What are my Chances?

[sperfly]

I started flight school in April 2002 at 28 and finished in Dec. 03. I walked right into a job flying a Piper Chieftain single pilot and upgraded to a King Air 200 in less than a year. All this time is part 91 but its single pilot multi turbine with me calling all the shots. My question is what are my chances of making it to a Major without flying for a Regional or in other words part 121 or 135 time in my log book. I am still low time with 1600 TT and about 800 Multi and 400 turbine pic. but lets say in another 1000 to 1500 hours would I have a chance without the 121 time.

 

[Lowrider717]

A lot to said for being numero uno, top dog. Money isn't everything. Is the company growing and stable?

 

[sperfly]

I am definitly happy where I'm at, and extremely lucky too. The company is definitly growing and seems to be stable. I am just contemplating my future and what chances I may have at a career with the Majors, age is becoming a factor for me because I will be 34 for next May and I'm worried that the window will be closing say after I turn 35 or so.

 

[TAWS]

Why would a major, when they eventually do start hiring, look beyond the thousands of guys with 121 experience. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, because it obviously does, but the competition to get into a major is fierce. I know that my company cut several guys during IOE recently - the reason: lack of 121 experience put them behind the curve when they went into the busier airports, among other things. With your times, you might as well jump in now at a regional and try to keep the 91 gig going on the side.

35 is still young, don't sweat it.

 

[LearLove]

I started flight school in April 2002 at 28 and finished in Dec. 03. I walked right into a job flying a Piper Chieftain single pilot and upgraded to a King Air 200 in less than a year. All this time is part 91 but its single pilot multi turbine with me calling all the shots. My question is what are my chances of making it to a Major without flying for a Regional or in other words part 121 or 135 time in my log book. I am still low time with 1600 TT and about 800 Multi and 400 turbine pic. but lets say in another 1000 to 1500 hours would I have a chance without the 121 time.

You have 1600tt and 800multi so around 800tt you were set loose in a PA31 - that I can buy, but in a "year" you upgraded to a KA200 to fly single pilot at say 1000-1200tt - who let you do this? Sounds a little fishy. Insurance costs must have been thru the roof - did you attend school for the KA?

 

[sperfly]

I had to go to initial and then fly with a guy for 50 hours that had around 5000hrs of KA200 time plus I had some time in C90s and a little time in a B350 and yes the premiums are through the roof but it helps when you fly for an insurance company. I am grateful for the insight.

 

[CJCCapt]

...but lets say in another 1000 to 1500 hours would I have a chance without the 121 time.

No. If your goal is to fly for a major, get out of part 91 flying ASAP. You are at the point where even regionals are going to begin to think "what's wrong with him? Why hasn't someone else hired him?" Too much time can be as detrimental to your career as too little time.

You will need either military PIC time or Part 121 PIC time to get hired at a major in the timeframe you are talking about.

 

[VAjetlag]

Not neccessarily true. Guys get hired out of corporate but it is fewer than the 121 guys. Do what is best for you and your family. You might find the right corporate job oneday and decide to stick with that. 34 is not to old.

 

[Lowrider717]

I was corporate too. I never had ambitions to go to airlines, just happened to give it a shot at the right time. After corp, did 9 months at 135, 2.5 years at a regional, then to a major. Timing seemed to be everything. Don't sweat the age. We hire into the mid-fifties.
But if a major is your goal, focus on the goal. Just keep in mind that there are airlines that will play you because they know most will do whatever they need to get the time to move on.
If I had your position, I'd still be in a Corporate job. Good Luck.

 

[Networ-King]

sperfly....

You'll get alot of guys telling you how to go about getting that magical job, but the most important thing that I think we can all agree on is that it's not what you know, but who you know. Network your arse off and get to know the people that can help you. There is a guy at UPS that I know and he had a total of 3000 hours, about 1500 hours PIC 121 and he started flying in 97. Lots of guys out there that kick his arse with experience, but he made sure that he knew the people that could help him and it worked. Experience is great for the interview, but to get on with a major you must meet the mins no matter what. Meet the mins for the airlines you want to work for then make the jump to 121, mean time network your arse off and good luck. It's all a crapshoot now a days.

 

[roadrunnerblue]

Why would a major, when they eventually do start hiring, look beyond the thousands of guys with 121 experience. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, because it obviously does, but the competition to get into a major is fierce. I know that my company cut several guys during IOE recently - the reason: lack of 121 experience put them behind the curve when they went into the busier airports, among other things. With your times, you might as well jump in now at a regional and try to keep the 91 gig going on the side.

35 is still young, don't sweat it.

Try B6, they'll hire you if you are willing to clean the cabin, regardless of your experience.

 

[Networ-King]

oh boy.... here we go again.

 

[Black Hawk]

Why would a major, when they eventually do start hiring, look beyond the thousands of guys with 121 experience.

To get employees that would care about the job.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I would say stick around and get some more turbine PIC. You shouldn't have a problem getting on with a regional with a little more time. I don't think it will turn them off that you have too much of it although there is always the concern of you leaving sooner than later. And 34 isn't that old. I think the average new hire at a major is somewhere around the mid 30's anyway.

 

[mach zero]

Not neccessarily true. Guys get hired out of corporate but it is fewer than the 121 guys. Do what is best for you and your family. You might find the right corporate job oneday and decide to stick with that. 34 is not to old.

This is true. I have flown with several ex-corporate folks here at SWA and at ATA however, none of them were pure turboprop corporate. All had corp. jet experience. It is possible to go from 135 and 121 turboprop only to a major but I just haven't seen any 91 t-prop to major folks. I am sure there is somebody that fits this category but they are definitely in the minority.

 

[Going2Baja]

.....but in a "year" you upgraded to a KA200 to fly single pilot at say 1000-1200tt - who let you do this? Sounds a little fishy.

Why is it that so many people in the corporate world think that flying a turbine aircraft takes some kind of special magic? This isn't rocket science....Fact is turbine (turboprop or jet) are WAY easier and safer than pisten aircraft. Other than the cost of operation, learning in a jet would be easier than a piston.

Just my $0.02....

Baja.

 

[Going2Baja]

Oh yeah...to answer your question....Keep building your TT and keep your eyes open for a jet job, f/o or capt, and keep moving up the ladder. Be careful to choose good companies that are stable, have good rep's, and have upward movement. Good luck!!!

Baja.

 

[CJCCapt]

...with 1600 TT... 800 Multi...400 turbine pic...

If you apply to any of the top six or eight regionals with those times right now, you will have multiple offers. Take your pick...

 

[talespin]

I started flight school in April 2002 at 28 and finished in Dec. 03. I walked right into a job flying a Piper Chieftain single pilot and upgraded to a King Air 200 in less than a year. All this time is part 91 but its single pilot multi turbine with me calling all the shots. My question is what are my chances of making it to a Major without flying for a Regional or in other words part 121 or 135 time in my log book. I am still low time with 1600 TT and about 800 Multi and 400 turbine pic. but lets say in another 1000 to 1500 hours would I have a chance without the 121 time.

Sperfly,

Keep plugging away. Remember its a very small world in our business so don't piss anyone off if you can help it. Most importantly you need to network! Figure out where you want to go and network within that company. Right or wrong I've seen to many times, it's not what you know but who you know!!! Good luck!

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Seconding the guy who said it's who you know. having too much time coming into the 2007 hiring boom will work against you.