Special K

Hello everyone, I've been lurking around the site for the past few months and finally came up with what I thought was a decent question. I am going to start my freshman year of college in the fall and I have my private pilots license. Anyway my question pertains to the recent state of hiring in the regionals. It seems many companies are hiring people w/ only a comm/multi/inst license and I wanted to know if say for example Piedmont Airlines hires you with that license and then when you are ready to upgrade to captain, pays for your ATP license training. (You don't need to use Piedmont for an example, I just used it to phrase the question better)

I know many people here are annoyed (at least it seems that way) with those jumping off into the regionals with such low time. I do plan on getting my instructor rating and building some decent time before applying to any airline. I just thought I would add that so I don't get a lecture about it. Thanks everyone!! This site has been most helpful, so helpful that most of my questions are asked and anwered by others.

Kevin K

The Juice

You do not need your ATP for the regional. You receive the ATP most times when you do your upgrade/type ride. Only thing you need to do is knock out the ATP written.

cfii2007

Passing the ATP written would be a good idea, although it is only valid for 24 months. Assuming you got hired at 300 hours, it might take 2 years before eligible for upgrade. At that point, the airline will type you in the equipment you fly and issue an ATP rating.

CRJ1000

Best of luck with all your flying. Hope it goes well.
It will be cool for you to be an instructor. I am sure teaching people to land a C-172 will make you a much better airline pilot. Then you will have many former students who can walk your resume in after you get tired of doing pattern work. You can then swing the gear for your former students...they will be in the left seat and you will be in the right. Just like old times!!! HAHA
There is nothing wrong with being a flight instructor...just make sure the time you are building will help you get a job. Cross Country time...Actual Inst. ME time. etc.

meeko031

I thought atp written does not expire once hired with 121company and only valid 2 years if hired with 135? am I right?

boilerpilot

ATP written is valid indefinitely as long as you're employed with a 121 carrier.

boilerpilot

Never flown 135, nor have I ever studied the regs too much in depth for 135, but once you get hired with a 121 carrier, the written remains valid indefinitely.

CRJ1000

HAHA...funny!!!!
check your PM

RedGuy

It's the same for 135. As long as your continuously employed your written will be valid.

However that doesn't mean that when you go to interview somewhere that they're not going to require you to have your ATP written done within the last 24 months. One of my co-workers just went through this.

Special K

Well I plan to at least have more time than the minimum requirements as long as they remain at such a low level.