Should I get back into flying??

[bgaviator]

Currently working as a dispatcher and after seeing how young some of these regional pilots are (younger than me and I'm only 27!) and hearing how low the mins have gotten for places like Pinnacle....it almost makes me think I should start building my hours again. Currently have a little over 400 hours, and only 14 hours multi-time......building the multi-time would be the hardest part.....don't think I could really afford it out-of-pockett, but not really sure if I'd want to be an instructor either......I wish there was a way to build multi time on the side, while still being able to keep my full time job as a dispatcher.
With these new low times....I'm so close I can taste it.

 

[txpilot1974]

Currently working as a dispatcher and after seeing how young some of these regional pilots are (younger than me and I'm only 27!) and hearing how low the mins have gotten for places like Pinnacle....it almost makes me think I should start building my hours again. Currently have a little over 400 hours, and only 14 hours multi-time......building the multi-time would be the hardest part.....don't think I could really afford it out-of-pockett, but not really sure if I'd want to be an instructor either......I wish there was a way to build multi time on the side, while still being able to keep my full time job as a dispatcher.
With these new low times....I'm so close I can taste it.

run...run far away

 

[topdawg]

you wouldn't happen to be working for Cape air would ya?

 

[G2T]

No matter what people on here will tell you, only you know whether it is right for you or not. As a dispatcher I'm guessing you know all about the schedules and other crap that comes with the job, not only that but you are on this board. Get current on the intruments, update the resume, and start throwing them everywhere if you want to work as a pilot, you might be surprised these days, even with 14 multi.

 

[bertengineer]

You can get with a school and finance the multi-time. Sallie Mae is a good place to do the financing with, and most schools accept it. Get the multi time. Pinnacle, Mesaba, and others are hiring dudes with @70-80 hours multi time.

 

[Palerider957]

Find a real job that actually allows you to support your family and build a future. Flying for the regionals is a kids job, that pays just enough to let you live in your parents basement.

Seriously, the "profession" has lost anything that once made it great--glamour, pay, scheulde, retirement; all gone.

Get a good job and fly for fun.

 

[ArcticFlier]

Find a real job that actually allows you to support your family and build a future.

Get a good job and fly for fun.

Ditto.....................

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The hiring situation is very fluid at the regionals right now. Most pilots don't know how desperate they are.

The official mins at Pinnacle:
Comm
Inst
Multi

Note: NO HOUR requirements are listed for Pinnace, because they don't have any. You have plenty of multi time. Trans states was hiring guys with your times back in 2001-they're more desperate now. Mesa is the worst off of the big regionals. Big Sky is hurting, and Great Lakes is ALWAYS looking for pilots.

Here's my recc. Go to Mesa (they're hiring NOW, TODAY, over the phone, for next week-like many regionals they're running classes EVERY WEEK for whoever they can get to show up) IF you can get a CRJ/ERJ class (or go to any regional where you can get an RJ job).

Then, when your IOE is over, go to Chautauqua/Rebublic. They're offering a $2500 signing bonus to any pilots who are current/qualified on an RJ. Go through their training program, and you'll have done 2 sets of training, 2 sets of sims, 2 IOEs. You'll feel fairly confident, you'll be a decent regional (much better than Pinnacle, Mesa or TSA), and you'll have an extra $2500.

Don't delay-go now. I could've done Pay For Training back in 1993. If I had, I'd be light years ahead in my career path today.

cliff
YIP

PS-Advice: Go get about 10+ hours of sim training with a GOOD instructor at your local FBO before you start your sim. Make sure you can do your NDB approches, holds, V1 cuts, etc. COLD. Make sure you understand all the procedures. That way, when you go to the airline sim, you'll just have to learn that sim and that airline's procedures. You won't have to ALSO be trying to remember how to do basic instrument stuff. I had a sim buddy who had about 650/15 and he didn't make it through the sim.

 

[ex j-41]

Go to Flight Express based in Orlando florida. You will make twice the amount of money and spend every night at home.

There is a reason why regional airlines cannot find pilots! The job sucks and the pay is discusting. Spend 200 days away from your family for $20k? Just friggin rediculassssss.

 

[SEVEN]

Currently working as a dispatcher and after seeing how young some of these regional pilots are (younger than me and I'm only 27!) and hearing how low the mins have gotten for places like Pinnacle....it almost makes me think I should start building my hours again. Currently have a little over 400 hours, and only 14 hours multi-time......building the multi-time would be the hardest part.....don't think I could really afford it out-of-pockett, but not really sure if I'd want to be an instructor either......I wish there was a way to build multi time on the side, while still being able to keep my full time job as a dispatcher.
With these new low times....I'm so close I can taste it.

Mesaba is now hiring with 600tt and only 50 multi. In less than 6 months you could be in a shiny new crj900 flying First Class passengers around.

In all seriousness though, now is the time to get in to the regionals because of the massive hiring that will continue over the next few years. If it's something you really want to do, I would tell you to go for it.