Fixed it for you Dashgirl.
As far as Cathay and Hong Kong - I guess you could REVERSE commute
Good luck.

USMCFLYR

 

Haha..nice fix. So is that true about Cathay then? Hong Kong isn't an F/O base? I 'd also love to fly the Q in Japan for ANA, but again, that will have to wait till I have the 1000 PIC and my big bad ATP..

Th problem with that route is that carriers like Cathay, ANA or the good domestic cargo outfits like Polar, Atlas, etc..want that PIC time to be transport cat in a crew cockpit. Single pilot IFR is great for total PIC time but does not meet the mins for where I want to go. Also, some of those cargo companies fly airframes and have a QOL I'm just not gonna take a paycut for.

I want to go up, I'd go lateral if the QOL/Pay were at least what I have now with a better future, but I won't go down unless I had no other choice to stay flying.

 

I have a somewhat more positive outlook on things....if I may throw my 2 cents in......

I have been exactly where you were, was stuck in the right seat of a regional for close to 4000 hours. Upgraded finally, only to be bought out and essentially stapled to another list. I actually quit flying due to the fact that I thought I'd never "make it". Got too frustrated. Well, that was by far the biggest mistake I ever made! You can't get it out of your blood! Luckily, after a year of NOT flying at all....I applied and was hired at a "Legacy" carrier, luck was on my side. Of course I am on furlough now (my second one to be exact.) Furlough is by far the worst situation for a pilot in my opinion. Been out for over a year now. But looks like a recall is just around the corner and actually had an interview recently. It's all about highs and lows with this career.

My point:

I have been kicked in the head SEVERAL times in the last 12 years by this career and felt like I was severely "hosed" multiple times. AND it has always turned around for me and it WILL again. NEVER give up!! Try not to make career altering decisions based on negative emotions or feelings of frustration/burn-out. I focus on the positive things like the fact the avg. age of pilots on my seniority list is around the 58-59 range... and from what I hear most guys will only fly to 62.

Also, I talked to an FAA guy and he told me that the amount of Commercial Pilot licenses issued are WAY down. I'll NEVER say there will be a pilot shortage, but there seems to be an interesting trend on the horizon: the amount of retirements predicted in the not-so-distant-future is not proportional to the people choosing to pursue this career.

Delta, Jetblue, and Airtran are all hiring. There is movement once again and I feel it will continue. It may take years rather than months but still.............Good luck!

 

Thank you Jim, It was nice to read some positive thoughts.

 

Just an FYI:

Compass is hiring. First class started last week, classes this week and each following week until they get the 60-100 pilots they need.

I hadn't planned on taking a job with another regional, but that was the hand I was dealt. I was working for a failing airline (Mesa), and had to get out when I could and start over somewhere else.

CPZ says an ATP is preferred, but as long as you have your ATP written done, you'll get your ATP from the company (free) along with your 170/190 type-rating when you complete new hire training.

In regards to the hotel during training. It's a bummer, but its pretty do-able. Rates at hotels (that provide transport to the training center) range from $30-55/night, and if you split it with someone in your class it gets affordable quickly.

Even at the most expensive hotel ($55), that's $140 per week (split between 2 people). 5 nights per week (commute home on the weekends, get your ID on day one). Compass is AQP so the training program is 4 weeks long.

$140 x 4 = $560. Your first paycheck (15 hours worth during the 30 days of computer based training at home) will cover 65% of the hotel cost.

With the hiring they are projecting (100ish), movement will be good for those hired early on. Time on reserve will be short, since 100 is exactly half the number of F/O's currently on property (read: middle-of-the-road line-holder by the end of the year).

You didn't have all the facts (not your fault since most who don't work there know how everything works), so I wanted to toss the info out there for everyone to see.

Good luck to you.

 

Thanks as well Jim..

This was inspired by a PM I just received but wanted to share my thoughts on the thread:

I understand the point of view of the guys that missed the 2007 hiring boom and are still CFI'ing it, but as I said on the thread, I could care less which side of the cockpit I'm flying from. I just want to earn a good living flying, living somewhere I like with a schedule that doesn't leave me so fatigued I often forget where the hell I parked in the employee lot and once I find my vehicle, fall asleep in it before I can even get my flashing "low beer" light taken care of. It just so happens when you go my route, upgrade is must to get to the high paying high QOL jobs.

Flying a TP in the flight levels is fun for about the first 6 months. Then when the reality of how much responsibility you have compared to what you earn hits you....

Emmm, yeah...not so fun anymore. You become bitter, pessimistic about the job you have always wanted and are constantly coming up with new and creative ways to get more time off then you are actually scheduled for...You become obsessed with the "go home leg".

In retrospect, I would probably already have a good corporate gig at a fortune 500 company had I gone the CFI route, then flew boxes for Airnet or AmFlight vs. taking the 2007 regional shortcut. I may have even wound up with a Lear Type to get me in the corporate door quicker. I would much rather be in the part 91 world than the airlines but because I went 121 so low time, I'm now tainted goods in view of most corp. CP's. So I had to alter my career goals now to suit staying in the airlines. I never wanted to be an airline pilot...I always wanted a corporate job from the day I passed my Pvt. check ride...

It's hard to say, second guessing is usually pointless. But the route I went to time build may end up biting me in the ass vs. where some of you are today.

I put the cart before the horse and I am now paying the price....I've been "regionalized"...

@Paxhauler: thanks for the info. I did not know Compass was AQP (which makes the airline even less attractive then it was before as being at an AQP carrier pretty much sucks), that does make a difference money wise, but it still concerns me that they don't have enough respect for their pilots to take care of their training accommodations. It's disappointing that the union over there hasn't addressed that yet. And no matter how you slice it, there are significant long-term issues with being on at a wholly owned you will soon discover. But in your case, you definitely made a step up from MAG so it was a good move for you. In my case Compass would be a stupid mistake.

 

I see your point. But bear in mind, UAL ("the place to be" at one time), as well as FedEx I believe don't/didn't put their new hires up in training either. You can always rationalize/justify it that "you'll make it up later". Just sayin'

As far as the rest, I feel your pain. 10 years at two different "regionals". 9 of it in the right seat. Was adding up the logbook last night, 5000+ SIC as well as being displaced out of the CA's seat twice and furloughed once.

It's a fun job, but a crappy career.

 

And not to mention it's like crack, once you've had a taste you just want more no matter how bad you feel in the morning, LOL

 

For many, yes. Never been that way for me though.

 

I'd say I'm addicted to it. I don't think I could ever deal with a regular 9 to 5 job ever again. "Addiction" being the perfect metaphoric term here.