Ty Webb
Hostage to Fortune
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2001
- Posts
- 6,524
The people who have responded to your question are mostly airline people, and while they are giving some standard advice, as a former 91/135 guy who is now at an airline, I would look at it a little differently.
Realistically, even if you stay in the Lear (or whatever the 21K a/c is) it may be 3-5 years before you have enough time to be considered at a major, and the industry may be in great shape, or it may be even worse than right now, no one knows.
Regardless, you will have a thousand hours in a Lear, and be competing against guys who have several thousand hours as a 121 jet Capt, so basically, it will come down to contacts, timing, persistence, and luck.
But what do you want to be doing if the airlines are not an option? Flying a Gulfstream, or flying a Lear? Historically, Lear jobs and 500 series Citation jobs pay the least.That is a common type rating that can be bought for $5K. A Gulfstream type is worth much more ($40K+), and a contract pilot flying a G makes twice as much per day as a Lear pilot. Also, you may be able to pick up some cash on the side to get through the first year of airline pay, or in the event of a furlough. Picking up $800-$1,000 a day as a G skipper were sure beat $350-600. a day for a Lear or Citation.
If I were you, and they are willing to type you, take the Gulfstream, and log every part 91 leg that you fly as PIC. If it doesn't come with a type, then stick with the smaller one and build PIC.
Realistically, even if you stay in the Lear (or whatever the 21K a/c is) it may be 3-5 years before you have enough time to be considered at a major, and the industry may be in great shape, or it may be even worse than right now, no one knows.
Regardless, you will have a thousand hours in a Lear, and be competing against guys who have several thousand hours as a 121 jet Capt, so basically, it will come down to contacts, timing, persistence, and luck.
But what do you want to be doing if the airlines are not an option? Flying a Gulfstream, or flying a Lear? Historically, Lear jobs and 500 series Citation jobs pay the least.That is a common type rating that can be bought for $5K. A Gulfstream type is worth much more ($40K+), and a contract pilot flying a G makes twice as much per day as a Lear pilot. Also, you may be able to pick up some cash on the side to get through the first year of airline pay, or in the event of a furlough. Picking up $800-$1,000 a day as a G skipper were sure beat $350-600. a day for a Lear or Citation.
If I were you, and they are willing to type you, take the Gulfstream, and log every part 91 leg that you fly as PIC. If it doesn't come with a type, then stick with the smaller one and build PIC.
Last edited: