Direct Entry Captain
 

With all the talk about hiring DECs and short upgrades in the regional world, I think a discussion on "readiness" to upgrade is worthwhile.

Can anyone please share their experiences on short upgrade or direct entry captain (good and bad).

I have over 2k 121, but have been out of the game for almost 10 years. So, information particular to that realm would be preferable.

As an aside, all due respect to the long term FOs slogging away out there, this isn't meant to draw any hard feelings. I know all too well the long FO hardships that essentially squeezed me out years ago.

Thanks!

Endless reserve

Same boat as you, but it's only been 8 years (not that that really makes a difference). The quick upgrade with these kinds of times is very possible. I got just hired at Piedmont and one reason I chose them was the quick upgrade. That said, do either of us have any business going directly to a left seat? Hellll no. I'm planning on sitting as an FO until I feel comfortable upgrading and then I will throw my bid in. Luckily, with the short upgrade times, I will be the limiting factor for upgrade, not the airline!

Sort of related to this topic, I'm very surprised ALPA national has not called for an end to whipsawing regional carriers for safety reasons.

Shifting flying from one carrier to another essentially takes a Captain job from an experienced FO and gives it to someone who just happens to be in the right place in the right time and may have much less experience.

I realize these are blanket statements and there are plenty of DEC's who make great Captains. However, the point remains, whipsawing results in less experienced crews operating aircraft. Sometimes with new Captains flying with new FO's.

I think the whipsaw game is almost played out, but always wondered why ALPA national failed to point out how this could be unsafe.


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ALPA's own design supports the whipsaw. Different chapters within the same "union" working against each other.. not to mention major vs. regional. But I don't know enough history to know who to curse at about scope clauses. :(

Alpa works for the company, not the pilots at the regional level. It's the companies free police department keeping pilots in line.

Regional pilots are fooled into thinking they have a union when in fact you pay alpa to do the companies bidding.

How could alpa possibly support both mainline and regional pilots? It's a conflict of interest. Don't worry though, there is still time to sign up for the next Alpa Fee for Departure interview workshop. See my point??

This reason is towards the end of the list on why the whipsaw should end.

Go look TR or PM in the eye and tell them they do the company's bidding.

Please explain specifically how having ALPA on both Mainline and Regional properties is a conflict of interest.

And then tell us all what ALPA has to do with hiring at the mainline level.

1.) Sellout on scope
2.) Represent those pilots
3.) Profit

Soooooo....... ALPA had a direct hand in creating an underclass of pilots specifically so they could collect LESS dues than they would had those aircraft stayed on mainline certificates, then forced themselves upon said pilot groups? Pretty sure those regional carriers had to vote in ALPA themselves......

I will grant you that the decisions that created the FFD carriers as we know them today were short sighted, but the idea that's it's just some sort of ALPA moneymaking scheme ignores a whole lot of reality.