kdoner

I'm a senior at my University, currently instructing at a 141 school
300TT 145 multi... I'm looking to go to a regional by the end of this semester (May 08) with a goal of at LEAST 400TT

I hear that hiring is slowing down, and the mins are going to start coming back up. I don't want to waste any time getting to a regional, but I want to go somewhere reputable. I was hoping for ASA, Xjet, Republic (don't worry, I know i can't get on yet) I was thinking to get on with piedmont, TSA, PSA, get some hours and a type-rating, jump ship and go to one of my first choices. Is that frowned upon?

Just trying to get some opinions... and also I was wondering if anybody knows who would be an easy commute from PBI, FLL, or MIA (not really interested in eagle or their reserve/upgrade time)

freezingflyboy

Heeeeeeere we go again folks Kdoner, if I were you, I'd duck!

JT8D

You probably could get on with Piedmont or TSA with those times. A friend of mine was in the same situation as you, hoping for XJT but ended up going to TSA instead of building the extra multi time. He seems happy there, it's all about having a good attitude. Personally I chose the other route, build up the multi time and then hold out for the airline of my choice. I'm in a hiring pool at XJT right now and the chances of me getting a class date before the end of summer are getting worse by the day. In retrospect I should have gone to a bottom feeder with low times.

As far as jumping ship after you get typed, unless you get stuck at Mesa or something its probably not worth it. Remember everything is based on seniority and you'd be starting all over again.

tflyer70

freezingflyboy has it right. If you post times like that wanting the things you do, it could be seen as either flame bait or ignorance--or combination. But since you asked to get some opinions, then here goes:

Your gonna have to keep instructing more than the 300 or 400 you want to be at. More likely till you have 1000 hrs, and within that time if you are not an MEI, get it. 145 multi is low--not that its bad thing becuase we have all been there, but calling a spade a spade--its low, get more.

Maybe move to getting on with a freight operator after getting at least 1000 hrs. Especially if you get one in the midwest where you can do all weather types of flying. This is invaluable experience flying in all kinds of IMC weather. Start with the singles they have, then after 6 mos or so move to the light twins. After doing this for a year you will primed to move into the regional category. Dont be in a rush. Get the experience first and foremost, and as I always say get out of a flight what you out into it. I dont think I have many hours and Im sitting at just over 7000 TT and 6000multi (prop/t-prop/and jet) and still try to learn something new on each flight..FWIW

ToiletDuck

Not to burst your hopes but being at one of the previous mentioned regionals will be worse than being a CFI

berts

No You Don"t

freezingflyboy

Doesn't happen very often but I agree with Toilet. When I left instructing to come to XJT I took a PAYCUT. There are some very good instructing jobs out there for the person with the right attitude. I'm not sure what 141 school you are instructing at but I instructed at UND for 2 years. When I left I was making $21.50/hr, billing 150 hours a month (between flying, checkrides, briefs and sims) and had benefits. Shoot, now that I think about it I was better off than a first year FO on reserve at CAL. At least I had health benefits!

And just FYI, assuming you aren't some flame baiter, your attitude sucks and will rub many here the wrong way. Thinking you are entitled to, almost demanding a job at a regional with 400 hours..give me a break.

aerospacepilot

A few seniority numbers at a regional is worthless if you can't go on to a major. Let me say that again. A few seniority numbers at a regional is worthless if you can't go on to a major.

If you do not finish your four year college degree, you WILL NOT be hired by a major airline. So why are you in such a rush to get to a regional??

The famous line "seniority is everything" gets thrown around a lot because people want to get to a regional, upgrade as soon as possible, to start building turbine PIC time so they can get hired at a major airline. Without a four year college degree, you WILL NOT be hired by a major airline. So what's the rush to upgrade? What's the rush to get turbine PIC? Why are you in such a rush if you are going to be stuck at a regional airline for the rest of your life.


If I were you, I would finish my four year college degree. After that I would flight instruct until I felt comfortable to go to a quality regional like Skywest, Republic, Expressjet, or someone similar. Hiring will not stop. The regionals in general are still short on pilots. If anything, this slight slowdown is because 50 seaters are no longer economical, and that means a shift of flying from regionals to mainline. THIS IS GOOD FOR AVIATION!!! United, Delta, Continental, Northwest, and US Air, along with most the other majors are still hiring hundreds and hundreds of people each.

Think about it. Lets say you jump ship to a bad regional like Mesa. Then lets pretend that hiring does stop (It will not happen, but we will use it as an example because that is what you are afraid of). Then guess what, you are stuck flying for Mesa. You would be better off as a flight instructor. Again, what good is that TPIC if you CAN NOT do anything with it (you can't go to a major without a 4 year college degree). So all you are doing is acrewing seniority at a crappy regional, and that is worthless.

As one famous jedi once said, "Fear leads to the dark side." You are afraid of something that will not happen, and it is distorting your judgement. Do not worry about regional hiring. They will still be hiring when you are done with college and finished instructing.


Listen, I don't have a dog in this fight. If you abandon college and get on with a crappy regional, it is only good for me. It means there will be less competition for major airline jobs. It means you will be taking a job that I won't do (like work for Mesa), and leave the good regional jobs for me. But I am giving you the best advice I can because I like helping out others. Finish your four year college degree. Instruct for a little while. Then get on with a good regional.
This is the same advice I would give my brother, my best friend, or my son.

JT8D

As a universal statement that's not true. For one thing, going to a major is not everyone's ultimate goal. Becoming a senior captain or getting involved in management at a good regional can also be an excellent career. For another thing, a 'few seniority numbers' can easily mean the difference between getting furloughed and keeping a job. That is especially important now with the industry on the back end of a hiring trend and facing an uncertain future.

You fly Cessnas, don't make blanket statements about an industry in which you've never worked.

And by the way despite the title of this thread if you read the original post he implied that he was planning on finishing college... unless he meant that he was going to drop out with as little as one semester to go.

BIGRIG

Hahahahaha. Wow is all I can say. Didn't sound like he was demanding a job at all. Why should he care if it rubs you and your buddies on here the wrong way? If you don't want to offer any good advice then don't post. How hard is that?

kdoner:
If you want to go to a regional with those times go right ahead. I would put your stuff in anywhere you want to. You never know who may offer you an interview. If you want to be in the midwest, I know that mesaba hires with those times. Hang in there and finish up college, then head off to a regional. Don't let guys like this persuade you differently.