central air question

[ubpilot]

I was a central air pilot, back then we need at least 1200 hr total time and 75 hr instrument time in order to get hired. Today consider such low minimum requirements in the regional airlines, where does JT find his pilots?

 

[ctab5060X]

Guess his pilots come from people like me. Experienced in 135, way over mins, moving for personal reasons and needed a job. They had not had a full time pilot on that run in several months, so I figured it should be fairly easy for me to get that particular run instead of moving off somewhere. Besides, the schedule isn't too bad either.

Personally, with such low mins at the regionals, I wonder just how long it will be before 135 cargo operations start to bleed to death, if they are not already doing so now. How can operators with federally required 1200 TT mins compete with regionals who hire you if you have a new commercial ticket and a pulse?

 

[Texanflyboy]

JT as well as other operators are just going to have to pay more money to their pilots to sway the odds a bit. While this statement is the best corse of action for 135 cargo operators, I imagine some to bleed to death unfortunatly. No pilots to cover their routes doesn't set well with customers like Quest. This is the reason Quest Diagonastics are rumored to pay very well for their own TBM Captains. What's funny is that JT still pays more the first year than any of the regionals. Their shortage is due to this little nationwide epidemic called SJS. Nobody has the patients to wait a bit and get some great, real world experience being all alone. I know first hand that GRR is a great place to get that experience in the middle of winter in a Commander w/o an auto-pilot.

Texan

 

[RichardRambone]

I believe it is SJS as well. I have a better job and higher pay starting out 135 so thats the reason I chose it over 121. Same upgrade opportunities for me as far as Jet PIC but at a higher level of pay. Easy choice.

 

[BGSkyGuy]

JT What's funny is that JT still pays more the first year than any of the regionals.
Texan

I agree with everything you guys say about 121 vs. 135 but this is simply not true. CASW pays $1700 for the first 6 mos. $2000-2200 the next six months. That is below the pay for alot (not all) of regionals today when you consider things like per diem, etc...
There will always be people like myself who wait for 1200 and go the 135 route. But those people are getting fewer and fewer. Those that are left are not going to go to the lower paying operators. They will go to Airnet, Ameriflight and so on.

 

[Joecool3]

JT will get his pilot out of those low timers, that washout of 121 programs-are adviced to go get strong flying time. There are many out the will washout.

 

[ctab5060X]

That is below the pay for alot (not all) of regionals today when you consider things like per diem, etc...

I don't know about everybody else, but I would rather have a job flying 135 that paid a little less than deal with the regionals. Mainly because I don't have to wear the uniform and little hat, don't have to deal with the TSA on a daily basis, don't have to put up with crowded terminals or passengers.

Oh yeah, my boxes have never complained about the ride or a rough landing, don't care if they are five minutes late, and I don't have to stand there with a fake smile bidding people "goodbye and thanks for flying" when I am having a REALLY bad day. And I have never once had a box refuse to turn off a "portable electronic device"

As far as SJS...to each his/her own. If you are happy flying right seat of an RJ logging SIC time, go with it and be happy. Me...I enjoy plugging along at a measly 170 knots, IMC, at night, by myself, seeing my fiancée and being home every day...that is what makes me happy

 

[on autopilot]

Are they still doing that sic program? Maybe JT can cancel that program and get his captains by hiring low time sic's.

 

[BGSkyGuy]

JT will get his pilot out of those low timers, that washout of 121 programs-are adviced to go get strong flying time. There are many out the will washout.

If they wash out of a 121 program I sincerely hope they won't go straight to a single pilot 135 job like CASW. In my opinion these jobs are some of the most challenging in all of flying. From what I understand those commanders do have gps, but no auopilot, no hsi. Spend a winter in GRR or STP flying checks in one of these and in the words of a former DE of mine, "you'll either be d@mn good or you'll be dead"

 

[Texanflyboy]

GRR in a Commander is a ton of fun in the winter too!!!! Especially when the heater freakin' quits. Uniform=Carharts.

Texan

 

[EatSleepFly]

I'm sure it probably won't happen, but if the FAA mandated the same requirements for 121 F/O's as they do for 135 PIC's, I wonder how that would change things. Does anyone think 135 operators might see more applicants? Is there really that much "SJS" or is it simply that the regionals are the first way out of instructing for most?

The staffing problems at 135 cargo companies right now hurt by adding even more work to what is in many cases an already demanding schedule. It seems like it's only a matter of time before some of them just implode and shut down due to lack of pilots or at the very least aggressively "restructure" things.

 

[ctab5060X]

I'm sure it probably won't happen, but if the FAA mandated the same requirements for 121 F/O's as they do for 135 PIC's,...

I agree, not sure it will happen, but I do think that the FAA needs to step in soon and set reasonable minimums for 121 F/O's. Otherwise the regionals will keep trying to out do each other and we will have nothing but a bunch of inexperienced 250 F/O's flying passengers around. Scary thought.

... I wonder how that would change things.

Equal minimums could still be detrimental to 135 ops if the pay scales for 121 and 135 are comparable. The only way I would see someone going to 135 over 121 in this situation would be for more money.

Spend a winter in GRR or STP...

Either that or a summer in the midwest or southeast dodging thunderstorms!

 

[CaravanMan]

GRR in a Commander is a ton of fun in the winter too!!!! Especially when the heater freakin' quits. Uniform=Carharts.

OMG you brought back memories that I had buried deep, deep into the locked closets of my mind. D*mn you!!

 

[TrailerTrash]

Central Air

Great job to build time for a better job in aviation.Everyone that ever worked at Central Air thought it was a great job.Line guys rule

 

[Boris Badenov]

I agree with everything you guys say about 121 vs. 135 but this is simply not true. CASW pays $1700 for the first 6 mos. $2000-2200 the next six months. That is below the pay for alot (not all) of regionals today when you consider things like per diem, etc...

Flight Express upped the pay already, back in December. You can beat 40 grand your first year if you work your tail off. You can also fly 3 hours a day and beat MOST regionals. It helped a little bit, but we're still having to hire VFR guys.
It's great experience, but while it may make someone a "very good" pilot, it doesn't cross the Ts or dot the Is for that turbine PIC or Crew time. IMHO, it's unfortunate that being El Capitan on a Baron (or Commander, or 210) in all weather at all hours in all seasons is worth less than yanking gear on a 1900 that flies 30 miles around the nearest weather, but that's the way it is.

Perhaps a reevaluation is in order, particularly in this day of the one year upgrade.