown the following aircraft for various companies as PIC: Cheyenne II, C182, Bonanza A36/B36TC, Mooneys, and Saratoga. I got hundreds of hours in singles and twins.

4. Get on with a freight carrier. Fly piston singles and twins, then turboprops.

5. Then try a regional airline. I know times have changed, but I had almost 4000 hours when I got to a regional. Then I did 1000 hours SIC turboprop, 1000 hours PIC turboprop, and 5000 hours PIC jet. It's not easy getting out of the regionals to a major!

6. Get on with a major. Fly what you want. Upgrade when you want. Fly until you're 60-65ish and retire.


Good luck.

What I want to know is how you can be First Officer on an aircraft that only requires one pilot.

Get some experience. Flight instruct, banner tow, throw skydivers out the back, whatever it takes. Your captains will thank you.

Damn, times have changed. I guess it's good for upcoming FO's, but it's definitely not good for public safety.
Just over 3 years ago, in late 2004, I was having trouble getting called by the regionals with almost 1300 TT, 100ME, CFI/CFII, and a BS degree. I finally got three calls, but it took a few months after I applied.
I remember passing the 1000 hour mark while I was flying traffic watch and thinking I need more experience before flying a jet.

I think I had almost the same amount of hours you did when I applied for my first CFI job, except I had a more ME. Oh well, it looks like 2007 was an anomaly for airline hiring. The economy is already slowing down, and so is the hiring. Looks like it will slow to a crawl by March.

SkyCaptian beat me to the punch.

If youre asking yourself the question, then the answer is no.

Either you are ready or you are not. We can not dictate youre actions.

SkyCaptain and Outlaw are very much right. We really don't know you. Some guys here will say you need a million hours of dual-given before flying a Jet. Some will say you're ready if you can pass training. We're all just blowing smoke here, because we're all individuals, and what is good for me is not necessarily good for you. Only you can say if you're ready - at one million hours, or 390...

My advice? Do tons of homework...and take any advice you get on here with a grain of salt. We all have our own agenda's. Don't let yourself be talked into (or out of) something just because of some strongly-worded opinions.

Best of luck.

It was Part 135 Charter and insurance and/or the company chartering the aircraft can/will require more than one pilot. The aircraft is certified to be operated with only one pilot, but you can operate it with two. I was an approved SIC and took an actual FAA checkride in the plane to be the SIC. The PIC was former airline and we did operate the aircraft as a two pilot cockpit like the airlines. On interviews, I explained this and carried the copy of the Part 135 FAA checkride in it to prove it true.

I know people buy time in the right seat of a Cessna twin, but this was different.

Ottopilot is right.

If a 135 operator does not have autopilot in lieu of SIC authorization in it's op specs, then it is required by the FAA for IFR ops---Even in a Baron or a 310. Pilots must also be approved to use the autopilot instead of having an SIC.

Second, many insurance companies require two pilots in aircraft like a King Air 200 for 135 ops.

Third, auditors like ARG/US like two pilot crews. Some customers will not fly with a single pilot crew.

Also, a C-525 (citation jet, cj1,2,3 etc.) may be a single pilot airplane, but if the pilot has a CE-525 type, and not a CE-525S type, then he/she needs an SIC.

Perhaps this could be a way to get some time.

If you send your resume and they call you, go!!! If they hire you work hard and pass the training!!! The training will be very tough at your level. If you don't get hired you will learn alot just by going to the interviews.
Good Luck, try to stay positive!! There are alot of people who will try to bring you down, becuase they will be unhappy no matter what happens to you or anyone else.

NO...Get some more time

Why are you taking the ATPw with <400 TT?

Good question. Kind of pointless right now.

I took mine at 1100TT.

All very true... especially the part about how tough the training is. Be ready and willing to be in class/studying about 14 hours a day (in my last training evolution, 14 was about average: some maybe 10 and one whacko who was going nearly 20 hours a day).

One word of caution: you had better be near-perfect on your instrument procedures. You will be learing a new aircraft, in a new enviornment (two pilot crew), and probably in much more complicated airspace/ATC; in the sim is no time to puzzle out the entry to a hold.

If you choose to instruct, try to get more of the instrument students. IMHO it is harder and more boring work than the primaries, but it won't take too long until you are able to fly all types of procedure turns and holds in your sleep.

Good advice...........

Ahhh, don't lesson to these guys. What do they know they're just airline pilots? Send your resume in and you could be sitting left seat in a Mesa jet……….in China……….real soon. All you have to do is build some time and I have some advice that will help you build all the time you need and do it cheap. So cheap it will only cost you the price of a pen. Yes just write the times in, Johnny O will never check, he needs pilots to bad. And the Chinese, sure Johnny will gladly send you over there and if you kill a plane full of them..........oh well.............who care, their Chinese, there’s just a billion more of them. :eek: :D :eek:

Disclaimer: PLEASE NOTE SARCASIM, I have several friends who are Chinese and I mean them no disrespect.

Lots of good reasons. It's FAR, WX, W&B and other knowledge he'll need on the line. It's valid indefinitely as long as he's employed 121. Some regionals prefer an ATP written when interviewing and hiring. And it shows initiative, drive and passion for aviation. Do it!

so does gaining enough experience to be a safe, reliable and respectable aviator. most of that "knowledge in theory" is useless on the line anyway, experience is what is valuable out there. So, I agree with the rest of the group trying to send you on the right path, you are not ready.

thank you all for the responses...Just was wondering an overall opinion. I think I'll go back to my Hawker 800 SIC gig, and do that for a bit...

Hell yeah you should go back to your Hawker 800 SIC gig! The regionals can wait man! Go fly the hell out of that Hawker, have a blast and maybe try and learn something every once in a while. Be advised, flying out and backs from ORD, EWR or DFW all day with an 8 hour overnight at the airport hotel in MEM is NOT as glamorous as it sounds. Aviation, like most things, is more about the journey than the destination.

How do you get a Hawker job with those times? I assume if it's a Hawker, then you'll be flying people. I also assume those people would know what ARG/US is, and my understanding is they have pretty high minimums for even their lowest rating. Plus there's insurance and all that.

But if it's a real opportunity, then more power to you. That operator wouldn't have a need for a BBJ pilot would they? Maybe I meet their minimums.

got lucky I guess...Worked at an FBO, became good friends...part 91...got me an SIC type...owns an aviation insurance business...so probally fudged it...

one of the more suspect things I have read in a while

390tt, 20me and a Hawker? Unless it is your dad's plane I am taking that with a huge grain of salt.

if i were you i would apply right away. hiring is slowing down, the sooner you get in the better off you will be. Seniority pretty much rules your life. Just be prepared to work your tail off during the ground school. I work as a CFI rt now, ans only reason i am not applying is because i am in my last semester.

Don't take this the wrong way...
Insurance companies often require hundreds of hours of multi and even several hours in type to be covered in a Seneca or a Baron. What makes you thing that with 390 and 20 that you should be in a Hawker? If I were you, I would try to get some experience in something more your level, such as a Duchess or a Seminole.
I am not trying to bring your down, just trying to put things in perspective. You really have no business in a commuter aircraft.

with that hawker gig you have :rolleyes:, why would you want to switch to a much lower paying career?

Just to inform the airline guys out there- whoever told you that you need all kinds of time to put you in a buisness jet didnt know what the hell they were talking about- I was 22 yrs old with around 350hrs tt when I landed my first SIC gig in a Sabreliner 65 (2004). A year later got typed (PIC)
in the airplane with less than 500 tt. Oh and by the way it wasnt my dads airplane either. In the Corp. world (Part 91) hours play a very small role in getting a job, who you know AKA "Networking" is what really matters, second is that you have to be a likeable person , since you will be spending alot of time with the owners their familly and friends -We dont close cockpit doors in this buisness.
I fly contract work alot now for the extra $$ and believe me I can now say I've flown with all kinds- total time is not what makes you a good pilot- the most dangerous ones I've seen in the past year are the 15,000 hr guys-theve gotten to a point were they think they have seen and done it all-and have forgotten that in our line of work something new can happen every day!!

Enjoy the 800 my friend -you'll know when your ready to do something different-Corp. aviation can be a bit of a burnout so enjoy it now and get a schedule job when your ready-Trust me when I say an RJ will always be there waiting on you, but the Hawker may T/O and not come back.

meeeooow! why so feisty dude?

I didnt mean to be-hope you guys didnt take it that way


"Insurance companies often require hundreds of hours of multi and even several hours in type to be covered in a Seneca or a Baron. What makes you thing that with 390 and 20 that you should be in a Hawker? If I were you, I would try to get some experience in something more your level"


Who is he to tell him to fly something his level? Tell this to the regionals that have no mins.

Do you work in the Aviation Insurance buisness?