One year Anniversary at Comair...the tale
 

CFI...to an airline pilot (for one year, so far)

And we all thought, "man it would be 'cool' to fly a shiney jet". Well it's been one year and my views on the subject of aviation have changed quite a bit.

I love to fly. I love that 'cool' jet and I love it when we have 'out of the ordinary' things happen like weather, holds, speed restrictions, busy northeastern airspace and those New York and Boston controllers and steep vertical descent angles (just to break up the monotony) and I even love going the extra mile to help out our customers in any way I can, so long as its safe. :D

Most of the people I work with on the flight deck are not only first class pilots, in terms of know-how, but also great people. We tend to be an older crowd compared to CHQ or SKW. I came to Comair because they had a stellar record in the regional world, a strong union, good pay and benefits and 'stability.' NOW HOWEVER, aside from those aforementioned things: I feel utterly disenfranchised.

Perhaps due to my late beginnings in the industry (I am 34, a wife and 6 month-old) I feel like going to work is drudgery.

What I have seen while in the airline business:
I was furloughed for almost 3 months in my first year! There is conflict with the flight attendants and their union, Delta and their scope clause, our LOA with Delta, the RJDC lawsuit against ALPA, the crash in LEX, ALPA negotions with mgt., constant reserve duty (some captains have been on reserve for 7+ years, including their FO time), 4-5 year upgrades and the newest conflict, the RFP proposal for Delta to bid out some of our flying. :mad:

We all have heard about the aviation 10 - 15 year cycle. Wouldn't you like to know exacly where we are now? Wouldn't it be great to see that the recent pay increases for SouthWest and UPS will spill down into managment theory on "our level?"

Is it like this everywhere? Do you think that the industry is ready to make a turn for the better or the worse? Is the answer, to not jump ship and ride-it-out? My goal is to go anywhere that pays well or a fast upgrade (both prefered) , simple. I can do 7-on-7 off, I can work all hours, I will fly single pilot, I will fly international and I will fly rubber dog poo out of Hong Kong. Any thoughts?

To me there is no difference between a guy with 850 hours of SIC CL-65 time and a CFI, in terms of hirability. It's all about the fast upgrade, no matter what anyone says. Then the money comes. Either build your time and stay or build your time and go. But if your not building time (the coveted PIC Turbine Time), then your just treading water. My buddy at FedEx just shot me an email saying this: "it doesn't matter what your doing now, get your PIC Turbine as quick as you can. However you can." Any thoughts?

Come to commutair! Were hiring. You can give me some more seniority:p I am still in training but, they told us this week upgrades are going to be 8-12mons now. Valuable turbine PIC time;) CAL is giving them more of XJT's flying out of CLE and if negotiations go well with Delta we may soon be taking some of Comair's flying out BOS. Not to take a jab at you since you work for Comair, just what we have been told. Ten aircraft maybe. Oh, and we are transition to the Q200, really cool planes from what I have told. Good Luck, hope it works out well for you. www.commutair.com

Commutair
 

Great, now Comair guys can be screwed because of ****ty Commutair how exciting. And beech 1900 PIC turbine time isnt as valuable as you may think, I talk to my buddies at FEDEXand they tell me if you dont have TURBOJET time you are wasting time cause they won't look at you.

I know of 2 people who have been 1900 drivers(CA) and still got in at FedEx. It is not a waste. Few other got in at SWA.

Congrats to them thats awesome just saying its a lot harder with just 1900 time, its a fact

Just the facts ma'am
 

A fact? Factual evidence in this case would be a number/ratio/percent of jet vs. turboprop regarding pilot hiring. As far as I know virtually all hiring mins at majors/cargos specify PIC Turbine. Maybe I missed something. Please share the numbers you have.

your right
 

You are right bro a guy with 1900 time is more qualified than an RJ driver

poor 1900 guys get so defensive ;) just conversation

Some airlines have been known to list a weight limitation in there. For example, 1000 PIC Turbine greater than 20,000 pounds. This would make 1900 time useless.

Once again, if the requirement is 1000 or 1300 PIC turbine, then :
1900=
CL-65=
737=
A320=
P-3=
C130=
etc., etc.,........................
Usually weight requirements are given for recip aircraft versus turbine.
Plenty of prop drivers have been hired at majors.

Take care,
Fish