But why do I have to be Paul Sr?

Finally, thank you, and I apologize also.

I'm not looking to "jump the line". I just don't want to go somewhere where I'll be stuck as an FO for a long time (although I have the flight time required to upgrade) because of my seniority number. And as far as "slogging it out for years", I did that, most likely much more than any of you did. Flight instructing, bush pilot, charters, corporate. Being a CFI for a couple of years and then being an FO on a regional jet is not exactly "slogging it".

Yes, I've been off for a long time due to a medical condition that was no fault of mine, but I paid my damn dues.

Like Excargodog was saying, the best case scenario for me is to sign on as a Near-DEC to get my feet wet and then upgrade.

Cheers.

LMAO!

You win the Internets today.

Because he always started the arguments. Lol

Have you put much thought into the qol that one of these dec or near-dec positions are going to afford you? Sitting reserve for an eternity at a regional is pretty rough. Are you planning to move? Have an easy commute? As someone who's been commuting to reserve for over a year I can attest to the hellish pain that it is. Also try not to make assumptions about how easy these young FOs have had it. They paid exponentially more for their ratings than you did. Everyone has a unique story. You'll be surprised how many don't fit the model you have stuck in your head.

If you haven’t flown for 18 years and have never been CA, you’re going to have a really bad time. You could be a shuttle commander and you would still struggle. That’s a significant amount of time off. It sounds like the near DEC program you were talking about is a good fit because a true DEC position would be a challenge. One 121 failure and you are pretty much stuck in the regionals/LCCs for life. I’ve seen ex-mil guys fail their checkrides, ex-airline guys fail, Etc. Not saying you will but after 18 years, it won’t be easy.

Yep, and I know it's gonna suck, but I have to do it. Short term sacrifice for long term gains.

I've only got 14 years left to make this happen.No. Our house is almost paid off and my wife has about 5 years until retirement from the school system. LFT has several direct flights to IAH, DFW and ATL, but I'll likely have at least a 2 leg commute. I can imagine, that's why I'd like to find a carrier with the shortest reserve time.I hear ya, but I graduated college and started my career in arguably the worst couple of decades of pilot hiring and pay. Like I said in another thread, when I hear these young pilots complaining about their jobs today, it's like a kid today complaining about how hard they have it to someone who was raised during The Depression.

Thanks for the advice. Cheers.

I agree.

I well know it wouldn't be easy, and a huge risk.

Going to try the Near-DEC route.

Cheers.

See that's just it. An early upgrade and short reserve time don't exist together anywhere. If I were you I'd narrow my search down to carriers that have Jr bases that you can get to in one leg. You can hold ATL CA at OO in just over a year and the pay is descent. You'd likely have to commute for a bit to DTW. Likely other shops you can hold IAH or DFW fairly quickly. A 2 leg commute to never-ending reserve is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Don't forget, you're going to be in training for roughly 3 months, so a carrier with a 1 year upgrade is really only 9 months on the line. That's a pretty short time to figure out how the operation works and more importantly, how to deal with FAs.

Not even for a Near-DEC position? It's essentially an early upgrade.I've looked at all of them, but the DEC or Near-DEC is so tempting.Not even on me? lol

This is how I see the choices. Commute to a nearby base (IAD, DFW, ATL) and be an FO for a while, then hopefully upgrade to CA and be sent
to a junior base and have a difficult commute and reserve.

Or go the Near-DEC or DEC route, have a difficult commute and reserve right off the bat, and hope to eventually get based somewhere a little easier to commute to.

Basically, it's suffer now, or later.

BTW, Bike Handles literally had me crying with that meme. lol