Becoming a Regional Airline Pilot

[schoolio]

I'm at one of the big academies. I came here because if I had decided to stay at my FBO, based on planes available, cash available, and instructor proficiency, I would probably still be working on my commercial add-on at this point in time. By going to a big academy, I was 1) able to get financing, and 2) am moving at a relatively fast pace (see ratings on the left - SE CFI add-on this week). I thought about maybe going to another FBO, but I decided I needed a very structured program where I was flying almost every day and didn't have to worry about maintenance downtime. In my 5 1/2 months here, I've gotten cancelled for maintenance once. Not too bad.

Based on my military time, I won't have to instruct here to build time, but the guys that do learn a lot and most of them are very professional when it comes to flying. Their experiences don't really take them out of the pattern except for the occasional cross country, but they do get to work in busy airspace (PHX and SoCal) quite a bit, and they're proficient at it.

Some of the academies still have reduced minimum hiring agreements. The one I attend has agreements with several regionals for 500/100; there are guys getting hired with those times from this place.

If you're seriously considering one of the academies, I would urge you to get at least your PPL (recommend instrument rating too) at an FBO first. There's no sense in getting everything you need to go to an academy (i.e. financing, housing, etc.) only to find out you don't like it.

If you decide to go to one of the academies, money goes quickly. Make sure you have enough. Luckily for me, my wife and I can live very comfortably on her salary while I use up the financed money solely for flying.

As far as instructing goes, this academy just went completely Part 141, and their program has guys finishing the commercial rating in the twin at 211 hours. Each student now gets 85 hours ME in the program. That's great for building multi-time, both for the students and instructors. My current instructor has three students that all just started in the twin, which equates to 255 hours multi in the next 6 weeks for him. Must be nice.

If you want more info on my school, drop me a PM and I'll tell you anything and everything you want to know (good and bad).

 

[CaptainMark]

I'm in an RJ and I'm still considering this option. I feel like it's something I should have done to begin with. Maybe full time, maybe reserves.

i have total respect for you if you elect that option..but if your career aspirations are to be with a major..you are oh so close..stick with the RJ and keep plugging away..

 

[COOPERVANE]

Local FBO

Do NOT go to an acadamy or "accelerated" flight school. There is NO hurry right now to work for a regional!!

Save your money and do it the old fashioned way at a local flight school. The quality of your education will be up to you and your instructor, not glossy magazine ads and promises of "Garmin 530's in every plane" Be picky about the instructor, there are alot out there that SUCK! both at an academy and at ma & pa's local FBO. Work as a CFI, then Freight. You WILL be a better pilot for it.

The guys who took the short route are very defensive and love to tell you about how awesome a pilot they were at 300 hours but they have to justify spending 80-100K somehow. Here was MY experience

Several "students" where I got my multi-commercial laughed about passing their instrument and Commercial checkrides without taking the shrink-wrapping off of the Jepp books. They really thought it was sooooo cool to tell people that. One student passed his CFI while still drunk from the night before!! Hr bragged about it to everyone he knew. Now THATS something to be proud of! That attitude has a lot to do with what is wrong with this industry. These guys will fly an RJ for hundreds maybe thousands of hours incident-free. Then the $hit hits the fan and its "Dude we're gonna hit houses!!! Dude!"

Theres your "quality" accelerated flight school experience

 

[no1pilot2000]

Thanks for the advice

I do appreciate everyone's advice on my interest in becoming a regional airline pilot. In addition to your helpful comments, I also have talked to several people who are currently working as pilots the regional airlines and they are not happy with their career choice. These pilots need a second job as a CFI just to suppliment their regional pilot job. I can cross this "particular career" in aviation off my career list.

Thanks again all!!

 

[xjhawk]

These schools are a waste of time. Get you licenses, flight instruct, then get hired to make well under 20,000 dollars your first year. Don't expect to make over 40,000 for at least 2-3 years of working for a regional.

which regional do you work for that you are making that kind of money after 2 years? i know its not Mesaba i am going past three and my W-2 says 29000. So all of you newbies to this industry, it looks like ALPA is allowing MEsaba to either go away or set a new and even lower bar than MESA, so do not expect 40 grand til you are a 6 year captain. yes, i am bitter.....now my only decision is when i quit flying, which industry do i want to doom next?

 

[5ontheglide]

funny stuff

I am interested in possibly becoming a pilot for one of the regional airlines. I have looked through the internet and aviation magazines and have seen ads for some of these "professonal pilot" schools that "specifically" train individuals to become pilots for regional airlines. Can anyone give me some advice on either becoming a pilot for the regional airlines or spending the HUGE amount of money attending these schools.

This guy is pretty funny. This was posted at 11:16 today. Take a look at the post in the Aviation Mechanics forum at 15:38 TODAY - a mere 4 hours and 22 minutes later. Wow we must be some unbelievably disgruntled pilots to be able to turn a newbie this fast. That must be some kind of record!!! All said - it's probably for his/her best.

 

[MINIME]

I do appreciate everyone's advice on my interest in becoming a regional airline pilot. In addition to your helpful comments, I also have talked to several people who are currently working as pilots the regional airlines and they are not happy with their career choice. These pilots need a second job as a CFI just to suppliment their regional pilot job. I can cross this "particular career" in aviation off my career list.

Thanks again all!!

Buddy,

I read your post earlier and didn't post for fear of coming across as too harsh or even selfish. But in light of what appears to be your final decision, I have to congratulate you for looking at the facts that have been presented to you and making the SMARTEST decision you've ever made. This industry is going down the crapper faster than a bonanza full of doctors (as someone else once quoted). Just ask anyone that has attended those Air Inc conferences. A thousand pilots for 200 slots. Those are the odds. Unreal and depressing to be exact. Thousands of pilots with the same or better qualifications than you and only a few slots to be filled. In the real world, as I like to call it, you will have much better odds with much better compensation, no question about it. I do realize that it's hard to let go of something you like. But you're still in the beginning stages and soon you'll be living a better life and it will all be a distant memory. If.... and that's a BIG IF, this industry ever comes back to what is used to be or even close to it, then and only then, you can perhaps think about doing it. Otherwise, you have chosen well for yourself. Remember, shiny pretty jets don't put food on the table. The amount of money you bring home to your family does. I'm a regional Captain, and I still have to find other things to do (businesses) to supplement my income in order to have a descent life. Good luck and again my hat's off to you for proving that you're alot wiser than we first gave you credit for.

 

[JSky26]

I'm just curious....

How many of you, if you could start all over again would choose a different profression and why? What would it be?

There still has to be some decent flying gigs out there...corp/frac?

lol...I don't even know why I look at this board anymore...it is pure discouragement for me to be working on my comm ticket at the same time.

 

[CaptainMark]

don't get discouraged....there is a lot of bad crap going on in this business right now..so you will hear about it..but there are also great jobs out there..i feel lucky enough to have one...good luck

 

[skyslug]

JSKY26, regardless of the muck being said here I still wouldn't change my profession. Perhaps that's naieve (perhaps I might be able to spell one day?) but I still thoroughly enjoy my job and flying. Beats sitting in a cubicle for 8 hours a day making more money (and I've done that!).

 

[MINIME]

I'm truly sorry that you have to read what this board has to offer. However, there is a wealth of somewhat accurate information on here. This whole thing about the airlines being the worst that they've ever been is not a myth. It is the honest truth. Again, thousands of pilots and very few good slots to be filled. You can go to regional if you so choose. But I guarantee you, in less than a year you will have the same pains some of us are having. Reasons, well they might be debatable but here's my prospective; too many pilots due to recent furloughs and perhaps pilot factories, managements eversince 911 trying to take us for all our worth with paycuts and QOL life issues, managements starting separate companies to pin one group against the other and create division, holding companies using the legal system to create elaborate schemes to again lower our wages, managements using the threat of cheaper labor by others to subdue you into taking paycuts and last but not least, BECAUSE THEY CAN. They know that for every ONE of us there are 100 waiting at the door just ready to jump in that shiny new jet. Some even for free since they may have a big trust fund. Bottom line, if you want to make a living in this field, the odds are totally stacked against you at this particular time in history.

As far as other careers, I would chose something in the oil business, attorney, medical, international business because of the growth in China, or engineering of some sort. Just my take on it...

 

[Amish RakeFight]

It ain't hard getting a regional job. Just instruct til you got 1200 hrs and get 200 multi. Its easier to get the job then trying to get 200 multi. If you have to, just split the multi time you buy with someone.

The regionals will take anyone.....just don't pay very much money. Pilots have been hired with less than even 1000 hours. Lots of slots are opening up becasue many pilots are walking away from the job.

Go for it my man.

 

[JSky26]

I guess I have one thing going for me is that I am young (20). If I do decide to switch career paths it won't hurt as much..

But simply to say I don't think I could sit at a desk for 8 hours a day. I know there are jobs out there that have you up and about but there is something about that alure of flying as a profession. Obviously the glamour is gone but I'm not in it for that. I love to fly and I could see no other way of making a living. I would rather be a poor pilot than a rich investment banker. Is that wrong to say? Maybe I am naiive but I guess we are supposed to be at this age.

Right now I am single and don't have a lot of responsibility (except my education), but I guess if I have a family one day it will be hard. How do some of you guys deal with the family issues? I realize it is hard but I know some people make it work.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[Blucher]

Sad but True

Unfortunately, it's true that this has become one of the more depressing times in the history of commercial aviation. On the bright side though, planes tend to fall out of the sky far less frequently than they used to. Sure, you've got your occassional Airbus that decides to land in the woods or refuses to listen to steering commands, but they're working those bugs out. And no matter how hard managements try (and they are trying REALLY hard), they can't take the joy out of the experience of flying. If you really love to fly it's a feeling you are unable to ignore. I often find myself frustrated by this career choice and have thoughts of walking away from it. Then I go fly again, and all the nonsense that goes along with this job seems to be left at the gate. If I had it to do all over again I would first go get a degree in some specific skill in high demmand that pays well (aka: doctor/lawyer/etc...), then I would make some money and get my ratings. At some point I'd get myself to a position to both practice my trade and get a job at a regional. A good example would be the several doctors that we have flying at ASA. This way you've got something to fall back on if/when you lose you medical and/or your company's management decides their Golden Parachutes are worth more than having a healthy company and the whole thing goes tango uniform. Also, if you've already got some financial stability that first year pay thing won't hurt quite so bad. (Another idea is to fall in love with and marry a rich woman.)
Good luck with whatever you decide.

-Blucher:beer:

 

[suupah]

i went to an academy and yes it was a massive ripoff that i will be paying for for a long long time. This industry is the most f'd up industry i have ever seen too. whoa, the only thing that is good about it is the flying. it is a lot of fun . but everything else SUCKS