KSCessnaDriver

Its not just 121 that counts. Certain 135 and I believe 91K operations count as well.

Packrat

I get it. Wouldn't a street Captain get stuck seniority list wise behind every F/O on the property when it comes time for them to upgrade? Additionally, wouldn't the street Captain sort of be a pariah at his new airline?

aviatorhi

Yes he'd get stuck... Comes with the territory, plus side is he's also stuck with the higher pay. So it's a trade off. I think some airlines use the date of the captain check for captain seniority as well, so it can vary from place to place as well.

Now, he maybe a pariah if the (not qualified for upgrade) FOs in question are unprofessional and self absorbed. In laymans terms it would be jealousy over a position they were unqualified to fill.

flynavyj

I've seen that before - When I was upgrading at my old regional there were FO's angry that they weren't yet 23 and thus couldn't hold an ATP certificate...It's not like the rules had been invented the day before, it's the way it's been for years, don't get upset NOW.

I'd wonder what job security is like for the street captains - considering if things go south they'd likely be the first ones kicked off property, and as a guy who's ridden the downgrade/furlough train I'd have no interest in that life....I'm sure I could get over living on reserve...but the missing security (is there such a thing w/ a regional) would be terrible.

I'm a guy who's on the outside and likely wouldn't get back in even with Street Captains coming up. I miss the life, but getting back in would mean giving up a whole lot of LIFE for the sake of "living the dream".

Systemized

Trans States has the lowest upgrade right now holding steady at 10 months. Some FOs have the seniority for captain but not the hour requirements.

polymox

It's 1000 hours of time that required an ATP. That means any 121, 135 captain as long as it's multi engine passenger, or 91K captain.

John Carr

It's been done before. PNCL had a brief time where they needed CA's, a company had just displaced some CRJ CA's down to FO, some were furloughed. Like I said, it was brief, and not that many.

In the late 90's, one crappy regional was hiring current/qualified J31 CA's, offering a $10K bonus for a either a 12 or 18 month commitment, can't remember.

Where were they to find said CA's from? Well, the other couple other J31 operators that were ever MORE crappy than the one offering the $10K.

BubRub

I hear the Saab operator in Puerto Rico is needing captains for their rapid growth.

PA31

When I was hired at Skyw in 06, upgrade times were running 9 months if you had 1000 hours turbine crew time. The guys that took the early upgrade just got off reserve within the last year or so.

CapnSkeptic

Indeed. The so-called pilot shortage (I loved hearing Great Lakes press release recently! oh the lies!)
There is perhaps a CHEAP pilot shortage, but there is no pilot shortage.