light turboprop PIC or CRJ SIC

[saviboy]

Hi everyone.
I have 1300 TT and my chief pilot told me that they ll start my upgrade training as soon as I get my ATP. So i have the opportunity to upgrade in a light turboprop( 16000 lbs) in a company where pay is terrible but QOL is really good ( overnight twice a month and between 15-18 days off).
Other option: I have an interview with Air wisconsin coming up in april.
It sounds like an easy answer( get the upgrade!!) but in today's conditions a career at a regional is an option considered by a lot of pilots.
I know that 1000 turbine PIC is not enough nowadays but its one of the things you need to be hired by a major. Additionally I only have a 2 year degree and no money( for now at least) to finish it.
Intitially I wanted to go to a good regional b/c I thought that light turboprop time even PIC, was not enough anymore with all the RJ captains. My thought was that if I got stuck somewhere and the majors are not hiring I'd rather be stuck in a good place( at least better than where i am now).
And then I woke up and said: "you are gonna say no to a 8 month upgrade in a 121 company?
So I think I am gonna go ahead and get the PIC time and if I really need jet time to make myself more competitive, i can always get it with a regional airline. or can I?

1)Will a Regional airline hire a guy with 1000 turbine 121 PIC? arent they gonna be afraid that I might leave as soon as I get jet experience?

2)also, I have interviews coming up with Air wisconsin, and possibly ASA and chautauqua/republic? When I will tell them that I dont want to interview with them anymore, would they be OK to interview me again in 1-2 years when/if I need to go there to get jet experience?

Many thanks for the answers.

 

[Melon]

Dude, are you flying 121 now?

If you are, STAY PUT and get the type, and the 1500 PIC. I say 1500 for competitive reasons. 1000 is the absolute minimum you will need to be looked at by SWA, FedEx, etc. I know Alaska hires guys with less, as does da Tranny. You will be making more money as a captain where you are than going to the bottom of a regional. Plus you have a good QOL now and it will suck at the bottom of any regional. As for making a career at a regional, you won't want to. Trust me, I am speaking from experience. I was at one of the top tier regionals too. Working at a regional airline is just a job, flying for a major (or a good LCC or professional 91 department) is a career.

As for only having a 2 year degree....you will have to address this problem at some point. I strongly suggest sooner rather than later. Life will get in the way and it will always be easy to say "I don't have the money". There are a number of non-need as well as need based loans available, and if you truely are a poor SOB even scholarships and grants which do not need to be repaid. UVSC and ERAU will give you credit for your ratings. Coupled with the 2 year you already have you could be done in months, not years. Don't listen to the guys saying not to get an aviation degree; the airlines do not care what is in. Get what you can as quick as you can and if you want to learn something else go ahead and take more classes. At least you will have the box for 4 year degree already checked.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

 

[Melon]

Almost forgot....after a few years flying as PIC, I doubt you would want to go back to an entry-level job at ASA, AW, or CHQ. You would more likely look at a place to fly larger jets, and certainly not for regional pilot pay.

 

[dink]

Go for the PIC turboprop time. you just dont know when the upgrade will come your way again. Could be many years. So, Unless Air Wisconson is your regional carrer of choice............ Fly often and enjoy your new position.


Good luck..

 

[pilotyip]

PIC is the stuff good resume are built upon, friend of mine 10,000 hours, over 9000 121 TJ SIC. When his airline downsized he was severely limited on where he could apply.

 

[AZaviator]

Almost forgot....after a few years flying as PIC, I doubt you would want to go back to an entry-level job at ASA, AW, or CHQ. You would more likely look at a place to fly larger jets, and certainly not for regional pilot pay.

Exactly. When you're sitting with close to 1,000hrs of PIC turbine, you will probably be able to find a job, doing much better pay-wise and have a much better QOL than at a regional. As pilotyip explained, RJ SIC is good, but turbine PIC is better on the resume, and better on the bank account. It makes you much more marketable. What kind of turboprop are you upgrading into?

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

PIC Turbine is better... Always.

 

[AAflyer]

PIC is the stuff good resume are built upon, friend of mine 10,000 hours, over 9000 121 TJ SIC. When his airline downsized he was severely limited on where he could apply.

I have to agree with pilotyip. SIC RJ time is worth nothing. I have over 5000 hours of SIC time in the 767/757,737,MD82. Guess what? It still does not compare to 1000-1500 hours of PIC turbine. Get the PIC. There are a bunch of US at the Legacies that have plenty of total time, type ratings, yada,yada,yada. However in the day we were getting picked up without the 1000 hours of PIC. It has put many of us in bad position. GET YOUR TIME, then fly FO at an airline of your choosing.

Then again, when you were building PIC time and AA,UAL, or DAL called, what would you have said? Please call me back in another 6 months I don't 1000 hours PIC, and incase the industry goes to hell I want to be prepared.

Good Luck,

AA

 

[fartknocker]

Here's my opinion.

Get turbine PIC time as fast as you can. This is what you must have to get an interview with SWA or FedEx. Jet SIC time is almost worthless. It is nice to say you flew at FL 370 and .78 mach, but you were not the captain. You need PIC time to show leadership and responsibility.

All my turbine PIC time is in turboprops. Apparently it was good enough for FedEx!

Good luck!

 

[saviboy]

thanks for a lot for all the replies. the plane I fly is a metro 3( less than 20000 lbs).
Do you guys think I could get a job at a regional if I need to get jet time to go someshere else even though I have 1000 121 PIC.
Aren't they gonna think I am gonna leave ASAP and deny me the job?

 

[Alcatraz]

They may ask you if you're gonna leave right away in the interview, so just have a good answer ready for them. And I doubt they will really worry much.

Just like nearly everyone else, I vote for the current quick upgrade in the turboprop. Wouldn't you just kick yourself if you left right before upgrade to fly an RJ at a regional only to get furloughed six months later? These days, it could happen easily anywhere! I can think of a few pilots who didn't want to be "stuck" on the 1900 at Skyway for a year before they upgraded and went to Comair... and were furloughed a few months later.

Besides, PIC is PIC. I'm a recent SWA newhire, and my PIC time is almost exclusively in a turboprop from a job I had several years ago.

 

[RJDC]

Stay where you are and fight for larger jets at the regional level. You aren't going to the majors anytime soon.

 

[fartknocker]

Stay where you are and fight for larger jets at the regional level. You aren't going to the majors anytime soon.

saviboy,

Don't listen to this idiot. He is bitter for some reason.

Get your turbine PIC time. Network with FedEx pilots. Keep up with folks who leave your current employer. They may be at FedEx later, or know someone who is. Networking is the key. Try to keep a good attitude in this very tough industry. Good luck!

 

[saviboy]

Thanks to everyone for the answers!
I am gonna finally quit haunting the regionals forum 24/7 to try to figure out which one is the least bad.

 

[AlbieF15]

PIC. Say it to yourself 10 times. Then get more. 1500 is the target. Get that and then you can reassess.

Cheers!

 

[Metro A-Team]

I mostly agree with "the group" in that a SA227 type can't be taken away and the PIC is required to meet many "mins".

Two comments...SkyWest LOVES Metro guys (all the "old times" cut their teeth on the Sewer Tube). I had almost 2000 PIC in "the Pipe" when they hired me about 3 years ago. However, in the interest of "networking" if your current company is small you may not meet that many people who can help you out later. The average regional is super for meeting people.

In your shoes, I'd also take the upgrade, use the extra $$$ and time to finish your degree and get the jet time later if you need it for your dream job. However, BE CAREFUL the Metro is no joke! As a green PIC you can get WAY over your head before you know it in that airplane.

Speed High,

Metro

 

[saviboy]

thanks. by the way i already have the type rating. I believe I just have to get my ATP and do the upgrade training in house .And I agree that the metro is sometimes tricky to fly.