Express Jet Mins

[sweptback]

Now what would you say about a guy who has around 600TT and 350 of that 121 ME? Still no chance? I'd like to know what options are available out there.

Why not apply and see if you get called?

It's not a race though, you'd probably be better off if you gave your current employer a year or so.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

Why not apply and see if you get called?

It's not a race though, you'd probably be better off if you gave your current employer a year or so.

I'm actually in a good position now, but that may change. I'd just like to know where I can go with my relatively low time - definately would not want to instruct.
Do you guys have any pilots that commute to/from work as far as ANC?

 

[Nova]

We have a few that commute from Europe and Hawaii. It's definately not the norm but commuting that distance is possible.

 

[boxjockey]

I tend to side with the "quality of experience" folks on this one. I was hired at XJT 10 months ago. I came out of a single pilot 135 night freight job. I had 2300 hours when hired, with 1000 hours ME. As a flight instructor with 1300 hours dual given, I have flown with a lot of different experience levels of pilots. One thing I have learned is the total number of hours these pilots have doesn't necessarily correlate with how good they are as "pilots". There is a big difference between being a "pilot" and an airplane "driver". I have flown with many folks who were excellent on the stick and rudder, but when it came to decision making skills and knowledge, they were severely lacking. I've also flown with people who have experienced many different adverse situations in aircraft, who have sound decision making skills, that crash the airplane every time it hits the pavement. When I was a flight instructor in FL, I thought I knew alot about flying. I felt at 1300 hours I was an experienced pilot. Then I got a job with airnet, flying light twins and single engine turboprops, at night, in ice, level 5 squall lines, 1/2 mile vis in blowing snow, etc.. This was a real wakeup call for me. When I came to XJT, the experiences I had both as a flight instructor and part 135 aided me in my transition to the jet. The airplane isn't hard to fly. What is more difficult is aiding your captain, when sh1t hits the fan, and you don't have any real life experiences to draw on, only what you learned through reading or in class. I think the people who are hired at 600 hours are perfecly capable of the duties of FO. All I'm saying is if you have another pilot in the cockpit, who has experienced and resolved numerous problems while flying, that it seems to open the thought process for the crew and things get accomplished more accurately and efficiently. Time for lunch.


box

 

[plunger]

wow! i didn't mean to start a war when i started this thread. i can definately see both sides of the issue. as a low time guy, i would be thrilled to be offered a position and give 100% all the time to prove that i'm worthy to be there. BUT, i can also picture myself as a high time captain and thinking what the F%$# when someone like myself walks up and says "hi, i'm your fo today". i figure i'll apply in the next few months and if called for an interview great, if not, i'll keep building experience and apply again later. i know a few people who fly for xjet and it seems to be a great company. good luck to everyone who has applied and congrats to all those who recieved an offer!

 

[Vik]

I see both POV as well, but the XJET Capts need to take up hiring policy with their CP, not with the low time guys. They need to tell the low time guys what to do NOW so that the low time guys can study, prepare, etc., and make their life easier whenever they are hired at any regional.

They can't expect a guy w/ 600/100 to NOT apply for that job and keep flying 152's around the pattern. They would have jumped at the chance when they had 600/100. [Pot/kettle/black]

 

[flyer172r]

I'm going to float a theory here, meant as a possible reason why low-timers may get themselves in trouble. A pilot goes through his initial training, gets his private, jumps hardcore into his instrument, learning all the regs, how to do things, etc. He takes his instrument checkride, and his IFR flying skills are (hopefully) very sharp. Then he goes into his commercial, learns all the chandelles and lazy-8s (why we still do those I don't know). He gets his commercial, then CFI, then starts instructing. When he hits the magic number he applies to a regional. Meanwhile the entire time he's been getting his commercial/CFI then instructing he has flown little to no actual IFR. So now he's in training learning to fly an RJ while at the same time re-learning how to fly instruments.

I think this is a possible reason why captains have problems with low-timers. They don't have true instrument proficiency, and are trying to get it back when they're figuring out the jet. So if this theory holds water (not necessarily the case), then if a low-timer has flown a lot of IFR in somewhat complex airplanes, does that make him a more acceptable candidate in the eyes of you experienced captains?

 

[KPTO]

To agree and Disagree at the same time ,that is the question

It seems to me that what we have here is an industry which has been stagnant for several years, thus creating very experienced CAs and FOs flying together. In fact one could say that with several thousands of hour spread equally on both seats, it could be quite a challenge to fly with someone who is not only be green on the plane and 121 regs but also total time. As an FO I NOW understand the true meaning of PIC. The skipper has an awesome responsability he is the ring leader, conductor or manager of what could (if left to enthropy) be a disaster.
So have a little patience with us poor inexperience FOs , remember y'ALL are teaching us to be captains.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

We have a few that commute from Europe and Hawaii. It's definately not the norm but commuting that distance is possible.

Wow, that must be pretty tough to commute from HI and Europe! One more question, does XJet require the applicant to be at least 21 years of ago to get interviewed or hired on?