upgrade
 

With all the awarded flying, m&a's etc....who has the quickest upgrade now? Not baiting....just thinking of getting out of charter and into a regional....its hard to tell from the apc airline page, since it seems to lag a bit after changes in the markets....

Thanks in advance...

Horizon.............

Probably GoJet if you have over 4,500 hours.

up
 

Thanks Ultra....I heard that they no longer do the street capt thing...any idea what the time would be?

Great Lakes, if they can hold out long enough without shrinking a ton.

I'm sure RAH will be happy to pay you nothing to fly their 175s they just won. I'm sure movement there will be high.

If you have the time, why not try at JetBlue, Spirit, VX or any of the others before heading to a regional? Chasing a quick upgrade, as I am sure you must know, could turn around to bite you in the rear around for a number of reasons.

tried
 

I have had stuff in at all those places for years.....complete apps, updated regularly, degree, 10,000 plus, multiple types, previous 121 time, no failures, etc....
not a peep...thought i would try this route...

Go to a job fair where Spirit is one of the airlines. You have a better chance of getting an interview if you want to go there. There is a job fair in ORD May 18.

I'm in the same boat my friend. The thought of starting at the bottom of the pile at a regional airline again is not getting my tail wagging!

I don't think Gojet is accepting direct entry captains right now, but I'm hearing that those that do get hired are upgrading within 6 months if they have the time.

Lots of politics and haters, but its a job and it will keep you current until things pick up.

Ahhhhhhh ye'ole upgrade time question....

The truth is that regardless of what movement there is today referring to a projected upgrade time at any carrier you simply cannot use that as any measure towards an accurate forecast.

With current movement at "carrier A" you can say okay, upgrade times are about 3 years. However, making that kind of forecast assumes the movement will continue at the current pace. Since airlines classically hire and upgrade right up to the point they start to furlough making any kind of decision as to where you will upgrade first is pointless.

You could get hired at the aforementioned "carrier A" then six months later something happens, hiring stops, upgrades stop and talks of furloughs start happening. All the while the other carrier which you had an offer at but turned down just got so desperate they started hiring street captains and you buddy that went there the same time you went to "carrier a" will probably see upgrade in 6 months.

Make your decision based on "Quality of life", base choices, commutability if applicable, pay and contract considerations etc. not upgrade times.

The way the industry is these days you really need to go somewhere that you think you can be happy at for 5 to 7 years as an FO on FO pay. Expecting upgrade has been the "elephant in the room" for many a regional pilot.

Never chase upgrade or equipment!

Very well stated, and completely accurate. If you aren't willing to stick it out somewhere for a minimum of 5 years, go elsewhere. Not that you'll be stick there for 5 years, but the chances are better than average that you will.

One must ask the question as to why this airline (while all other regional airlines were overstaffed and some even furloughing during the previous 6 years) was constantly hiring and struggling to even properly staff their operation. It should speak volumes.

Uhhhhh. because they were GROWING, duh

Not sure what you consider GROWING to be exactly, but they only have 47 aircraft. And that's only because they operate 22 for DAL which didn't start delivery until 2011. They were always hiring and having issues years before those aircraft ever started arriving. Think about it... an opertion with 25 aircraft on property shouldnt be too hard to staff with hundreds of furloughed and qualified pilots on the street, yet it was very difficult for GoJetsss.

I don't know much about Gojet but RAH is already having major staffing issues with the Q400 and are upgrading people and having them fly both left and right seat since no new hires are wanting to go to the Q. Also, with RAH getting at least 47 E jets for AA that's a lot of upgrades. They may not have the best contract, but people usually expect the worst at a regional anyway. Seems to me like that's the place to go.

I disagree with allot of the comments here. Sometimes its best to find a crappy regional with lots of movement. Off reserve quicker, upgrade quicker and get the hell out of there quicker.
Quality of life can be improved by seniority and the extra income upgrade brings.

Good companies (Skywest etc) have too many happy campers who have no intention of leaving. That means long reserve for new hires and 5+ year upgrade.

There are two sides to the argument.

However, today's fast upgrade at any given regional, crappy ones included, can literally disappear overnight and go from 2 years to 7. Ask any Pinnacle FO hired in 07 or later....

Couldn't agree more. Pick on upgrade time. Yes we all know not every spot requires tpic but I'd be willing to bet it helps.

Except Colgan. Quick upgrades. Iron-clad protections for "career expectations." :p

I choose my airline based on. "What was a descent company to work for" I am thinking I choose wrong. XJ Had a descent contract and QOL and look what a merger and Bankruptcy does to it. QOL/Contract can go away just like a fast upgrade. Here is an idea of where to go, Put all the names of airlines that are hiring into a hat and pick one. That is basically what it is. Good luck

It may sound crazy but I would be worried if I was at one of the "preferred" regionals right now. Senior captains on 15+ year payscales, 3 weeks+ vacation, and fat 401k match. People stick around and labor costs go up considerably.
All of a sudden you are given the ultimatum to either take concessions or lose your flying to a new cheaper airline called "barbie jets R us!"

If a regional is a stepping stone to bigger and better things, why look for one that will be the most comfortable? If the objective of the mission is to get into the right seat of a 737 as soon as possible, you would want to be at a place that flies your ass off and upgrades as soon as possible wouldn't you? I used to love hearing the words, "I can't wait to get the hell out of here" in the crew room. Movement is a good thing when you are trying to progress in your career.

great...
 

Wow. Lots of good stuff to think about...definitely gonna hit the job fair for Spirit...I can be happy lots of places....there is nothing magical about the left seat...it just pays more..I have been a captain most of my career...worked at places for fun and qol...they dont exist anymore so...gotta pay the bills..

sincere thanks to all....

Nicely said. The bad thing is that the regionals have become a place where people settle and it's not a stepping stone for many... This screws everyone.

I'm at 5.5 years at RAH and no upgrade yet on ANY airframe. Don't come here for a quick upgrade.

And the American contract will cause movement, but we already have a fleet of over 200 RJs. An additional 47 doesn't exactly mean a quick upgrade for new hires either.

The only thing that will have any real effect on upgrade times at the regionals is retirements and subsequent hiring at the majors and legacies. And just how much movement will happen over all of that....who knows.

Upgrade chasers.....lol.

Well it's not like there is anywhere to go right now or really has been in the last 10 years. JetBlue just opened their window for a few days and got well over 3,000 applicants while United received over 8,000 and only a handful of those numbers will get a call.

CommutAir upgrade time is about 1 1/2 years right now. We always seem to be running upgrade classes and wouldn't be surprised to see that time drop even a little more once our captains start leaving for the majors. I know management will be hiring indefinitely right now. QOL isn't that great but the people here are awesome and since its such a small company it feels almost like a family.

When you say like family do you mean they're crazy, in and out of prison, and always trying to borrow money?

QOL isn't that great but the people here are awesome and since its such a small company it feels almost like a family.

The "family" that comes to mind is the Gallaghers on "Shameless" (Showtime). I guess I'll fit right in :D