Any guesses on upgrade times from current Flex pilots if hired within next few months? Also does being typed in one of their aircraft count for much in the hiring process?
Upgrade times have slowed considerably, as attrition has dropped to almost nothing. It's been running about two years, but if I were betting I would say this month's new hires will wait four years to upgrade. That's simply the guess of one of the 500 pilots waiting.
Regarding the type rating, it depends. Hiring is mostly into the 300, with some into the 45. Those type ratings could be relevant. Right now, there are several dozen qualified applicants with pilot referrals - and hundreds more without.
Have to agree with the 4 year guestimate as attrition is now extremely low. Most folks are staying put as the overall flying industry continues down a very ugly path.
My experience as far as being typed on an aircraft is that if hired - you most likely will be put on an aircraft your NOT typed on. That was what happened with me, and a couple others I know.
So, if you are hired onto the CL300, would you likely stay on the CL300 for the entire 4 years or would someone potentially bid the CL604/605 for a portion of that time before upgrade?
Is there a big pay difference among fleets for SICs(i.e. L45 vs. CL604 SICs)? If so, I assume there would be an incentive to bid a bigger airplane after your seat lock is up.
You'll stay on that airplane for 4 years, probably. They let people move in the past, but that was to fill a new fleet, so unless globals suddenly show up or something you'll stay in the same fleet.
The daily pay is the same, but the challengers do go international every now and then, so thats $100 more per day. But dont bet on that happening a lot, I think most people average 4 international trips a year. Plus, in the challenger fleet you'll work more overtime cause that fleet works its butt off. The 60 and 45 folks fly a lot less, have shorter days, thus less overtime. The 300 is a nice plane, but you'll work a lot more, and no matter what you'll upgrade to the 45 or the 60, so starting as an FO in the 45 or 60 has its benefits too. there really is no "bad fleet" to get stuck in.
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