check airman yes or no?

[saviboy]

hi
my ultimate goal is to work for a major airline. I am aware its not so easy to get there.
I am a captain in a 121 airline flying a metroliner 3 (light turboprop less than 20000 lbs: cant apply to jetblue for example)
I have 2600 hours and 975 hrs 121 turbine PIC and about 7-8 months away from my 4 year degree.
I know these times are not very competitive therefore I would like to build my total time in a glass equipped jet and possibly heavy (Omni air, north american....) if I can get hired there. Or even a fractional such as Flexjet.
Not too exicted about the regionals.
My chief pilot offered me a check airman position. I would not have to stay there for a specific amount of time. I could just do a checkride and leave .no hard feelings.

Should I put on hold my job hunt for this opportunity or get the jet,glass time?

 

[NEDude]

I know a lot of Beech 1900 check airmen that have been hired by SWA, AirTran and Continental recently. In fact that seems to be the best ticket into some places.

 

[AA717driver]

The check airman thing always looks good on the resume. Do that, keep building your Turbine PIC and then move on and get your big airplane time.

Good luck.TC

 

[J32driver]

Absolutely take the checkairman position! You'll learn alot and it goes a long way to demonstrating skill and leadership with your current company. Take the 7-8 months to finish your degree, do the checkairmen thing while you finish, then you are set to REALLY hunt that new job. You are in a good spot my friend. Don't bail on that just to go chase a job in a regional jet. That would be a HUGE mistake.

 

[av8tor19]

I got an interview 6 months after getting it.

 

[saviboy]

Thanks for all the answers.

Now lets say I do one checkride as a check airman and get a job at omni air, kalitta, flexjet, etc..... is it still going to help me as much or should I be looking for a job as a current check airman?

in other words my question is:
Will a major airline look at me more favorably if I am a current check airman in a metroliner or if I was a check airman and that I am now flying a 757/747 or cl 300...?

 

[Charlie Brown]

PIC is king, Dude. Do the Check Airman thing, stick with it for a while. If you really think going to another place would be better for you and your family, go. No matter what you do, I would caution you against leaving before getting in the neighborhood of 2000 turbine PIC. That seems to open a lot of doors. I know some places value current turbine PIC (regardless of type) vs. heavy SIC. Food for thought.

As an aside, good for you for finishing your degree. Congrats and best of luck to you.

 

[AutoBus]

hi
my ultimate goal is to work for a major airline. I am aware its not so easy to get there.
I am a captain in a 121 airline flying a metroliner 3 (light turboprop less than 20000 lbs: cant apply to jetblue for example)
I have 2600 hours and 975 hrs 121 turbine PIC and about 7-8 months away from my 4 year degree.
I know these times are not very competitive therefore I would like to build my total time in a glass equipped jet and possibly heavy (Omni air, north american....) if I can get hired there. Or even a fractional such as Flexjet.
Not too exicted about the regionals.
My chief pilot offered me a check airman position. I would not have to stay there for a specific amount of time. I could just do a checkride and leave .no hard feelings.

Should I put on hold my job hunt for this opportunity or get the jet,glass time?

Go for the Check Airmen deal

 

[B190Captain]

Get that check airman letter. It's issued by the feds on FAA letterhead and its yours to keep. Even if the company does not utilize you as a check airman that letter stays with you and on file in Oak City.

Your company can't even take it away unless they have a good reason and the FAA has to be involved as well.

Yes or No? A big fat YES!

 

[Whine Lover]

What is your REAL motivation?

If it helps you get a job so be it...If it's to build your Ego, well that's another Story.

I agree, the Regionals is not the place to be.

If you can ( and seem to be predisposed to doing ) get on with a Kalitta, World, etc.

Fly a 747 / DC-10 around the world and become qualified to do ANYTHING you desire.

"Check Airman" quite often equals " Management D-ck Eater".

Your Choice.


YKW

 

[pianoman]

I would highly recommend it. Not because you can power trip guys, but because you can help guys learn and do a thorough job of it. You'll also have an easier time down the road with training cycles; I am sure that having taught procedures and explained systems to people helped me pick it up quicker when I was a student again.

There will be days that you think it's not worth the money- it isn't. But walking through the terminal and hvaing some guy you trained months ago come up and thank you again for everything is a pretty good feeling.

Obviously don't be a management lackey but it sounds like you are intelligent enough to make good choices.

 

[Nightrain_080]

"Check Airman" quite often equals " Management D-ck Eater".

Your Choice.


YKW

ditto LMAO about 10% are this way

 

[AV80R]

Should I put on hold my job hunt for this opportunity or get the jet,glass time?

Become a check airman and then leave for Omni, Gemini, etc, while you wait for UPS or Fedex call…

 

[oldxfr8dog]

"Check Airman" quite often equals " Management D-ck Eater".
YKW

Well, I would disagree with that, but I'm biased.
There are no downsides to it:
1) It looks good on a resume.
2) Just like being a CFI, the best way to REALLY learn something is to teach it.
3) As an OLD greybeard from the round-engine 'fifties told me, " A check ride will never again hold any mystery for you, you'll know what's coming up next".
Do it.

 

[pilotyip]

Check Airman is the gold seal of your resume. Get the letter, do a good job for your boss, build PIC, and look for the next job. Don't jump too soon. In the next years competitive mins are going to drop at ever place that is hiring. The shortage is hitting everyone. We have had pilots who were checkairman without degrees get hired at the majors.

 

[LearLove]

no doubt about take the check position

 

[hyflyt560]

Stick with whatever you can do so that you are in a position to finish that degree. So many have left for that "Golden Opportunity" flying job to build jet time at a regional and never find the time to finish the degree...and you are so close. And, you're getting turbine PIC time now.

 

[pilotyip]

you can get the degree any time, keep working on it. You only need it to interview with the top 10 airlines hiring. Get the check airman, that is something that you can not get a college. It marks you as some one who is a cut average the average college grad pilot.

 

[Yuppyguppy]

Take it! I did it and it made all the difference...

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

I agree with the others. A Check Airman letter is a great thing for your resume. It shows that you can take responsibility and act professionally AND that you can interact with the FAA without sticking your foot up your butt.

Like others have said, the letter gets put in your OKC file, and you get a copy.

It's a heck of a deal all around...

Nu

 

[saviboy]

What is your REAL motivation?

If it helps you get a job so be it...If it's to build your Ego, well that's another Story.

I agree, the Regionals is not the place to be.

If you can ( and seem to be predisposed to doing ) get on with a Kalitta, World, etc.

Fly a 747 / DC-10 around the world and become qualified to do ANYTHING you desire.

"Check Airman" quite often equals " Management D-ck Eater".

Your Choice.


YKW

I only eat DUCK at the chinese restaurant

Thanks to all for the good advice. I m gonna take the check airman

position.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Good luck to you.

 

[coogebeachhotel]

Just don't become a pompus as$.