From 121 Captain to 135 PC-12? Thoughts?

[xrated]

DO NOT abosoultely leave, to go to single engine is career suicide, and remember, companies like JB and Airtran prefer PIC 121 in there hiring not the other way around. you can always fly 91 and 135 but 121 will give you more options on your resume than the Pilatus or charter....
121 pic is THE golden time to have, and at least 1500-2000hrs with a type or 2

Be advised, hellas post is 100% opinion and very little fact. As a previous PC-12 pilot for Native myself, I know of at least a half dozen ex-PC-12 pilots that are now flying for 121 carriers and at least twice that many who are now flying corporate jets. The QOL was great, the pay was descent, and the experience was good. Your profile says you have 1800+ hrs so it appears you are a little light in the time department. (No offence intended). If the company opperates other types, including jets, I'd say this would be a great opportunity for you to persue. The increase of QOL is just a added bonus. Haven't met a single PC-12 pilot yet who has committed "career suicide" by taking their jobs.

Good Luck

 

[Geronimo4497]

Be advised, hellas post is 100% opinion and very little fact. As a previous PC-12 pilot for Native myself, I know of at least a half dozen ex-PC-12 pilots that are now flying for 121 carriers and at least twice that many who are now flying corporate jets. The QOL was great, the pay was descent, and the experience was good. Your profile says you have 1800+ hrs so it appears you are a little light in the time department. (No offence intended). If the company opperates other types, including jets, I'd say this would be a great opportunity for you to persue. The increase of QOL is just a added bonus. Haven't met a single PC-12 pilot yet who has committed "career suicide" by taking their jobs.

Good Luck

THANK YOU! Saves me from frantic typing about my QOL.

 

[Irish Pilot]

Yeah I am a little "low-time" in the grand scheme of things...though it feels otherwise. Ive submitted my stuff to the outfit and if I hear from them I will surely have lots of questions. If it improves qol and has good opportunities for future movement I would most likely take it. I am happy at my current job...just not happy where it has us living. I enjoy the flying and its great experience (and is great in the logbook for a guy with my time...just past 1500 and logging 121 turbine PIC) but I have decided that getting back home is a huge priority and am just trying to find quality positions back that direction.

As far as the 121 and corporate thing....thats a battle for another thread, but seeing how things work (or dont for that matter) in the 121 world I am a little frightened by the thought of spending my whole life and career chasing a position and location that would meet my satisfaction...therefore...if I could find a quality gig back in the midwest that I could make a living at I would be MORE than happy.

At this point if I could get into any Fortune 500 company department in MSP I would be set for life in my eyes...I just have to find out how to make it happen.

 

[Pilot_Ryan]

QOL, etc.

I am a floater captain on a Hawker 700 and my "regular gig" is FO on an 800XP. I do this for a small pt. 91 aircraft management company.

I know my upgrade to line captain - not on the 800XP - is around the corner. I've considered turning it down to stay in the 800XP. Actually, I'll go a step further and say that right now, I am PLANNING to turn down the upgrade.

We make almost nothing but day trips (had one overnight in a month), we fly 3-4 times per week at most, the captain and I get along famously, and when we do go on a trip we go hiking and eat fancy dinners. Frankly I just couldn't be happier with my job. I hate trips. That's a big problem for me considering my profession, but I've got a 15-month old daughter and a little boy on the way, and having multiple days per week at home with them, plus almost every night, is just what the doctor ordered.

So my point with this is, go where the QOL is. It doesn't matter what you're flying, and in some respects doesn't matter what you're being paid, if your schedule sucks and you hate your job.

I'd happily fly a PC-12 for the right schedule. Heck, I'd even fly a Navajo or sum'n if I had to! Sure I'd prefer jets too in your shoes, but if you're a family man you'll take the schedule first and worry about airplanes later.

-Ryan

 

[hellas]

guys, you were missing my point, I was talking about options for the future for this guy, the 121 world seems to prefer 121PIC Turbine, if he chooses to leave now he would limit his options for future large carriers. Im sure there are guys in airlines who flew pc12 but I gurantee that was not there only time. So, this guy is now 121 getting PIC time, and as soon as he passes 1500 to 2000 PIC Turbine then he can go where ever he wants but, IF he chooses to go back to 121 larger carriers then, he can more easily! Get It. xrated my observation is FACT, if you do not have 121PIC turbine you cannot go to Airtran and not to long ago JetBlue as well, that trend will continue in the future! Going into Corp. world you must consider that the flight dept. can go at any time and options must always be ther for you whether it be another corp. flight dept or an airline. And as for the QOL issue that is king but so is feeding your family for the long term seems to edge that out. By the way, what 121 carrier lets you become pic with less than 2000 TT, curious?

 

[SheGaveMeClap]

Going into Corp. world you must consider that the flight dept. can go at any time and options must always be ther for you whether it be another corp. flight dept or an airline. And as for the QOL issue that is king but so is feeding your family for the long term seems to edge that out. By the way, what 121 carrier lets you become pic with less than 2000 TT, curious?

Yeah, that airline job will definitely feed your family for a lifetime!! Just ask the 1999 through early 2001 new-hires (whatever years they were hired but now on the street) at UAL, Delta, and AA. They probably thought the same thing, but now they are out of their major airline job. I'm not poking fun at these guys, just providing an example. JetBlue and Airtran are good airlines, but prior to 9-11, so were the above airlines. $hit happens in this industry. You won't know if you made the right choice until the day you retire.

BTW, I know Great Lakes will upgrade pilots as long as they can hold Captain and have ATP mins.

 

[miles otoole]

That's a big problem for me considering my profession, but I've got a 15-month old daughter and a little boy on the way, and having multiple days per week at home with them, plus almost every night, is just what the doctor ordered.

-Ryan

Good luck with your decision and congrats with the rugrats.

 

[Irish Pilot]

Good luck with your decision and congrats with the rugrats.

no kidding...I dont have a family to worry about yet.

 

[Irish Pilot]

Well...who knows what job will give you the sure thing for the future. The best advice I have recieved so far is from an America West captain which was basically try not to plan for the long long run in such a fragile industry, figure out what is most important to you in life and find a job that gets as close to that as possible...supporting the important things in life rather than chasing career aspirations will pay off bigger....and surprisingly will work out career wise in the long run.

If you would have asked me a year or two ago I would have told you my career is most important in my life. Now I am afraid of wasting my life in search of a career. I want to be home and happy first and foremost...having a good flying job is second but very important to me as well. Corporate or 121 I would be happy just flying for a living, but I want the one that supports idea #1 first.

Who knows....what an industry.

 

[Fokkerflyer]

I'd go ahead and send in your resume and go to the interview. Don't worry about having to make a choice until you actually have an offer on the table. Personally, I'd go for QOL no matter what equipment it would be. Good luck, go get'em.

FF

 

[hellas]

hey, but the truth is the whole industry has gone to hell anyway..so go with your heart and mind and make a good decision and always make it GOD, Family and work.