Street Captains...
 

Whats up,

Im not an airline guy but I have been reading a lot about regionals hiring captains off the street. I wanted some feedback from you guys that are currently flying 121...
-It seems like mostly the bottom feeders are hiring street captains, is that true? Or are there plans at some of the better regionals to go down that road.
-How do you guys feel about people being hired directly into the left seat if they are qualified to be there? I assume that because the problems with seniority and upgrade time most people arent pleased about this.
-How does the seniority work in that case?

I am NOT planning on going down that road, I am flying as a captain in corporate planes and have my stuff in with the majors, but I am just curious about this because this seems like a new phenomenon that wasnt around a couple years ago. Thanks

Senority is not an issue because a street CA has no senority and will always get the crap schedules as long as they are there.

Street Captains have always been around at the commuter/regional level, it just comes and goes as pilot supply/demand dictates.

Generally nobody has any issue with them, the only reason they are there is because the existing pool of FO's does not meet the required experience requirements or is simply unwilling to bid the equipement/domicile in question.

They don't get super-seniority, so they are stuck on the bottom for a very long time. I would only take a street captain job if I was highly certain that I had a major airline job all lined up, but just needed a few more TPIC hours to meet mins.

There are a few circumstances where management locks FO's into the right seat on equipement A while hiring street CA's on equipement B...this scenario is where hate and discontent comes into play.

Also a street CA with no prior 121 experience is going to be severely challenged for about 6 months...

General aviation to left seat is almost impossible even in the props. A buddy of mine took a street captain job at a less reputable regional flying the mighty beech....he's sim partner was the only one that came from g.a., everyone else came from the 121/135 worlds and they passed....the g.a. guy didn't make it. I've heard quite a few stories like that.

Most companies probably require 121/135 experience anyways.

Typically you won't see a need to hire street captains anywhere but the least desirable places to work unless of course it's a startup. The primary reason you're going to see it is high FO attrition. If FOs are leaving in droves it's likely not a great place to work.