Fresh out of college -- Job Ideas?

[PUflight]

I know this will probably throw everyone into a loop. But before I begin let me say that I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY. I just graduated from Purdue University, a similar aviation powerhouse to ERAU. Did an internship at UAL, so any of you ERAU guys can probably figure out who I am, since I was the only Boilermaker. And I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview at a regional, and was placed in this regional's hiring pool, with an expected new hire class of August 2002. All of this with way under 500 hours, so I guess I was in the right place at the right time or something. I know this doesn't guarantee me a job by any shot, and I will continue using that wonderful CFI this summer. Long story short, be lucky that's all that counts right now!

 

[qwerty]

I never thought I could say this. I must be getting old and bitter but how can 300hr pilot fly an airliner coming out of the normal training programs out there?

 

[azpilot]

The only way I even lean towards the 300-500 hour mark being acceptable is based on the training you followed and the aircraft flown. If someone has 300-500 hours in Bonanza's and Barron vs 700 in a 152 with 100 multi in a light twin I think the person flying the better equipment is more qualified. If the hours were under the hood or a lot in actual IFR in CA. for example vs AZ. I think there is something to be said for that as well. Yes there has to be some line where a certain amount of total time is required but you then need to look a lot deeper at what aircraft was flown and under what conditions.

- AZPilot

 

[slapstick]

I'd agree. Quality of flight time, not just quantity, counts. 300 hours is certainly low, but much more respectable with an education like PUflight's (B727 sim time, intensive coursework, indoc classes, internship).

 

[Ty Webb]

Guys, don't get too carried away here. 300 hours, or 400 or 600 it is a very small bit of experience. Sure, having acquired it in a Part 141 flight training program is good, but you have really only begun taking baby steps here. The FAA won't even let you fly cancelled checks in a C172 until you get 1200tt!

141 time is good, but most 141 programs are so structured that they don't allow for much actual IFR. I had friends who were CFII's at 141 University programs before they had a single hour of actual. I had to take control of an airplane away from a newly-rated CFII one night because he got spatial disorienation and started to lose control. Why was I able to fly it when he wasn't? Becasue I had scarfed up every scrap of non-141 flying time I could, and had actually been out flying IFR in the system, even sitting in the right seat on 135 flights, waiting for any Part 91 empty legs.

If you think you are ready for that regional job, and somehow you are offered one in this market- be sure of what you are doing. Some guys with 500tt or less have made it through some regional's training and progressed to the line, but many have also washed out, and I guarantee you it is a lot harder to get someone to take a chance on you with a training failure on your record, which, thanks to the PRIA, you must report to each potential employer for the next ten years!

Don't be so eager to get a regional job that you don't learn what you need to at this step of the way, including patience. Strive to master what you are doing now. Work as a team. Fly each flight with little to no deviation. FLy your ILS approaches within 1 dot at all times- and then ratchet up the speed, because you'll be doing 'em at 170+ kts on a regular basis, and anything more than a 1 dot deviation on the G/S or one half dot on the localizer will be a missed approach in the 121 world. . . start briefing each approach out loud. DO a before takeoff brief, including abort items, an emergency return plan, and decide who does what in the event of an emergency "I'll fly the airplane and handle ATC, you run the checklist items" etc. In other words, use this time to prepare for the future, instead of justy trying to get in the door.

Good Luck

 

[BoDEAN]

Thanks

Thanks for the great tips