Airline Pilot Central Forums - Upgrade time to captain?

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Originally Posted by ShyGuy (Post 2730271)

But! But! But! We're down to 4 big airlines now with 4 smaller national ones, and there are yuge retirements coming! We can't furlough anymore, those days are gone :D

And how exactly does consolidated competition, improved fleets to allow more flexibility in deployment and massive retirements upcoming NOT mitigate the potential furlough? Anything could happen to royally screw the current airline structure up and results in furloughs, but to dismiss the positive factors we have on our side to mitigate a furlough shouldn’t be laughed off like they aren’t a big deal.

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Originally Posted by O2pilot (Post 2730304)

Doesn’t matter. There are guys who are always going to only talk about all the terrible things that might happen and that’s their life. They are miserable and enjoy bringing people down. Guy on the crew van last week complaining to my new hire FO that he better be prepared to be furloughed in a few years and get screwed in an SLI because he got furloughed before the merger from CAL and believes he got screwed in the SLI.

Ha. Don't be a lost decade denier. Things were as prosperous as they come just before 9/11 and the 08' recession. Us old guys are just adding some balance.

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Originally Posted by Andy (Post 2730280)

Furloughs are possible, but absent an age increase (unlikely), I don't see furloughs for most airlines, even in a recession. The financial numbers of furloughing only make sense if an airline plans on not recalling for at least 24 months. It would take a significant economic downturn to trigger furloughs.

Given how lean staffing is, furloughs can also be mitigated or even eliminated by lowering line pilots' block hours. In my mind, that's a much more palatable solution than having to furlough. Unfortunately, there are more than a few $200K+ pilots who live paycheck to paycheck and have to fly 100 credit hours/mo. Gotta pay for that mcmansion, private plane, boat, and stable of half a dozen high end hookers. I'm intentionally avoiding a discussion on the third F.

Fixed it for you, but most of those guys refer to them as their "girlfriend." It's either their white New Balance shoes, cell phone holster, huge gut, or magnetic personality that attracts all the young hard bodies. Obviously.

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Originally Posted by JoePatroni (Post 2730411)

Must be my shoes......

How long til a new hire can hold a kush line on a widebody as an FO?

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Originally Posted by baronbvp (Post 2730146)

Spirit and Frontier don’t interest me given the pay and where I want to live. I’d try for Alaska or JetBlue before those if the big majors don’t show interest.

At this point I’m just doing research for long-term plans. This is all great info and I appreciate everyone’s engagement. First I have to get through SkyWest’s training and start flying the 121 line and living the life. So baby steps. :)

Given you have 8 years left in this career, and still in training at SkyWest, I would accept the fact that a jump to a Legacy carrier probably will not be as fast as you would hope and there is a true possibility of maybe spending some time at SkyWest.

You are probably at least 2 years out from even getting a look from Spirit. Minimums were raised again and I think back up to 3,000 TT, which means application stacks are up. I would bet you would be even longer to get a look from a Legacy. Many on here have been tolling at the regionals for years, waiting for their chance.

I can understand bases being a concern for you but you will be junior at any Legacy or LCC you go to, so not much choice there. As far as QOL, well you are junior and probably retire junior as well, so things to keep in mind...

You have your heart set on a Legacy, wish you the best. But the progression is not as easy as it might seem or have heard...

Upgrade time to captain?

Yep, I get that, thank you. That is sound advice and I’m prepared to wait if needed and pay my dues.

I have 3240 hours, all turbine, with 2991 PIC, 753 night, 619 actual instrument, 642 instructor in 16 years of military flying. I’m hoping that helps.

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Originally Posted by baronbvp (Post 2730432)

You will get on with delta or United or American within 6 months from now
And will hold left seat in any of the 3 by 2025 the latest if everything goes as plan with their hiring departments

Seriously that’s my best guess

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Originally Posted by Ni hao (Post 2730011)

The JR 320 EWR Capt on the last award is 29! He was hired at 25 :eek:

Timing is everything!!