Great Lakes vs. Flight Express
#21
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 60
double post....
Last edited by moonship; 01-08-2009 at 08:08 PM.
#22
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 60
True nightIP however analyzing the state of GLA would suggest otherwise. Stranger things have happened but, I don't worry about the security of my GLA gig (1900 CA) anytime soon. Most of our flying is govt funded, we are still adding airplanes and flying (All Montana flying including Billings starts next month with 10 cities still waiting on service) and we have stayed in the black $$$ all the way through this slump. So, while yes a Jr FO at GLA on RSV is not the greatest there is no sign of a furlough here, by the time this guy turns 23 (using history as a precident) he will have pleanty of senority to be a CA line holder and to date we are still not filling upgrade classes. If you go with a plan to use flt exp with the intention of ending up 121 regional why not secure your # at a 121 carrier not and skip the 135 step? While I agree that single pilot multi is valuable, if you are looking at quality of flight time with the eventual goal of going to a major I don't see anyone on a hiring board frowning upon handflown 121 turbine SIC with progression to PIC. I don't know anything about flt exp except what I have read here but it sounds like most who leave there go to regionals, most who leave Lakes for other airline jobs are going to majors. Seems like if he could get a job here now there might be a step to skip...
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Beech 1900D
Posts: 280
As an ex FLX guy I can say I would recommend FLX to start off, and then when the regional stuff takes off again jump ship to go to a good regional/corp job.
Just don't be suprised if 8 months doesn't hold up for the upgrade. I was told 6 months when I started and it ended up being over a year in the 210.
Just don't be suprised if 8 months doesn't hold up for the upgrade. I was told 6 months when I started and it ended up being over a year in the 210.
#24
The real question shouldn't really be Lakes or FLX it should be what career path do you want to take? What is your ultimate goal with this oh so glamorous career of being a pilot? Do you want to sit in a aircraft with a heavy call sign on your way to Heathrow or look down from FL500 in your Gulfstream at all the airliners you’re passing on your way to Tokyo? Once you answer this question you'll know where to go. Corporate tends to hire corporate because the risk of the person jumping to 121 is far less due to QOL and Pay. I do agree there are a whole bunch of apples with shiny exteriors (SIC Time) but turbine is turbine! I posed this question to a former captain who was on the hiring board of one of your beloved regional’s and the guy with the turbine would be his choice.
P.S. Boxes can't talk and ever aircraft after the 210 with a few exceptions will be dual piloted, learning CRM now with LAKES will benefit you in the future.
P.S. Boxes can't talk and ever aircraft after the 210 with a few exceptions will be dual piloted, learning CRM now with LAKES will benefit you in the future.
#25
I think that the above poster has hit it on the head and i'll give you another reason why:
If you are going to be a 121 lifer, why would you follow some of the other posters advice in "go to flight express and eventually you can work your way up to a regional...." GLA is a regional. I don't understand why you'd go somewhere just to go to a regional?
If you are going to be a 121 lifer, why would you follow some of the other posters advice in "go to flight express and eventually you can work your way up to a regional...." GLA is a regional. I don't understand why you'd go somewhere just to go to a regional?
#26
Also after 15 months if Great Lakes isn't for you go ahead and jump ship to another regional, which would put you in the same boat as Flight Express. Granted you may not have multi-PIC but you will have over 1000 hours of turbine time and a much better chance at getting a corporate King-air job than with 1000 hrs of Baron time.
#27
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Posts: 28
I personally wouldn't turn down a job unless you have another one waiting for you in this economy. However that being said I currently have an ATP with 1700tt 1000multi pic and 5hrs sic cj3 time current under single pilot ifr 135 in a navajo and I am having trouble finding a corporate gig that I qualify for because of my lack of jet time.
I would consider both jobs stepping stones to better things. With Great Lakes you will have a better chance of meeting insurance requirements for a King Air job if you wish to go that route. In one year if you jump ship from FLX you will have a lot of good quality sel 135 time but that will not meet most company's insurance requirements if you don't have the multi time. vs Great Lakes you should be able to meet those requirements within one year. If you wish to go the airline route you have valuable 121 turbine time. To me that seems like a better bet. But a job is a job and unfortunately it is difficult to be picky these days. Best of luck to you...
John V
Just my 2 cents.
I would consider both jobs stepping stones to better things. With Great Lakes you will have a better chance of meeting insurance requirements for a King Air job if you wish to go that route. In one year if you jump ship from FLX you will have a lot of good quality sel 135 time but that will not meet most company's insurance requirements if you don't have the multi time. vs Great Lakes you should be able to meet those requirements within one year. If you wish to go the airline route you have valuable 121 turbine time. To me that seems like a better bet. But a job is a job and unfortunately it is difficult to be picky these days. Best of luck to you...
John V
Just my 2 cents.
#28
Take the definite job...how bad would that suck if you turned down the class date, only to end up not getting the job at Lakes.
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: R U Serious?
Posts: 260
Flying the Beech for another carrier, not doing the flight express gig....I would have to say GLA all the way. The kicker is right before I left it was difficult for captains to get gigs at the majors with only Beech time. Some of the sudo majors yes but, SWA, Delta, United, American no to all. Yet there were a couple to slide through that fence, and USAir, Frontier, Allegiant, and such hired em.
Again like others have said it is all about where you want to end up, all this flying you are thinking about "will put hair on the chest" and isn't easy at all.
In the end, Turbine PIC is king....how can you get it the fastest and move on to better? (Notice bigger isn't always better)
Again like others have said it is all about where you want to end up, all this flying you are thinking about "will put hair on the chest" and isn't easy at all.
In the end, Turbine PIC is king....how can you get it the fastest and move on to better? (Notice bigger isn't always better)
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: Reclined
Posts: 2,168
Managements thrive on people saying pay and QOL isn't a big factor, followed by statements such as.....
I admire your enthusiasm, but you need to do a little research, and soul searching. You have spent a great deal of time and money getting to this point in your career. You should not give away your professional skills for free, simply because you think it may help you get to a major... someday. This is the kind of undercutting that everybody likes to point at places like MESA, RAH, CHQ, TSA and complain about.... except instead of underbidding the CPA, your just helping the companies keep the profession underpaid and compensated.
If you were to be hired now, at either place, when the majors do resume hiring there will be a steady supply of Regional and Charter Captains with thousands of hours of turbine PIC on typed equipment heading for those very few (comparatively) jobs. So, the sooner you, and all newer pilots realize that working for essentially free will not get you to a major any faster, the sooner these companies will be forced to pay better wages in the first place.
Other than that good luck & fly safe
Last edited by Mason32; 01-09-2009 at 06:44 PM.
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