benairguitar23

First a little background, my first airline flight ever was on a United 737-200 at the age of 5, and ever since that day my goal has been to fly for United Airlines. I currently have 3000tt, 2000 multi, and 1400 turbine SIC. I have been with my current company as an F/O for 2 years (4 if you count the furlough) which doesn't pay great but I'm getting turbine SIC. It doesn't look like any of us F/O's will upgrade for another 2-3 years but my goal is to apply and try to get hired by United as soon as they start hiring from the street which if the rumors are correct could be anywhere from 6 months to 1 1/2 years.

I would like to make myself as marketable as possible. That being said I'm wondering from a UAL/CAL pilots perspective, should I stay at my current company and continue building SIC turbine time with the possiblity of not upgrading by the time UAL hires, (would they even take me after the retirements start with no turbine PIC) or should I leave for a different company to obtain the turbine PIC? Possibilites being GoJets (PIC jet), Silver Airways (PIC turboprop) etc. Also would going to one of those companies look to be a bad career move in the eyes of UAL/CAL? Any honest opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your help.

Palmtree Pilot

You need to concentrate on and obtain 1500 turbine PIC. You also might want to start thinking about the industry in terms of a business owner and not a little kid that dreams of flying for one certain legacy carrier. I know a few guys that used that kind of logic for going to United a few years ago, needless to say they found themselves on the street not too long afterwards.

Many guys that came from a few defunct and currently dwindling legacy's can't get jobs because they went to those places before they acquired 1000+ turbine PIC and many place now require a minimum of that.

PtP

jumppilot

Go to every Women in Aviation, OBAP, AirInc conference you can. You'd be amazed at how many were hired just because their face was seen at these conferences over and over and over again.

STR8NLVL

Sounds like you're at RAH. As slow as it may look like an upgrade might be, don't make a lateral move chasing an upgrade. And be VERY leery of a street captain position. There's always a reason such a place needs captains off the street.

At GoJets, you'd be a "Captain Qualified First Officer." If you read their contract, you'll see that you will be back in the right seat as soon as their first officers are qualified for upgrade. So you might only get 500 hours of TPIC and then be back to waiting your place in line, but at GoJets!

And regardless, anywhere that you go as a street captain, yes you're a captain, but you're still at the bottom of the list. And you'll remain stuck on the bottom, getting reserve and the worst schedules and days off, until your seniority can actually hold a more senior captain spot. I have a buddy who took a street captain spot at Colgan back in '05 and was MISERABLE stuck at the bottom of the list his whole three years there.

I'd say stick tight, make any connections you can (United is confirmed at the April Flight Ops Career Fair), and wait for the upgrade or go where you can get hired without the PIC if it's a career destination, knowing that leaving with no PIC is a big commitment as if you get furloughed you'll likely have to go back to a regional.

My two cents, worth what you paid for it.

jaykris

A little advice here from a guy that is NO NOVICE TO THIS PROFESSION. I have almost 30 years working for airlines. Eastern,
United, and now Continental.......trust me, ual is now continental......

LEAVE IT!! Do anything else!!! I dont care what you do, make yourself a better person and stay out of aviation. The industry
simply is NOT worth the hassle. The pay isnt anywhere it should be. I recently had a plumber come over and do some work.
Guess what? His hourly rate worked out higher than mine!! No checkrides, no FAA, no ATC delays, No TSA, no layoffs,
he might have bad management, but he can always leave and take his seniority with him.

Just like drugs. JUST DONT DO IT! Enjoy life, dont miss every holiday, every wedding, every birthday, etc. etc.

Just dont do it!! Before you waste another day, ask ANY major airline pilot what he would do. ANY!!

Sorry to bust your bubble,

J

benairguitar23

I see what you're saying, I would be willing though to deal with the pains of being on reserve in order to gain PIC and have a little more money to pay bills and support my family. I just don't want to be stuck where I am with no upgrade in sight when United and the other majors start hiring like mad and me have to wait before I'm hired and then be stuck at the bottom of the list for the rest of my career...I've seen first hand what it's like to be a 22 year F/O knowing you'll never become a Captain. Thoughts???

Hey Jay,
I do see what you're saying, I actually thought about it when I was furloughed, going into another field, however every time I was outside and a plane flew over I always looked up and wished I was in the air. Then getting called back made me so happy, and yes even though management ruins it sometimes, I still love what I do and couldn't imagine doing anything else. I've got to try for my lifetime goal of flying International for a Major or I think I'll always look back and regret it for the rest of my life. I will still take your advice in consideration though! Thank you all for the comments, keep them coming I'm starting to get a good idea but would love more input!!!

Zymurgist

Unless you have a class at gojet now or at least an offer, you may have missed the bus on CQFO. I would expect the upgrade at gojet to be much quicker than if you we're to go to another regional. The time to have made the change was about 4 months ago. Their are rumors of more flying, but they are just rumors. Never bet on rumors. If you can live with being on 1st year pay again and like RDU as a base, gojet could be a viable option. I can't speak for silver airways. As a former comair guy that came to gojet 2.5 years ago, it was a good move for me. I upgraded after 18 months and was based in STL for the whole time. I live in STL. Good luck!

Windsor

Palmtree is right, you really need to take an objective view of the airlines when choosing your future employer. You should open your eyes to the fact that United might not be the latest and greatest out there. I used to have tunnel vision on a certain freight hauling company. Now I realize there's more to life than a big pay scale. When choosing my next and hopefully final employer, I'm taking into account more than pay.

Fly IFR

Don't let your emotions push you towards a certain airline. I know it might be sentimental or whatever, but there was also someone on here writing about how someone in his family had Mr. Riddle from the famous university as a flight instructor way back when and now he wanted to go there. People were telling him he could get the same quality education elsewhere for much cheaper and the name isn't all that matters. It's sort of like that, but just do your research. As far as I know (and you should too), United is not the same company as it was back in the day and a lot of people have lost a lot because of them.

jaykris

Well if you wont listen to reason........one last word of advice. NEVER MOVE FOR AN AIRLINE JOB. That one was told to me by an old DC-3 Captain, best advice anyone
in this industry has given me. Tried their way twice....they moved the flying and closed
a domicile.

This industry rocks.

Jay