Second this. Also....had a USMC tilt rotor guy in my class at K4 (though he had some regional time). But I think the Atlas/Southern 737 program would be a good fit for a person in your situation. And I bet Atlas/Southern would think that too.....

sky jet goinaround I hear what your saying about Atlas and the Pathway program they are starting. From what I have been seeing, the hours seem to be about the same at Atlas/Southern than it does with USA. Is that not the case? Also, what is upgrade time like with Atlas/Southern? With this pathway program, it seems like it will flood the pipeline and make it hard to upgrade (also hearing seat locks will be 36 months). Not only that, the pay doesn't sound like it will come close to 100K as a FO for a couple years. Finally, how much does it differ with 73 vs MD88 time with a company like FedEx/UPS? Curious to know.

I don't know the hours at USA Jet or Atlas. I don't know the answers to most of your questions as I don't work either place. I do know that the DC-9/MD-80 type is a dying airframe. Kalitta Charters II and USA Jet are some of the last to operate it in he US. There are many more operators of the 737 plus the fact that SWA obviously loves those guys. I haven't flown a 737 in nearly 11 years and I still get offers several times a month for jobs around the planet through various agencies. I haven't even updated with them in years and still I get request to interview for PIC positions. I doubt the Douglas guys are getting that type of action.

I don't think FedEx or UPS care how you got your time. I do know that many Kalitta Air and Atlas guys have moved on to both of those. Both K4 and Atlas/Southern fly for DHL so perhaps the two big US freight players value that type of operational experience. Good luck. With your background you can probably not really make a bad decision on a job right now and most likely would be best served by taking the first job offered, getting your time and moving on to the job you really want.

One thing to note is that the days ‘on’ - pilots are on a one-hour tether around the clock. Many trips are >12 hours and through WOCL, unscheduled and ‘be at work in an hour.’ This implies staying within a few highway exits away for most of the year. A regional reserve posture will be less hours where your phone is live - so I am not certain the difference in pay is a true correlation when the calculus is run. Likely a jump ball. Two different types of flying - and there are those who make each work for their situation.

At USA Jet plan on 20-25 hours a month. No joke it is whats it is. Most of the job is duty time sitting, waiting, or loading, and unloading freight. I averaged 70 nights away from base a year.

No airline cares between an MD80 and 737. A jet is a jet. Id guess the Atlas flying is a bit less fatigue run then usa jet but probably more flight time. USA Jet is max duty days normally or thats atleast what you expect.

Do the 727 crews have an international duty day limit or do they use the unlimited day allowed by 121.521?

How recent is your experience with only 20-25 hours a month? I talked to some pilots and as of recently, they were flying 40-50 hours a month, some as high as 60 (granted in peak season and only a handful of times). With the recent contract it seems like the hours have increased.

Is USA Jet still hiring pilots? ME T-Prop guy here needing a schedule offering several days on/off schedule.

Thanks in advance.

Yes. Aggressively

Is USA Jet requiring the jab for employment?