So I have an interview with a regional upcoming, and also have an opportunity to fly aerial mapping in navajo's.
My end goal has always been to fly for a charter or fractional home based company.
The money will be better at the mapping job vs the regional, and it won't be as bad, or maybe as "often" as the commute to a regional...but there is no set schedule or days off. From what I gather, you fly the job till its done, then you can take some time off and pick up the next one, so again, no real schedule.
Just wondering which route would be the best to get to the end goal? Thanks!

Continue to apply to charter/home based companies. I would recommend a regional job rather than mapping to reach your goals. Right seat jet time will be more valuable than Navajo time for any fractional.

This....go to the regionals, get your time upgrade (if you can) and move along.

DH


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X2

I'm not sure which mapping company you're talking about, but my best friend just got out for a mapping company and he likes the regionals much more so far.

From what you described, it sounds like the same deal...he flew all over the country in a 172 doing aerial surveying/mapping and it really wore him out. He would usually be living out of hotels for 2-3 weeks at a time, and as soon as his "project" was completed he would have maybe a week (usually a lot less) off before his next project. Usually the flying must be done in VFR weather with high ceiling (above 3000-4000 feet) so the pictures come out right so at times a one week project turned into three weeks with him sitting around a hotel due to weather, or he was putting in 12 hour days in the plane to get the job done on time. All in all, I think he was only home once or twice in about a two or three (possibly four) month span before he decided to give it up and go to a regional. He did rack up the hours quickly though if that's your goal. I would do your research-if its anything like his job, you won't have a life besides flying airplanes. I would pick a regional if it was me for QOL- I wouldn't have been able to do what he did....but that's just me.

Good luck.

Yeah unfortunately I think it might well be similar. I will have to try and get a few more details on it. If I could arrange more of say a 14/14 or something, that'd be awesome. Like you said though, I think you have to hammer out the job when able, since wx plays a big part in it.
At least their is some resemblance of a schedule with a regional, even if its only 3 days off..and hopefully my RW time coupled with what I could fly in a year or so at a regional would mean it'd be a relatively short term deal...but who really knows huh lol!

I've learned that my jet time is fairly valuable. I was recently hired for a 135 charter/jet local outfit, and many of their new hires lack jet experience. Before this gig I was a regional FO and regional CA for a bit...got out of the business a few years ago, and am now back in via the charter gig.

Regionals will give you a decent scheduled life, but as with any flying job, you tend to revolve your life around when you're not flying. No reason to let that get in the way of enjoying yourself though...I follow the other votes, do the regional thing, get some jet experience, and keep putting in applications to charter outfits that fit your needs/dreams.

Also recommend finding a regional that doesn't have a training contract (do any still have training contracts?)

Honestly, it sounds like you should consider 135 freight. Companies like Ameriflight, MAC, Baron aviation all will hire you directly into turbine and pay more than a regional. If you want to be an airline pilot, be an airline pilot. If you want to fly 135, fly 135.

Good advice!

I'm surprised you came back you were making decent money (six figures?) in a government job weren't you? How much of a pay cut did you take? Are you finding there is decent demand now for ATP rated guys with PIC in the 91/135 gigs? I flew with an ex-GIII CA at my commuter who was only making $65k in the ORD area in a 135 department which really surprised me.