A320 Job Offer

[Shaheen]

Are you seriously going to listen to the idiots on this board for career advise??

Well, kjokmo, I must say that yours is the only post that I would disregard. I asked for honest, positive advice, and I have to say that’s what I’m getting here except from you.

In fact, all these months of prowling this board, above are (except yours) the most positive responses I have seen/read and many of the PMs are on the same wavelength.

Everyone seems to put more weight in ‘marriage’ and ‘family’, and I totally like this perspective: not uprooting family in order to chase jobs.

Well, yes, I have visited India as an adult, and as someone of an Indian descendant, I admit it’s an awful place to live. I’m very lucky to be here (Flying in America – AOPA Pilot, July 2005)! My wife is of American/Caucasian descent and kids are born here as well. She’s never been to India and I know it would be difficult for her. It would be difficult for me, let alone for someone who’s never been away from US/Canada.

Now back to the post, I am grateful for all the insights. Very educational and it gives me a different perspective. I accept that I am just about starting to look for a regional job and the opportunities would come. It’s just that flying a Twin Piston for 135 Vs A320 airline job…well, you see my point.

And also that A320 SIC is the same as CRJ SIC, I wouldn’t have known that, but thanks to all, especially to AMRCostUnit, for the good insight.

Keep it coming please. Thanks.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Listen to your heart when handling others. Use your head when handling yourself.

 

[Oh-ryan]

Flight time aside, I don't think it's worth it. I would have a hard time living with the guilt of uprooting my wife and kids to a country and culture like that only to have them to face it alone as I go globe-trotting 3 or 4 nights a week in the 320.

I think I would just go it alone and try to get back to the states as often as I could to visit them. The guilt would be much less and probably easier to live with. Lots of military guys do it when they get a sh!tty assignment overseas for a year or two. It's called being a "geo-bachelor". Not sure what kind of vacation time or jumpseat priviledges you would get, but it's an option you should consider.

 

[Charlie Brown]

I would not do it.

As was said earlier, SIC is SIC. It will not be worth the turmoil you, and more importantly your family, will have to endure. I know it is tempting because you are hungry for a better deal than your current gig, but trust me something better will come along soon. Best of luck to you.

 

[skengdon]

May I ask?

If he goes to India, and upon arrival he is typed on the 320. Would he be able to log as PIC when it is infact his leg of the trip(pilot in command) then?

Does it work that way here in USA, at regionals where the FO is typed, he can log pic time??

Could someone clarify, I'm clueless as to how it works.

thanks in advance, SD

 

[myq2u]

Don't Go!

Shaheen,

I think you should focus on getting pic time - NOT “bigger airplane” time. Whether it’s a BE1900, an Airbus 320 or the space shuttle - if it’s not PIC time then you are pretty much wasting your time there; especially a “low-timer” who does not meet the minimums for any airline. If you had 1000pic flying for a regional and wanted to get some jet time, I’d say go for it. At this point however, I’d say you’re going in the wrong direction.

Also, something else you might want to look into is the 5 year US residency requirement some US carriers have. Maybe FedEx and UPS pilots can chip in here but doesn’t FedEx & UPS require an “uninterrupted” 5 year US residency in order to work there? I might be wrong but I thought I read about that somewhere.

Either way good luck to you AND your wife!

"If he goes to India, and upon arrival he is typed on the 320. Would he be able to log as PIC when it is infact his leg of the trip(pilot in command) then?

Does it work that way here in USA, at regionals where the FO is typed, he can log pic time??

Could someone clarify, I'm clueless as to how it works."

Skengdon -

PIC time is when your name shows on the dispatch release and it is signed by you. It doesn’t matter whether you are typed or not.

Think about it this way, there are thousands of furloughed pilots out there working for many different airlines. Let’s say they used to be captains on the very same airplane in the past before they got furloughed. Now that they are FO’s they should not log their time as pic just because they have a type rating from a “previous life.”

Good friend of mine interviewed at UPS several months ago and he was asked about his pic time. In particular they wanted to know how he managed to acquire that much pic time since he seemed to be a fairly “junior” guy at his current company. He tried to explain that both pilots get typed there (flight options) and that in the past when he was an fo he’d log pic time on repo legs (part 91) and when he’s the “sole manipulator” of the aircraft, etc, etc.

Well, he didn’t get hired - don’t know if that was the reason but I’m sure it didn’t help.

 

[skengdon]

Skengdon -

PIC time is when your name shows on the dispatch release and it is signed by you. It doesn’t matter whether you are typed or not.

Think about it this way, there are thousands of furloughed pilots out there working for many different airlines. Let’s say they used to be captains on the very same airplane in the past before they got furloughed. Now that they are FO’s they should not log their time as pic just because they have a type rating from a “previous life.”

Good friend of mine interviewed at UPS several months ago and he was asked about his pic time. In particular they wanted to know how he managed to acquire that much pic time since he seemed to be a fairly “junior” guy at his current company. He tried to explain that both pilots get typed there (flight options) and that in the past when he was an fo he’d log pic time on repo legs (part 91) and when he’s the “sole manipulator” of the aircraft, etc, etc.

Well, he didn’t get hired - don’t know if that was the reason but I’m sure it didn’t help.

That makes much more sense now, for couple peoples 'pilots' say you can log pic like that(sole manipulator). So i'll glad correct them, thanks Myq2u.

 

[Charlie Brown]

There are a few different definitions here of "PIC". Actually, they are both correct from a FAR standpoint. However (and that is a BIG however), airlines are only going to count PIC time as the time you signed the release or if you are 91, your name was on the flightplan as PIC. It does not matter if you are typed, you were in the left seat, you flew the A/C, etc. It matters in the eyes of the company/FAA if something were to go down, your name is in the PIC column. For airline hiring purposes, this is the only way I would log PIC time unless you really want to take a chance and leave yourself open to question.

 

[airplane wizard]

Would flight time with a foregin carrier even "count" if you wanted to get on with a major in the US?

 

[2wheelz]

Regarding the question of what is considered PIC, at many carriers now, the application specifically states that PIC is to include only that flight time in which you signed for the aircraft. Also, the "SIC rating" that all FO's are required to have is a type rating. It is an aircraft type rating on your pilot certificate with a SIC restriction. When you upgrade to captain in the same a/c the SIC restriction is removed.