What do you mean sacrificing skill for low wages?

 

Steak Pilot - You forgot to mention the quick upgrade. Young pilots, with relatively low time, being able to fly, and get paid, a turbine aircraft; with the realistic possibilty of being upgraded to CA within a year or two. Turbine PIC time is priceless as a young pilot.

Bite the bullet in the short term, as far as pay goes, and look ahead. Where else can you start your airline career, and after three years have 1500 Turbine PIC time??

 

Thats right tubine is turbine, whether it has paddles or fan blades.

 

The wages are low, but not that bad really compared to your "more desireable jobs". I was there for just under 3 years and let me tell you what I made:

Year 1: I made absoultely nothing... it sucked and I couldn't buy anything or do anything fun because I couldn't afford it. Then I upgraded exatly one year from my date of hire.

Year 2: I was a new 1900 captain on reserve for about 6 months. $29/hr at 75 hr guarantee (~$13050). Then I started holding 85 hour lines and for the rest of the year (~$14790). For the year total, I made ~$27,840 plus perdiem. Then I transitioned to the Brasilia.

Year 3: We were short on brasilia pilots and I held a line at $37/hr. I was flying about 85 hours a month at first and then I would pick up some open time and bring myself down to 10 days off and ~110-115 hours of credit. I was building Turbine PIC baby and I was doing it fast. AND I was on my way to making near 50K for the year. I was bringing home around $3000-$3200 per month after taxes and including perdiem.

Point being: you may make a little more at an RJ job over the course of 3 years, but you won't have 2 type ratings, over 1000 TPIC, and numerous contacts in the industry.

Also, there are some places that prefer Jet PIC over TP PIC, but not as many as you think. I have flown with guys that are now at FedEx, Alaska, Southwest, Frontier, and AirTran to name a few. I went to Frontier and now I am getting furloughed.

Now... Who has a better resume?: Me or the guy at Republic who has been a captain on the RJ for a couple of years and also has 1000TPIC+? I don't know the answer to that because it depends on who is looking at it. I would, however, put my resume against any RJ captain at an interview and feel just as qualified.

I will tell you that if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Lakes opens the door to opportunities faster than any other regional in the industry.

Just my .02

Flex (ramrod)

 

Thank you, your .02 is right on.

Sorry to hear about you and F9.

 

I never said it was stupid.

 

Go ahead and look around. You have that right. Just don't be suprised if the amount of RJ's flying around is continuously reduced in the coming years, which means they won't be hiring for a very long time. Lakes may be the only job available for a while, and if that happens you may need 2000 (or more) hours to get an interview there.

The Boyd Group, Inc. - Aviation Hot Flash & Insights
"Between now and 2017, there will be over 800 fewer of these RJs in the US skies. That is based on The Boyd Group's 2008 - 2017 Global Fleet Demand & Trend Forecast. This figure may now be conservative with jet-A heading over $3 a gallon."

FYI, Jet-A is closer to $4 a gallon now.

 

I saw one of the requirements was to be 21 one years old. That would be one long upgrade, but you would have a quick upgrade time when you turn 23.

 

yeah, thats my issue... I'm 21 and I'm already wanting to move on from instructing. I'd love to get on somewhere with TPIC time right around the corner, but I don't want to be stuck in the right seat @ $16/hour for 2 years if I don't have to.

 

You guys have PLENTY of years ahead of you. Don't worry too much--wait a few years, instruct, make some money, and get your TT up; or get in while the mins are still low, gut it out for two years, and be WELL ahead of the game by the time you are 24. I would choose the later.