135 or 121

[Mr. Hand]

If you had to choose between a FO postion at a Regional Airline, and a FO position at a very good Part 135 operator, which one would you choose?

 

[vclean]

Depends what your career goals are. Airlines - 121, Corporate - 135.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[pilotyip]

Captain

Which one will you make Capt at first?, which one will be operating turbine equip?, all things being equal Part 121 gets you better training.

 

[CrewDawg]

This brings up a question, ok at ABC 135 operation the upgrade time to a Falcon postition is 3 years, and at XYZ 121 airline the upgrade time is 5 years. What would be wrong with getting your 1000 turbine PIC at the 135 operation and then trying for the Majors, or would you be better off waiting a few more years and going for the 121 airline.

 

[enigma]

This brings up a question, ok at ABC 135 operation the upgrade time to a Falcon postition is 3 years, and at XYZ 121 airline the upgrade time is 5 years. What would be wrong with getting your 1000 turbine PIC at the 135 operation and then trying for the Majors, or would you be better off waiting a few more years and going for the 121 airline.

If the truth be known, nobody knows. Not to be flipant, but you just really can't know.

Back when UAL, AA, DAL, etc were hiring 50 a month, having the PIC wasn't as important as it is now that only SWA, JB, Spirit, Frontier, AirTran, and the like, are hiring. The carriers hiring at the present all seem to appreciate lots of multi-turbine PIC. (for civilians, those with a mil background will be judged differently) If AA/DAL/NWA/UAL returns to hiring, they may not care as much about PIC as does SWA.

The correct time to have, will be determined by whichever carrier happens to be hiring when you decide to make the leap.

All other things being equal, PIC is worth more than SIC. And, seniority is worth more than either command catagory. Do whatever you think needs to be done, in order to get hired by the strongest carrier in the shortest possible time.

Or you could just realize that none of the old conventional wisdom applies anymore and go straight into a non-traditional aviation career. Six years ago, I was justified in leaving corporate for an airline career. Today, one might be better off if you go straight to a corporate job and never leave.


good luck,
enigma

 

[Palerider957]

Many of the "majors" like Airtran require part 121 time. Although not required by JetBlue and the others, you can bet 121 experienced pilots will find their way to the top of the resume stack faster then 135 pilots.

Having said that, quality of life, stability, pay, upgrade and career goals are important things. Do you really want to be in a small corporate flight department? There is no "seniority" and no union protection...then again, at the airlines you are a unit of production and seniority rules.

It's all what you want.....

 

[pilotyip]

121 SIC won't do it

121 SIC is not as good as 135 PIC, story, told before, freind of mine 15 yr USAir pilot 11,000 hrs, 9000 part 121 SIC in DC-9 & B-737, great pilot, but only 300+ turbin PIC from a corp job back in the 80's. He is now in his mid 40's unemployed and can not apply at AT, JB, SWA, ATA, because he does not have the turbine PIC. Bottom line, 121 SIC will not get you your next job if you don't have the PIC. Before you start building 121 SIC, go 135, get a type, get 1000 TJ PIC, save up some money so you do not starve at regional Part 121 SIC wages. Then go for the job of your choice. And remember a college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane, it is only something you migth need later to open doors. Start flying do your degree on the side, it will impress your prospective employer on how hard working you are, how well you manage time, not bad traits to lay upon a prospective employer.