Best place to work?

[floatflyer99]

What's the best place to work, in your opinion, in terms of flying time, SOP's and attractiveness to the majors (I'd like to work for Alaska or Northwest) without going to one of the regionals? I'm happy where I am right now, but who knows down the road. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

 

[Clownpilot]

Good idea.

Don't waste any time on those pesky regionals.
Go directly to the majors.

When you get there don't forget the little people like me.

Hey, any break I can get.

Thanks.

What's the best place to work, in your opinion, in terms of flying time, SOP's and attractiveness to the majors (I'd like to work for Alaska or Northwest) without going to one of the regionals? I'm happy where I am right now, but who knows down the road. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

 

[Freight Dog]

Yeah, forget them regionals! Who in their right mind would want to put up with low pay, reserve, and just plain ol crap by flying for a regional? I mean, them fancy ol' regional jets are overrated. And turboprops? How many times does one have to say it - PROPS ARE FOR BOATS unless you happen to fly a Beaver or Otter or some other rodent cousin on floats up in the glacier country.

Forget the military too! Who would want to fly for Uncle Sam? Crappy hours, get shot at.... f**********************k THAT!

Bring on Alaska and NWA - straight from the rodent country.

 

[flint4xx]

You said you were happy where you are. Why would you leave that?

 

[TriStar_drvr]

I've found that the best place to work is the one that will hire you.

 

[TurboS7]

............then put up with you.

 

[chawbein]

I would fly a cargo plane full of rubber dog sh!t out of Hong Kong if they would let me!!!!!

Seriously, my dream job is flying a B1900 around the Carribean. Call me a retard. Where the heck is that "short bus" smilie?????

 

[Clownpilot]

really?

How much per diem does that pay.

Got a number?

I would fly a cargo plane full of rubber dog sh!t out of Hong Kong if they would let me!!!!!

 

[nimtz]

What's the best place to work

IT'S SO OBVIOUS MAN! It's Continental and Expressjet Holdings! Just look at the stickers attached to the side of our airplanes! We obviously have the greatest management teams in the industry and the friendliest labor relations too! Just read the great book by our benovelent leader Gordon if you need the proof.

--------dripping with sacrasm-------------

 

[abenaki]

FloatFlyer99,

Despite the sarcasm in the answers you have received, I think the authors are trying to tell you something.......Perhaps it was just an unfortunate choice of words on your part in the manner in which you phrased your question, but it came across as a little, ah, out of touch, shall I say, with the realities in the marketplace right now and even before 911.

You have to keep in mind that even before 911, there were a lot of regional/frieghtdog/charter/etc pilots out there hoping for that winning lottery ticket to the money ride with a major. (And don't let anyone kid you. There is NO magic formula for getting hired by a major and anyone who tells you, or who even implies, that they are some how superior to the thousands of other pilots out there who didn't get hired by a major is full of it.) Now, AFTER 911, with things looking more bleak for hiring in this industry than anytime in the last decade with no forseeable bright light on the horizon, you're asking on how to get to the majors and manage to discount (however unintentionally) the careers and positions of a lot of people on here (the misnomered "regional pilot").

There is no ONE answer to your question. Right now there aren't a lot of options out there to choose from for making your stand to pursue NWA or Alaska. This is a market where one takes what one can get and is (?) happy with it.

The majors hire from all areas though the regionals that you discounted are not a bad way to go. It's 121 ops, swept wing jet time. The flying is virtually no different than what the majors do...many of the same airports, same rules...just more flights for the average regional pilot.

If you don't want to go that route your options lessen significantly......fracs, charter, freight (and I'm not talking about UPS or FEDEX either), the military (which I don't think is a bad option right now if you can get in and fly....by the time your committment is up, the market may have swung around a bit) and what else?

Best wishes.......it's gonna be a while.......

 

[bobbysamd]

Skipping the regionals

Consider military flying if you want to leapfrog the regionals. That and maybe some corporate flying during good hiring times might do the trick for you. Otherwise, face it. You need 121 time to be competitive for the majors, especially so during these bad hiring and always-pilot glut times. The place to get 121 time is with the regionals.

One other thing that I'd mention, based on my personal experience. Contrary to popular belief, even during good hiring times, 121 jobs do not grow on trees. Forget all those tales about people getting on with 900 and 50. Either these folks were mostly exceptions, or lucky, or were feeding you a line. There are always a sh!tload of applicants seeking every commuter job; moreover, you will probably need at least 1500 total, 500 or more of multi and your ATP to approach competitive mins.

Don't expect to leapfrog (everyone would love to leapfrog, right?). Get on with a commuter, get your 121 time, get your 121 turbine PIC time, and then, if the majors are hiring, you can contemplate that step. Best of luck.

 

[HoursHore]

The mil guys getting out are looking at the regionals too. the key is to be available when the tide turns. take what you can get, you ain't seen nothing yet.

 

[mar]

"You ain't seen nothin' yet."

HoursHore: You said it brother.

Just wait until the 'war'. Fuel prices'll go thru the roof; United will take the last straw on it's back--wham--another 1000 pilots on the street.

It's only gonna get worse before it gets better.

Cheers

 

[floatflyer99]

Sorry I came across as out of touch or insensitive. In Canada it IS possible to go to Air Canada without going to a regional first. In fact, probably about half make the big jump from coporate/military/charter. Anyway, I know what it's like to be unemployed after Sep. 11. Just got flying again recently and loving every minute of it.

Again, my apologies for being an ignorant Canuck.

 

[metrofo]

Well one good thing you have going for you is that you have got more than a couple of years to have to worry about being hired by any major carrier. I dont remember how much time you had, but if you want to skip the regionals altogether you better get yourself in the left seat of a turbine/jet for a few thousand hours and have a total time of 4k plus to be remotely competative. If I were you, I would get my butt into one of the faster growing regional carriers as soon as possible and do whatever it takes to be compwetative once this indusrty turns around and starts to create jobs at the majors again

 

[floatflyer99]

I realize that I have a LONG way to go before being even remotely hireable by the majors.

My original post was motivated by a desire to learn what companies were good to work for ON THE WAY to finally getting hired at a major. I realize it was perhaps a little presumptuous to assume that anybody would be interested in giving away the secrets of the industry just because some greenhorn asks for them on a public forum.

In the meantime I think I'll just try and quietly go about my business of being a new co-pilot.

If anyone does have some advice on specific companies that you enjoy working for, I'd love to hear it.

Good luck to everyone.