Turbo-prop CA or RJ-FO

[igneousy2]

It's a long story about how this has happened but would you???

Take back your job at a major regional as an RJ-FO where you are a Top 25% FO, it is a very secure company but there seems little hope of upgrade for at least 2-3 years out. This job is geographically where you know you are eventually wanting toi live and would be okay working here (although not thrilled) until age 60 if that's what it came down to.

Keep your current job as a Turbo-prop captain flying scheduled 121 in 30+ seat airplane. The company is shakey, not sure what condition it will be in one year. It is in a place where you know you will not want to live for much longer. You are in the Bottom 25% of captains and will probably be on reserve for awhile. You are getting 20-30 hours/month of that all important turbine PIC time. You now have 300 hours turbine PIC with 4500 tt. You enjoy working here but the fuzzyness of the future bothers you.

Believe it or not...the pay is the same.

What would you do, you must decide and take action immediatelly. (i.e. no delaying RJ-FO position, etc.)...now or never on either position.

Your opinions will be appreciated.

Later.

 

[I.P. Freley]

.....

Nevermind, it looks like you don't work for who I thought you did....

 

[igneousy2]

I don't think so. How would you have known me?

 

[73belair]

For me... I'd rather take that FO slot and have a good life, rather than hate my life and get "PIC TIME"
I do want the time, but I like to enjoy my fleeting youth while I can.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Sounds like you're flying Dashes for a US Express carrier to me. I'd go back to the RJ job myself if it meant better QOL and security. But hey, thats me.

 

[I.P. Freley]

I don't think so. How would you have known me?

Just another case of mistaken identity... After looking around a bit, it appears that there's little chance that I do know you.

You know how Saab drivers are, we're pretty dim.

 

[T-Gates]

Knock out the 1000 PIC, then go sit in the right seat of an RJ if you so desire. Just check the dang box first, it may bite you in the ass one day.

You never know.....

 

[capt. megadeth]

Get the PIC time while you have the chance. I know way too many people with 7000 hours that can't get a job anywhere decent right now (ie. UPS, FedEx, SWA, Jetblue, etc) because they don't have the 1000. Once you get it, you have it forever.

 

[flyer172r]

Well if the shaky company goes out of business before you get that 1000 Turbine PIC, you're still gonna be in trouble. If it was me, I'd take the RJ-FO job and live where I want to and have a little more certainty that I'd still have a job when I woke up in the morning.

 

[de Pez]

Get the PIC time. It's much more important in the long run if you want to have the chance to eventually move on. (SWA, UPS, FDX or others) You never know what the future holds, and you may kick yourself for not using the opportunity to check a box on an application one day. Be aggressive, not passive. Work toward your goals. No one is going to hand you anything. The experience as a Captain won't hurt either.

As soon as you have the thousand PIC, go wherever you want (Capt. or FO) quality of life, etc... However, if you want to ultimately move on to a "major", then immediately start sending the apps out to those companies you'd like to work for. It's going to look better if you applied and updated your applications at those companies from the day you became eligible.

 

[Nostromo]

Well if the shaky company goes out of business before you get that 1000 Turbine PIC, you're still gonna be in trouble. If it was me, I'd take the RJ-FO job and live where I want to and have a little more certainty that I'd still have a job when I woke up in the morning.

Spoken like a true Riddle/Tab Express/Flight Safety/Delta Connection student..."Why wouldn't you want to be in the jet?" "Jessh, I'll take jet SIC time any day over PIC time."

Get your PIC time, it will put your in front of thousands of others who won't even qualify for the job. Think of all the furloughed United guys that have 0 PIC, they were flying 75's, 76's etc and can't even get on with an AirTran or JetBlue, instead they're back in the right seat of a jet...getting 19$/hour their first year at a regional!

 

[English]

STAY AWAY FROM EAGLE, unless you want a dead-end career.

The islands are bad, but after you get your PIC time, use your Saab time and go to Colgan as a street captain, or get a corporate gig near home.

Or just bail and go to Colgan now to gain your PIC time. They're in Texas now.

 

[pilotyip]

SIC time means little

Any one can be a RJ F/O programmer; you will not prove yourself as a pilot until you start logging PIC. Every employer above the regional level knows that and looks for PIC when they hire a pilot. They do not hire F/O's they hire potential Captains. A friend of mine 12 years at USAirways 10,000 Total time, Three jet type ratings, 9000 MEL turbine SIC, but he only had 500 turbine PIC, that he earned prior to getting hired at USAirways in the late 80’s. He found it impossible to get interviews due to his lack of PIC time.

 

[bobbyice]

aaaaa

 

[NRHPilot]

Just like a lot of us that are "building time for the majors." The PIC time is nice, however once we get the golden 1000 we just can't walk over to SWA or UPS and say give me a job. How many guys have the qualifcations with the PIC time but don't get hired. It seams the guys I have seen leave us for SWA have something besides the PIC time on their resume. (i.e. Chief pilot, check airman, etc...) There is probably 5000 121 regional captians with their app. in at SWA. Good luck but quality of life is nice to have in case you don't make it to the "show."

 

[SpyFlysDOTs]

>>>> There is probably 5000 121 regional captians with their app. in at SWA. Good luck but quality of life is nice to have in case you don't make it to the "show.">>>>

There is?

 

[capt. megadeth]

Just like a lot of us that are "building time for the majors." The PIC time is nice, however once we get the golden 1000 we just can't walk over to SWA or UPS and say give me a job. How many guys have the qualifcations with the PIC time but don't get hired. It seams the guys I have seen leave us for SWA have something besides the PIC time on their resume. (i.e. Chief pilot, check airman, etc...) There is probably 5000 121 regional captians with their app. in at SWA. Good luck but quality of life is nice to have in case you don't make it to the "show."

That's true but there's one sure fire way not to make it to the "show".

LACK OF 1000 PIC TURBINE.

 

[Swaayze]

It depends on your priorities. If you are still career motivated and want to be a major airline pilot (which, btw is exactly the same as being a regional pilot except for the paycheck - more or less), then get the PIC asap. If family, location and stability are your priorities then do the RJ gig.

As one of those high time pilots without the requisite 1000 I'm working on the RJ FO job. For me, there is very little chance of the big brass ring anymore and even if I found one it would mean commuting for the next 20-25 years. Time with my little girls is worth thousands of dollars a month to me. That said, it's a lot easier said than done to bypass a left seat and still be able to live peacefully. I still feel underemployed and motivated to climb back up the ladder on a daily basis. Only God knows where I'll ultimately end up.


Good luck.

 

[avpro91]

I was recently in a similar situation myself. I was a turboprop captain for a charter company flying about 900 hours a year making more than twice as much as I am now as a regional FO. In the end, it all came down to quality of life and job happiness for me. Financially it was a tough choice, but second year will be alright again, that doesnt sound like an issue for you. I think you have to do whats going to make you happy, keeping in mind your long term career goals. I was fortunate to get the magic 1000 number before I went to a regional, and trust me like someone else said once you have you never lose it and its worth its weight in gold. Just my $.02, but the trubine pic will pay off forever, it the company lasts long enough for you to get it, but in the current state of the industry, you have to consider where you want to be in 20 years.

 

[utahpilot]

It depends on your priorities. If you are still career motivated and want to be a major airline pilot (which, btw is exactly the same as being a regional pilot except for the paycheck - more or less), then get the PIC asap. If family, location and stability are your priorities then do the RJ gig.

As one of those high time pilots without the requisite 1000 I'm working on the RJ FO job. For me, there is very little chance of the big brass ring anymore and even if I found one it would mean commuting for the next 20-25 years. Time with my little girls is worth thousands of dollars a month to me. That said, it's a lot easier said than done to bypass a left seat and still be able to live peacefully. I still feel underemployed and motivated to climb back up the ladder on a daily basis. Only God knows where I'll ultimately end up.


Good luck.

hear! hear!

you hit the nail on the head for me, and probably lots of others

 

[FurloughedAgain]

I too am in the same boat as Swaayze.

But now i'm home almost every night... and that is worth its weight in gold.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Does anyone think that maybe turbo-props will have a place in the regional carrier quiver? I know that rjs seem to be breeding like rats, but isn't there some flying that is better done by a turbo prop?

as for the ca vs. fo decision, I can tell you that I have left one company for another based solely on QOL, and I'm not quite sure how smart it was. I guess I need to read 'fate is the hunter' and 'hard landings' before I make any more career decisions because I have left one shaky job for another and this new jet seems pretty dull, cramped and noisy compared to a -8. think hard. or not. i'm just a sucker who'll do anything to keep from commuting.

 

[TokyoMewMew]

It's a long story about how this has happened but would you???

Take back your job at a major regional as an RJ-FO where you are a Top 25% FO, it is a very secure company but there seems little hope of upgrade for at least 2-3 years out. This job is geographically where you know you are eventually wanting toi live and would be okay working here (although not thrilled) until age 60 if that's what it came down to.

Keep your current job as a Turbo-prop captain flying scheduled 121 in 30+ seat airplane. The company is shakey, not sure what condition it will be in one year. It is in a place where you know you will not want to live for much longer. You are in the Bottom 25% of captains and will probably be on reserve for awhile. You are getting 20-30 hours/month of that all important turbine PIC time. You now have 300 hours turbine PIC with 4500 tt. You enjoy working here but the fuzzyness of the future bothers you.

Believe it or not...the pay is the same.

What would you do, you must decide and take action immediatelly. (i.e. no delaying RJ-FO position, etc.)...now or never on either position.

Your opinions will be appreciated.

Later.

Gambatte kudasai.

Please check your personal messages...

 

[greygoose]

Someone asked me the other day if C208 time is worth anything in the jobmarket today. I told him, I wasn't sure, other than the fact turbine is turbine. What do you guys think?

 

[canyonblue737]

Get the PIC time if your ultimate goal is to work for a major. Nothing else matters and turboprop PIC is FAR, FAR, FAR more valuable then SIC in ANY jet (B747 or RJ). Get the PIC, once you have it... you always have it. PS: QOL is better at most majors than even the best regionals so the way I look at it... suffer now (in regards to QOL) because in your youth you can take it, get the QOL later in life when you NEED IT. For me I would feel your ideas of QOL are reversed right now. But that is just me.

 

[igneousy2]

Thanks, you guys/gals have been surprisingly helpful.

I totally know what you mean about checking the box. I lost out on a job opportunity because I have 485 hours jet. The job required 500. It really sucked.

I think I'll suck it up, get the PIC, then take a look at who's hiring in a couple of years. Right now QOL is really not that important, no kids, etc.

Thanks again

 

[Trash8Mofo]

But then again, say once you got that magic 1000PIC in a year or two, there will still be tones of furloughed pilots on the street and tons of captains with multi-thousands PIC time waiting. What are your chances? If you want to go to Jetblue, airtran, frountier, etc, just 1000 means nothing. You are going to either have to tough it out at your TP PIC job for another year or two to get another 1000 to be competitive. So, the way I see it, 4yrs from now, you would have surfered hell for 4 yrs but with 2000PIC and starting to look competitive. Or, have had 4 yrs of better QOL in a place where you want to live but have only 2yrs of PIC (jet) under your belt. I think you should plan for 4-5yrs instead of 2.

Plus, so two years from now, you supposedly got your 1000PIC. Whats next? RJ street Capt?.....not likely. Boeing/Airbus FO?.... not enough PIC; another T/prop PIC?....why bother leaving. So, chances are, you are going to stick around for more; which brings me back to my first point....Are you prepared to live and work where you are for 4 more years?

 

[pilotyip]

Two years from now a 1000 Turbine PIC will just the ticket, the June 2007 hiring boom will be in full swing.

 

[NEDude]

The bottom line is nobody is going to come knocking down your door when you hit 1000 hours PIC. That being said, you can't land a job at most majors without it. As someone else mentioned, there are thousands of pilots out there with tons of 737, A320 and other large jet SIC time who have been furloughed and can't land a job at Southwest, AirTran, JetBlue, FedEx because they don't have the PIC.

As for making a living at a large regional, my theory is this - as unstable as the majors are, the regionals are even less stable. Most of the large regionals out there today were barely a blip on the radar screen ten or fifteen years ago. Others that were big five or ten years ago now are very unstable (eg. Allegheney, ACA/Indy).

There is no such thing as a sure thing in this industry, but the majors are far closer to it than any regionals. And that stability, IMHO, goes very far towards QOL.

As for getting hired at a major with only turboprop time, at my BE-1900 company, we have recently had captains hired at Southwest, AirTran and UPS and have at least a few others awaiting news from all of those and America West.

 

[ilinipilot]

If you have PIC time, an ATP, or a type rating it at least proves that you are a trainable person. You can hang your hat on the fact that you passed a very rigorous training program. that is another aspect of why having some PIC time may help you.