With all the talk of majors picking up people with no PIC time, it sounds like regional new-hires with no PIC have something to look forward to. Sounds like getting upgraded or not doesn't matter anymore.

But...

Take Delta for instance. Straight from their site:

"When evaluating the flight time of applicants meeting the basic qualifications, consideration will be given to, among other things, quality, quantity, recency, and verifiability of training; complexity of aircraft flown; types of flight operations; and hours flown as PIC in turbine powered aircraft."

Also, there is some recent speak on the majors side of this forum talking about the "tiers" applications are put into based on the above. PIC time was mentioned. Delta is likely not the only carrier that is this way.

There is also talk of it being cheaper for the majors to hire off the street versus from the regionals, point being that doing so generates only one training event versus two or three (regional loses a FO, major trains a FO, regional trains a replacement FO [2 events], OR regional loses a FO, major trains a FO, regional trains (upgrades) a FO to replace the CA and also trains a replacement FO [3 events]). Could this factor in, especially as it pertains to a regional FO at a wholly-owned who aspires to work for the respective mainline?

So, it seems that new entrants with no PIC may want to think twice about who they go to. For some carriers PIC time seems to still be "unofficially required".

"Don't chase an upgrade" may not be good advice after all.

Thoughts?

PIC is always better than no PIC.

Internal recommendations are always better than not having internal recommendations.

Military experience is usually better than no military experience.

Heavy time is sometimes better than no heavy time.

Relevant type ratings are sometimes better than not having a type rating.





One can get hired with or without any of the above, or with any combination. Pick your strategy, and go to work. Me? I'll try to maximize my income and quality of life, rather than playing some BS pea-and-shell game that results in commuting to a crappy regional with the hope of a quick upgrade.

Pretty much what he said. Someone with PIC time is more likely to be hired than someone with no PIC time. If the person with no PIC time has 20 internal recs and the person with PIC time has none then the guy with no PIC time might have the better shot. It's all about how many check boxes you have checked. If you have a million other amazing things on your resume but no PIC then you get an interview. If you have PIC but have nothing else on your resume you may not get an interview.

To pile on, this guy says it well.

But to add to it, most (if not ALL HR) departments are looking at people that are furthering their career and improving themselves professionally as well as personally. So, wouldn't upgrading do that? Sorry, stuffing more SIC time in the logbook isn't really doing that. Upgrading, getting the PIC time, etc does do that.

No upgrade in sight? Is there a ground instructor position available? Is there a position in the safety department, CRM, or something else to strengthen the resume beyond all that SIC time?

And yep, it's true, unless the requirements list TPIC, it's NOT needed. But for right here, and right now, if you were take a survey of the newhire demographics at (insert company here), the majority of the people would have TPIC/AC time.

I don't understand. The majors, with thousands of applications on file, are hiring pilots with the most valuable experience? Shocking.

No kidding. This just in: There are a lot more pilots than there are major airline jobs, so the most qualified pilots are getting hired first.

But that's discrimination. Being a Captain or flying a heavy jet doesn't make you a better pilot. All that matters is how good a stick you are. That's why I got my aerobatic certificate. I can fly way better than even most of the major pilots. My instructor told me so.

Everyone still gets a trophy, though, don't they?

Participation ribbon

What he said. The folks getting hired without TPIC almost certainly have family connections or affirmative action tickets. Possible exception for some LCCs, which may be concerned about a mass exodus to the legacies.

TPIC, unlike any other metric such as junior high school GPA, shows the ability to exercise judgement and common sense to stay out of trouble in a turbine environment. Either that or be really lucky. An SIC might have been kept out of trouble by his CA's.