Numerous threads out there on this, but ive read them all and still wonder. Im really thinking about puttin an app in at American Eagle because it would be an easy commute and also QOL. But whats the forecast for the upgrade time? Some people say, "I would rather go to Mesa and upgrade fast, than make a max of 40k for the next 7 years."

 

I'm sorry but there must be about 300 threads about Eagle and just about all of them answer your question.

Forecast upgrade? Nobody knows but it will probably still be the longest out of all the regionals. The fact that about every new hire they've hired are low timers won't help, not to mention you can't upgrade at eagle unless you have 250 hours of PIC so there are going to be a whole bunch of 7000 hour F/Os who won't be able to upgrade. Just like to add a lot of the guys I talked to at the interview had no intention of staying at Eagle they just wanted to take advantage of the no training contract build some 121 time in the jet or San Juan and go to their "choice" regional.

 

Never heard about the 250 hr PIC requirement. That's interesting, I applied to Eagle recently w/ low times and never considered that.

 

Well I'm sure it's not a problem now but when the 07/08 new hires will be eligable for upgrade they'll probably ask the FAA to lower it who knows.

 

Blasphemy!

As far as the other stuff, upgrade time is all speculation. But Eagle is F/O purgatory compared to the rest of the regionals. If you want to upgrade fast, Eagle is not the place. But if you're looking for decent QOL, it's not a bad choice. It's all in what you're looking for, just remember that beggars can't be choosers.

 

I been wondering the same thing, except... i got another question

I would love to fly the ATR out of MIA... but what if i want to change equipment a couple years down the road, granted i had enough seniority is it possible to switch equip???

 

Sorry I have to say this but it really bothers me... I hate when people type "ur" ok I get it if its a text and to save time, but I still don't like it.

This is your signature... it will be on ever post you make. Surely you were not in that big of a rush to type your signature?

Sorry if it seems stupid but, come on!

 

you can switch, but not prop to prop or jet back to prop(unless you get displaced)

 

How many people went to XJT looking for a quick upgrade? I would almost bet that the last guy hired there will upgrade after the guy hired at Eagle that day. And Mesa? How long are they gonna be around?

Here's something else to think about. What good do you think PIC time at Colgan or Mesa, etc. is gonna do for you? Yeah you might upgrade in a year but you're not going to Southwest or UPS unless your Dad's there. If majors arent hiring at all- which might be the case with consolidation- you're gonna be stuck where you are for a long while no matter what.

Also you hurt the industry when you work for bottom-feeder airlines. You are actually hurting yourself in the long run.

There are 1200+/- FO's at Eagle. An FO hired around Nov/Dec 2006 is halfway up that list right now. An FO hired a year ago today is more than 1/3 up the list. Obviously there are factors like age 65 and divestiture which will slow the movement but realistically someone hired today will upgrade at Eagle in under 4 years.

 

I have a question regarding the PIC upgrade thing. Maybe someone can answer it.

Lets say I (900 PIC) get hired two months after someone with less than 250 PIC. If I am less senior, can I upgrade first or do I simply hang in limbo until they can upgrade the more senior F/O who can't meet mins?