slumav505

Most Junior CA at RAH just left. Getting into late 2007. Things have stagnated a bit due to the 145 pull downs and associated cross training. We've been losing anywhere from 15-30 guys/gals a month to various different places. After April of 2008 Upgrade time will shorten up by two years as far as hire dates go.

What's important is how many FO's in front of you when you get hired. I've moved up roughly 800 numbers in 2 and a half years and was looking at upgrade later this summer until the CHQ pull down. Now probably early next year with attrition until more CHQ planes get pulled down. They're using CHQ as a staffing agency at the moment for the rest of the operation, but that doesn't last forever.

Really you can't upgrade unless you can hire, and we can't do that right now. So we sit and wait again. The next little wave should get through the 2008 crowd here.

HAL39

If you are unable / unwilling to move, I'd agree with you 100%. If you ARE able / willing to move to a new base with a good company that is losing pilots rapidly, do it. Although 1,000 PIC does not carry as much weight as it used to with hiring at the legacy carriers, it certainly doesn't hurt. Plus, attaining captain pay as quickly as possible definitely helps get rid of student loans. If your goal is QOL rather than upgrade, going to an airline with significant attrition from the top of the list translates into rapid gains in seniority. The new hires at the front of this wave here at CPS are already holding decent lines (13-17 days off / month, depending on how effective they are at bidding & FLICA) and have only been here 6 - 9 months. The BEST advice I have for anyone reading this thread is don't listen to all the propaganda on here (including my own ), each person posts whatever has / has not worked for them in their career. Figure out what your career goals are, do some research (like, actually research your prospective companies....don't just read posts on APC), and pave your own path

~ 305 total flows before the beginning of this round. There are 140 this round, so there will be roughly 160 - 170 flows remaining in the next round(s)

pagey

I agree that living in your base changes this job significantly for the better AT FIRST but.....

What if you don't live in, or near a regional base?

Then how do you choose?

I think a big problem on this board is that the only thing anyone knows about this business is from the last 15 years. During that time an unprecedented chain of events lead to an even more unprecedented stretch of stagnation.

"Don't chase a quick upgrade" is the accepted view on this site. Why is that? Well because some guy, probably on this website back in like 2005 said it and everyone ran with it. Now that statement is everyone's battle cry about why this industry sucks. It's absolutely RIDICULOUS to not look at a place with projected movement. Even if it doesn't lead to an upgrade, at least you come off reserve and maybe have a better choice of schedule with more money in your bank account.

For me, money and time off is QoL. I don't think many would argue with that. As much as commuting sucks I'd rather commute to 18 days off with 90+ hours worth of credit in my bank than live in base on reserve with 11 days off and 75 hours on my paycheck.

"But but but....You might get stuck there for years!" I might slip in the damn shower and break my neck. Someone I love may get sick and I have to quit my job and take care of them. A freakin' meteor might hit the earth. What ifs, maybes, and conjecture are not a reason to choose a key cog in your career progression.

The fact that majors will be hiring, probably in significant numbers, for at least the next 10 to 15 years is such a game changer. Guess what, NO ONE ON HERE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN because NO ONE has been around while that has happened, especially in this regional sub-forum.

Using information available for me today I'm choosing Compass, PSA, Mesa, RAH. Probably in that order. We all know that some FOs have been hired from regionals in to a "next level" job. However, like it or not, turbine PIC is a HUGE factor in hiring decisions. Perhaps in 10 years when retirements are really ramped up FOs might truly start getting scooped up regularly but who wants to wait 10 years and be on the back end of hiring?

If it's so easy for an FO to be hired why haven't I been hired yet? I have over 5000 hours, about 3000 of which is 121 jet. I have worked as a CFI, been a check airman(as a CFI, not 121), part 91 jet, part 135 single pilot cargo and PAX. I have a 4 year college degree and a squeaky clean driving/criminal record. I'd say thats pretty varied, and valuable experience. I check all the boxes.....except one. Why hasn't my phone rang?

For the foreseeable future 121 turbine PIC will be what gets you an interview. Will there be exceptions? Sure. FOs will absolutely get hired. 9 out of 10 will have turbine PIC though.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Going to a stagnated regional "because you agree with how they operate" is not a smart career decision. Tear me up all you want, call me a sellout, or an idiot. It's not.

MrMustache

Hey does anyone happen to know what PSA's upgrade times are?

clogher

C5 does not have a signing bonus.

Slick111

PSA is (and has been) upgrading 16 per month. If nothing changes, today's new hires are looking at about 1.5 years for upgrade.

If PSA increases the upgrade rate or if attrition in the F/O ranks rises, the upgrade time would likely fall to below 18 months. On the other hand, if they're unable to recruit new F/O's in a year and a half, upgrades will stall or slow significantly. Your mileage may vary.

FoxHeader

So just to refresh this thread, many things have changed in the past few months, what's the upgrade time at your regional and which ones will be hiring street Captains?

JohnnyDingus

I believe there are 30 upgrades for feb. 14 for the beginning of the month and 16 at the end of the month.

Edit. I didn't realize this was posted in May of 2014. But here are updated numbers!

chrisreedrules

PSA's recent upgrade class had a June 2014 hire. Guy coming with the 1000 121 or applicable 135 can reasonably expect to upgrade in 12 months or less and that will likely continue to drop. A 1500 hour CFI coming on property today will upgrade in about 18 months.

Systemized

Anyone have updates on current upgrade times and which direction they're trending? Please correct what's below.

TSA: Street Captains

PSA: 8 months for now, might increase to 1.5 and hold steady there

Mesa: 8 months, maybe street captains?

Compass: 12 months?

Piedmont: 3 years and dropping

Gojet: 3 years and stagnant?

Skywest: 4 years and slowly dropping

Air Wisconsin: 5 years and dropping?

Republic: 7 years and possibly dropping?

ASA/Expressjet: 8 years and stagnant?

Envoy: 8 years and stagnant?

Endeavor: 8 years and possibly dropping?

Horizon: possibly dropping to 2-3 years?