Low Regional Minimums

[JOHNSCHR]

Hi all,
I was wondering if you guys have some advice for a newly hired CFI/II/MEI. Currently I have just over 250 hours with 30 multi. After looking at some of the regional minimums (PSA, TSA) it is very tempting to stop instructing and jump into the right seat regional jet/turboprop. However, I cant help but think that building more time through instructing and getting on with Express Jet or Skywest might be a better option for me in the long run. Any words of wisdom for me? Thanks!

 

[Kream926]

yes...

experience and time are 2 dif things

 

[Amish RakeFight]

250/30 is still pretty low if you hadn't interned or come out of a bridge program. The lowest minimums are usually around the 600/100 mark. Some now only want a comm/mel certificate.

Try instructing for a few hundred hours over the next few months. Your flying will improve greatly and you'll learn a lot more about flying. In the mean time get your ATP written out of the way and start studying about turine and high altitude operations. Read gouges as well.

There are a lot of other candidates who have low time but still have a fair amount of instructing PICwhich will put you behind them.

 

[Grey Ghost]

Hold out for where you really want to go or you will be miserable for the next few years. everybody is hurting for pilots so just keep pumping out resumes, 20/day, eventually they will call you!

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Go right away to a lower-end regional like TSA or Pinnacle that doesn't have a training contract. After 6 months or so you can get on with Horizon, Air WI, Express Jet, Skywest, etc. Chautaqua/Republic has a $2500 signing bonus and, basically, no mins if you're already RJ trained. Flying 121 ME Jet is much better for you than instructing, as far as a resume builder, and you'll be getting up to 100 hrs/month, so you'll build time fast.

Pinnacle, PSA and USA Jet are the first ones to have these official minimums:
Comm-MEL
Inst-Airplane
NO HOURLY MINS

The pilot shortage tsunami has just started hitting the airlines.

cliff
GRB

 

[Kream926]

but why make a lateral move to another regional and start all over again?

stick to instructing for a while and get some valuable dual given time then go to air wiskey or horizon

just my .02c

 

[Goose Egg]

Try instructing for a few hundred hours over the next few months. Your flying will improve greatly and you'll learn a lot more about flying. In the mean time get your ATP written out of the way and start studying about turine and high altitude operations. Read gouges as well.

I tend to agree with this. I remember thinking that since I now had a commercial ticket, I was an "expert" on flying. Wow, did I have a few things to learn!!! (I now have about 1050 total 50ish multi, and I still have a world of things to learn. Funny how that little transformation takes place... Like my father becoming a very, very smart man after I turned about 25.)

I guess that what I'm trying to get at is, while hiring minimums might be lower, the standards for getting through training and doing a good job on the line aren't, and you want to make sure that you go into it adequately prepared. Spend some time instructing, and you'll learn a lot. I look back on all the things that I have learned along the way and wonder how I could have possibly gotten by without them.

There are a lot of other candidates who have low time but still have a fair amount of instructing PICwhich will put you behind them.

I guess with only about 50 multi, that would include me also.

-Goose

 

[lionflyer]

BS!
Go to TSA or Mesa and leave after 2-3 months. Skywest, Republic will hire you on the spot if you have previous 121 time. Lateral moves between regionals are fine as long as you do it within a year. I went from Skyway to Air Willy in 8 mo. Once you get past that year, it doesn't make cents ($$) to move between regionals. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Kream926]

isnt the whole point of gettin on with a regional is to move up to bigger and better??

 

[Goose Egg]

On the other hand, you will probably learn a lot more about flying jets by actually doing it... so I guess there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Isn't this wild? In the mid 90's, guys with 3000 hours were just scratching to get interviews with turboprop airlines, and now, ink-wet commercial guys are getting invited to jet interviews. I'm confused... but I'm not complaining!!!

-Goose

 

[pgcfii2002]

Instruct up to 1000 hours and get the ATP written out of the way, then go interview.

 

[walshsfly]

Get out while you still have time. Don't let yourself get suck in to airline flying, nothing good about it. Go get a job in computers you'll be happier in the end and you'll be home a lot more.

 

[Soverytired]

BS!
Go to TSA or Mesa and leave after 2-3 months. Skywest, Republic will hire you on the spot if you have previous 121 time. Lateral moves between regionals are fine as long as you do it within a year. I went from Skyway to Air Willy in 8 mo. Once you get past that year, it doesn't make cents ($$) to move between regionals. Good luck with your decision.

Training contract at Mesa is $10,000, clock begins when you finish training, and takes a year to expire.

Many, many Mesa pilots are deciding there's more to this JOB than $$, and are switching regionals in droves even at the 2-3 year longevity mark.

This makes perfect sense, because it is a JOB . . .why be miserable at your regional for 5,6,7,10 years on the off chance you MIGHT get hired at a major someday.

It's not a lateral move, because all regionals are not the same, not by a long shot. It's like saying JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, Virgin America, Skybus and UsAir are all the same because they all fly planes and they're all LCC's. Crazy talk.

 

[Soverytired]

isnt the whole point of gettin on with a regional is to move up to bigger and better??

Mesa: 1700 pilots and shrinking (maybe)

Skywest: 3000 pilots (?) and growing like crazy.

QOL way better at one, pure hell at the other. Mesa to Skywest is not a lateral move, its a move up to bigger and better.

Don't be fooled by the size of the airplane or fleet composition. It's the QOL that matters.

 

[gsrcrsx68]

Think about this:
If the hiring goes away and multi-time requirements spring up to 1000+ how long will it take to get that?

Go now, get the time, then do whatever you want.

 

[pdub20s]

Get out while you still have time. Don't let yourself get suck in to airline flying, nothing good about it. Go get a job in computers you'll be happier in the end and you'll be home a lot more.

why don't you hang yourself?!?! Don't push your beliefs on him.Im sure this is his dream. just cuz you had a crappy run doesn't mean he will.

 

[wrxpilot]

Get out while you still have time. Don't let yourself get suck in to airline flying, nothing good about it. Go get a job in computers you'll be happier in the end and you'll be home a lot more.

Are you kidding me? You don't sound like somebody that's had a computer job. I do, it sucks. I can't wait to quit next month and be a CFI.

 

[blesko]

Hi all,
I was wondering if you guys have some advice for a newly hired CFI/II/MEI. Currently I have just over 250 hours with 30 multi. After looking at some of the regional minimums (PSA, TSA) it is very tempting to stop instructing and jump into the right seat regional jet/turboprop. However, I cant help but think that building more time through instructing and getting on with Express Jet or Skywest might be a better option for me in the long run. Any words of wisdom for me? Thanks!

dood....go teach, cut your teeth flight instructing, learn something, deal with different people, earn some respect, get some actual IMC before you go hurling down a Cat II approach and lean over to your captain and 500AGL and say, wow, so this is what actual IMC looks like!? Loose an engine or 2 in the twin for real, have a student try and kill you, it makes you appreciate the airline job that much more

 

[135pilot]

You know what your heart yearns for, if you do not do it now you will only go crazy seeing the students you instructed get on with the likes of TSA, Mesa and then come back to the flight school and run their piehole about how much of a regional airline pilot they are. At this point, hmmm, I can see your eyes spinning out of control with envy and disgust just to mention a few, out goes the 100% motivation to be an instructor. Just do it and join the hundreds if not thousands that have gone before you.

 

[Kream926]

Just do it and join the hundreds if not thousands that have gone before you.

AMEN!!!

 

[walshsfly]

why don't you hang yourself?!?! Don't push your beliefs on him.Im sure this is his dream. just cuz you had a crappy run doesn't mean he will.

Ah words of wisdom from a freedum guy. I guess I should do what you say. Oh yeah I got furloughed because of guys like you.

 

[walshsfly]

Are you kidding me? You don't sound like somebody that's had a computer job. I do, it sucks. I can't wait to quit next month and be a CFI.

And in a few years when you have only 10 days at home a month making less than you will being a CFI lets see how you feel now.

If you want to go to an airline then go no one can tell you what to do. But as advice from a guy that worked for the airlines then got a much better job flying much better jets. Get your time up and go to a Frac you'll be much happier, and have a better chance of flying for the prime 3 later in life.

 

[WIPilot]

Are you kidding me? You don't sound like somebody that's had a computer job. I do, it sucks. I can't wait to quit next month and be a CFI.

I couldnt agree more. Theres now nothing I want less other than the cubicle/office lifestyle.

 

[Windsor]

With 250 hours and 50 multi, you are SOOOOO ready to go fly a jet!!!! Just walk into any HR department and demand they give you a job flying at FL350 and 450kts. God knows I could use a few more 250 hour wonder pilots sitting next to me up front.

 

[japhy]

Get out while you still have time. Don't let yourself get suck in to airline flying, nothing good about it. Go get a job in computers you'll be happier in the end and you'll be home a lot more.

This is the best advice yet!

 

[gsrcrsx68]

With 250 hours and 50 multi, you are SOOOOO ready to go fly a jet!!!! Just walk into any HR department and demand they give you a job flying at FL350 and 450kts. God knows I could use a few more 250 hour wonder pilots sitting next to me up front.

Pathetic...Everytime I see some dude trying to take shots like this I just think "what a loser".

You wonder why management has zero respect for you, if this guy is representitive of this group, that is why.

One universal truth I've seen anywhere I go is truly capable people wouldn't bother to make an insulting comment like that. In general, it seems like comments like that tend to come from incompetent people who aren't well liked by their peers and can barely get their job done.

To all the cool pilots...this isn't directed at you.

 

[Windsor]

Pathetic...Everytime I see some dude trying to take shots like this I just think "what a loser".

You wonder why management has zero respect for you, if this guy is representitive of this group, that is why.

One universal truth I've seen anywhere I go is truly capable people wouldn't bother to make an insulting comment like that. In general, it seems like comments like that tend to come from incompetent people who aren't well liked by their peers and can barely get their job done.

To all the cool pilots...this isn't directed at you.

Spoken like a true 250 hour pilot. Unless you have been trained by the military or gone through some sort of advanced training where all you do is train for an Airbus (like over in Europe), then you are not ready to fly jets. At 250 hours, I would have had my a$$ handed to me had I gone right into a jet. Going from a 172 to a jet is a big step.

Then you have to factor in expierence. 250 = very little real world exp.
I've got a lot more than 250 hours now and I'm still learning and gaining exp. with every flight.

 

[gsrcrsx68]

I didn't say anything about experience.

But as long as we're on the subject, you might be able to help out people with the knowledge you have instead of taking shots at people who are just trying to learn or get information.

 

[jws717]

Go to the airlines and after a few months leave to a better one. Peidmont to Expressjet or Skywest is a great move. If you like Peidmont you can eaven stay!

 

[rtmcfi]

My advice- Think long and hard before flying for a living. The guys warning you and trying to dissuade you are all airline guys. Most of them were not that different from you. They all wanted to be pilots living the dream. They are here, and have nothing to gain by warning you off. Consider the source when listening to your flight instructor friends. They have not flown 121. Realize that you are not going to be the same person 10 years down the road. Seeing the world and nailing FA's today, somehow morphs into being stuck in a $hitty hotel alone on Christmas in the midwest tomorrow. Phone calls to your friends about the crazy overnights turn into phone calls to your lonely wife and a 3 year old child you hardly know.
If you fail to heed these warnings, you have no one to blame but yourself. You have been warned.

If that didn't scare you away, well, stick to flight instructing for a while, and hit it hard. Brown-nose around the FBO. Get to know the guys in the hangars. You might luck into a sweet corporate gig. At the very least, you will probably scrounge a few hours in King Airs and Citations. You can probably get a letter of recommendation or two out of it as well. If you do decide to go to a regional, you will be much better off having a firm grasp on basic instrument flying, and a bit more real world experience than 250 hours will give you. You will want to have your radio skills down pat. As a new guy to the 121 world, you will be behind the airplane for a while. Having some solid skills to build on will help tremendously. Good luck in whatever path you choose.