Reflecting…

[Hubie]

I’m in the process of carrying over all my time into one logbook, which I’ve been working on since Christmas and today I was looking back on some of my entries.

I decided to post and ask you guys/gals, the ones of us who benefited from the hiring boom of the 90’s and lived to tell about it, when did you get that first regional, mainline great charter gig or corporate job, at what level of experience were you.

I remember when I was trying to decide on what path to take, corporate or airlines. I had two big regionals offering me jobs as well as the company that my present employer bought up a couple of years back.

I could have gone to work for COEX or Eagle at the time but I chose to go the corporate path.

I had exactly 1075 hrs total time, 255 multi and about 55 turboprop.

What were some of the other minimums you were hired with, I recall COEX was hiring CFI’s with 800/50 and Eagle was around 1000/100 this was around 1998.

What were some of the mainlines hiring at then?


Hubie

 

[AVI8V1]

I was hired as a flight instructor with about 300/120, built my time up to about 900/150 in about 7 months (wow) and was hired at a regional then. My class date came 3 months later. Got through training and about 60 hours on the equipment and then...........BAM!! I got my ass furloughed. Serves me right getting hired with such a small amount of time (snot nosed, pimply faced freshman). About a month later I was instructing at my old flight school but not getting anywhere near the same amount of action due to the slowdown of the entire world. I got lucky and got a sic gig with a 135 operator, I think my times were close to 1100 and 215 without my simulator time. Upgraded to pic in october with about 1600 and 500. Am am there right now and not getting too much action (read: pay).

So here is my request of all of you on the boards: The regional that furloughed me is forecasting my recall to be sometime around october. My 135 job is making the citation II available for me to get sic time in, perhaps upgrading to pic then onto a citation 3 in the distant future.
Do I:
A) say screw the 121 job becasue it is too flaky and hope for some jet time while I captain the trusty Cessna 414
B) bypass my recall when it comes in hope of a mature job at the charter/corporate level, trying like hell not to burn the bridges
C)run back to my regional screaming like a school girl who found her lost platex barbie
D)lie and take the jet time then accept my recall and give my 2 weeks

Any advice is appreciated since i don't know sh!t about the way things work.

 

[bobbysamd]

Eenie, meanie, mynie . . .

Or, a bird in the hand . . . . .

Either "A" or "B" would be my choice. While turbine time may not grow on trees, jet time, especially of the PIC variety, is worth its weight in gold. 135 multi PIC time is nothing to sneeze at, either.

I'd say that if you can build some good jet time and especially the magic 1000 hours of jet PIC you will be competitive after the 121s absorb their furloughees, meaning don't expect much new hiring for a longgggg time. I would definitely jump on the Citation SIC, as long as it is legal, legit 135 SIC time.

Besides, a good jet gig as you propose will pay you better than your regional.

That's my .02. Good luck with your decision. I like your regional Playtex Barbie quip.

PS-Of course, you need to consider that you have a seniority number at your regional. Those don't grow on trees, either. But the turbine/multi PIC time you build will stand you in good stead, too.

 

[TXCAP4228]

Re: Eenie, meanie, mynie . . .

Or, a bird in the hand . . . . .
PS-Of course, you need to consider that you have a seniority number at your regional. Those don't grow on trees, either. But the turbine/multi PIC time you build will stand you in good stead, too.

Could you delay your recall, keep your senioity number, build some more jet time at the 135 place and go back to the regional in the next round of recalls?

 

[AVI8V1]

Yes, I could do something called bypass my recall. That means that when they give me a class date I would decline without forfeiting my senority number. Then, when all of the furloughed pilots are called back, they will call the bypass pilots one more time in senority order. This time if you decline your class date you are officially terminated (not you, but your position there).

If I deny all recalls then I can never work for the company ever again, even if the company joins with the best company in the world since my actions would be equivalent to quitting while on probation.

 

[AVI8V1]

top

 

[bobbysamd]

Yes, I could do something called bypass my recall. That means that when they give me a class date I would decline without forfeiting my senority number. Then, when all of the furloughed pilots are called back, they will call the bypass pilots one more time in senority order. This time if you decline your class date you are officially terminated (not you, but your position there).

That sounds like the best of all worlds. Like having your cake and eating it, too. So, you can consider either option A or B .

Once again, good luck with your decision.

 

[AVI8V1]

Thanks a lot for the response. I forgot to mention that the regional would put me in an embraer jet.