This site says that FOs are getting upgraded at about 12 months after being hired. And I heard from a TSA F/O that the upgrade is happening when pilots reach ATP minimums.

Now, Since having the PIC Time is King in moving your ass forward in this industry, i'd think people would be jumping all over this... are they? Or is there a catch to this upgrading thats posted on apc.com...

Any comments welcome.

Thanks,
Adam

there is a catch. you have to work at TSA. work rules are a little this side of Mesa, pay sucks, and scheduling bends you over on a regular basis.

but if you like living in RIC and want the PIC that bad...

i think just about everyone wants the PIC that bad, it's the only reason mesa was still in business. right now TSA is hoping this will "keep them" in business, or at minimum, get away from hiring street captains. The upgrade dropping to a year though isn't necessarily for the 250 hr guys, but for those hired around 700TT last fall, as the minimums dropped lower, the upgrade will be slightly longer.

As far as pay goes, it's competitive first year, and a complete joke second year...TSA isn't a place you wanna get stuck for a few years, if you do, and wanted STL, you'll be kicking yourself that you didn't go to chautauqua.

Upgrade mins are ATP when you count some company credit. There is one FO who is upgrading in under a year with the old upgrade mins. But now with the mins where they're at, seniority will dictate the upgrade. And as we all know, there could be 10 people who upgrade in a year or so, or there could be 100. Its a crapshoot. For someone who comes in now, I would guess at least 2 years if not more to upgrade. The people who wil benefit from the quick upgrades are those who were in the first 3 or 4 classes last fall after the round of furloughs.

Still rather be an FO at SKW/XJT/RAH than a CA at TSA.

AMEN!!!!!!!

One of my old FOs just upgraded after 3 years (and he had more time than I did as a captain there 3 years ago) so take the web site's word for what it's worth- less than toilet paper since you can't wipe your @ss with a web page. My friends there have told me that there really is a mass exodus, but it is much more FOs than Captains. At least the Captains are escaping also. Good luck whatever you decide.

i have thought about reapplying to TSA and seeing how long it would take me to catch back up to my old seniority number, i was orignally a september of 06 new hire, so i would probably get right back under my classmates by Christmas!

Thats just stupid... Get your PIC time ASAP and move on... Unless you are a career regional type.

At the moment, the "magic" 1000 TPIC isn't going to get you to mainline...an extra 6-12 months in the right seat at a respectable Airline is not going to kill your career.