flyguyniner11

I'm currently a cfi with 1000 TT and 100 multi and I cant really decide if i want to fly for a company like xjt or comair and get in a jet or fly for like colgan and get a faster upgrade but suck it up in the turboprop for a while any thoughts or advice on this issue or the companies would be greatly appreciated thanks guys!

Slice

Go with the first one to hire you. Then decide from there. The jet option is always nice, but not if you have to sit in the right seat for too many years.

ghilis101

apply now, and then keep your options open and start researching. you can always say no when they call you for an interview

flyguyniner11

yeah i'm researching now and i'd prefer to only apply to airlines that i'd want to work for so i can take the first one that calls

crjav8er

Who cares. Airplanes are basically the same; go for pay, upgrade time, and QOL.

LAfrequentflyer

I keep reading how important PIC time is. Will the time you log at Colgan as PIC help you get hired at majors / national airlines?

Also, isn't a turboprop a jet engine?

-LAFF

ghilis101

a turboprop is a turbine engine, but its not a jet (turbofan or turbojet etc) engine. airlines will accept multi turboprop but i dont know to what extent it will help you. jets are more desirable because the larger the airplane the better it is for experience.

as far as flight characteristics go, turboprops give you relatively instantaneous power corrections while jet engines have a lag/lead due to longer spool times from the inertia of big turbofan engines. when you go from one to the next you will DEFINITLY notice the difference. once you get used to one or the other you never even think about it though

flyguyniner11

i dont know why i never really considered colgan or commutair but logic tells me to go there thanks for the help guys

sgrd0q

Nobody can answer your question.

I am guessing you are from the east cost. If I were you my first choice would be XJT. I'd also apply to CHQ for the (hopefully) quick upgrade. (You need more hours for them though). If you can relocate to the west coast then also apply to Skywest. You may upgrade really fast with them in the turboprop, and then wait until you can move to a jet.

Anything else at this point is a really tough choice. Colgan can work out ok if you upgrade and then get lucky and get hired by a major. In fact that may be your fastest way to a major. The downside is that if you don't get lucky then you'll be stuck in a prop.

I think you have the right idea about deciding first where you want to go. There is no need to apply to companies such as MESA if you have no intention of ever working for them (and you shouldn't). Apply where you want to work and then stay put – being a CFI while building more hours is not bad at all considering all options.

fosters

Keep in mind the pay aspect. Second year FO's at my company are making $43,000/yr here if you want to work, and that's just based on 90 hours of credit and 300 hours of per diem/month. If you're in it for the $$ some second year FO's are clearing $4k/month (and no, not the senior ones either, they normally go for commutable schedules and days off ).

Also keep in mind generally with the better companies you'll get better health benefits, retirement, (401k here is 7% matching dollar for dollar, unheard of for a regional, it's a LOT of money after a few years) treatment by management, longer overnights (I've never done an overnight less then 10.5 hours, vs. some friends at some bottom feeders who routinely do 9 hoursvor even reduced rest) etc.

I've seen reports upgrade at Colgan is now more like 20+ months. That's a long time making $20-25k/yr (and with no per diem, flying an airplane with no APU, etc.). "Fast Upgrade", maybe, but maybe not. A friend of mine was at CommutAir and left just prior to the annoucement of the Dash's - upgrade was over 3 years - to the 1900! Some people go to CommutAir though, get some time in the 1900, and then go to Gulfstream as a street hire CA.

Pick a company, if it doesn't work or you see it's not working out start up with a backup plan before you lose your job.