SkyHigh

We all pay in the end. Plenty of guys get hosed at work who supposedly "play by the rules". It makes more sence to loose a few thousand dollars to PFT than a decade of your life to ladder climbing.

SkyHigh

U-I pilot

If you want to move toward 135 flying but are just waiting on the time, try Air Cargo Carriers. They hire low time. Its multi/turbine and they upgrade very quickly. Pay is adequate and once you upgrade you will make 40-50k easy....Quick way to build up quality time.

Hiring seems to move slow right now....I interviewed in June successfully but wasnt offered a class until september....I found another job and declined but it would be a good place.

FWIW.

smoke

i went to an academy, taught for a year, flew 135 for another year in a 402...does that mean I didn't earn my job??? I don't see your point here.

BURflyer

I think people are overreacting a little I'm the last one to advocate regional flying especially tprop, but it really is not a big deal to make it through training. You don't have to fly for shady cargo ops. As long as you have the right attitude and knowledge you will pass. It's the people that second guess themselves that get hurt. And by the way 135 cargo is no peanuts and often they've got tougher mins than some regionals.

shackone

From my perspective, I'd much rather see the turboprop regional time in students than 135 experience. Nothing against 135 flying, but that kind of experience is not as good in preparing folks for an airline environment.

FL410

Being only 24 there is a whole life ahead of me. As a pilot there will be a fair amount of time away from home. When I first started, I was ready to role, get my time and get in that right seat and work my tail off for the first airline that would hire me. After getting time 800 - 900 total and the interview with Xjet came along and it would have been Newark. Looking back Newark would have been ok but what a commute! As I got more time Bigsky came calling which you know I was pumped about. It sounds like a good place but Melissa got sick and she still is. That is why I haven't returned. Wifes health over a regional, I will take that any day. Skywest would have been great!!! That I why I am holding out for them in another month. With my time now 1300/190 I can get a interview with nearly any airline. I am going with a "good" regional. Somewhere that has good QOL, pay (of couse after the first year), good equiptment and good captains that can teach me alot is what I am looking for. There are other things in the world other than getting in the first jet/turboprop that is offered. Relax, take a pill and just enjoy where you are at now. Don't be so eager to become the next quizbot.

WhiteH2O

Not trying to become the next Quizbot, by any means. It seems like I will be at a regional for a while, why not get it started? I will build time faster, and will be able to move to another regional if I don't like the one that I am at (and start at the bottom, just like I would do if I came out of instructing). It just seems that flying 121 would be better experience than continuing to ask students why they didn't flare for the tenth time that day.

AKfreighter

You're right, Shaun. I prefer to ask myself why I didn't flare

SharkyBN584

Shaun - I had the exact same question you did about a year and a half ago. I decided to stay a CFI and I made a lot more money with a better QOL until I met competitive mins for my first choice regional. From talking to other guys in my class who were working on their second regional, stay a CFI. You don't want two years of first year FO pay, two years of sitting on the bottom on reserve. I had friends that left a year earlier than me to go "build time" at a low-rent regional and now they're in the exact same place I am plus or minus a couple months. It all depends on how much you like your job as a CFI - I enjoyed mine thoroughly.

j utah

But what is important here is define a low-rent regional. This all denpends on where and what your needs are in life. I remember when I was an instructor all I wanted was Horizon. Why not they paid the best right!! Until somebody talked the sense in to me and said "your 22 years old do you really want to retire at a regional? They have an 8 year upgrade there and you won't see the left seat until your 30." He explained in 8 years you might have a family and responsilbility. Can you take a horrible pay cut for the first couple years and go to a major like Alaska, Frontier, or Southwest. After thinking about it no I can't, and I don't want to. Soon I learned the best way to play the game in get hired at a major ASAP. All I'm saying is there is a regional for everybody. Some people want pay or some want quick PIC turbine time. It just all depends! In my case I went for a quick upgrade and PIC time, but the money wasn't a huge concern at the time. Everybody thought I was dumb, but all my buddies are still in the right seat, and I have been a CAPT. for almost two years with my first major interview next month. Now all they say is "How did you get in such a great position?" And bottom line is all regionals suck. You want to tell me you all became pilots to fly out and backs and top out at 100 after 20 years in a CRJ. I sure didn't. Just keep looking ahead and don't get brain washed by the flash of some regionals. Go to a regional not for just the pay, but always weigh in flight time, training, and getting what you need for the next job. Good luck all you hard working CFIs. Just my two cents!!