billyho

Your reasoning would make sense however PSA's upgrade is 1.5 years and Piedmont's is going to be less then a year. So if you're saying going to those airlines and upgrading fast and getting PIC time that Delta and United won't touch you.

FlameNSky

PSA's upgrade WAS 1.5 years. That has come to a screeching halt due to being full of low time Captains and First Officers. As each month passes, that upgrade time grows. I don't see many of those low time Captains being snatched up by the Majors when there are so many High Time Captains still competing for those jobs which to me, means that their current stagnation will continue.

billyho

Every Regional Airline is hurting for pilots so there's stagnation in many places. There are many High Time Captains that can't get a call. Remember you can get to a point actually that you have too much PIC time and some Majors don't like that either. Believe me I know more then a few people with perfect records that aren't getting calls.

Upgrade and getting about 1500 hrs of PIC time seems to be golden ticket.

FlameNSky

You really think so huh? Next time you are at a job fair ask the Delta, AA or United recruiter what the competitive times are. .

chrisreedrules

Competitive times are around 3000 TPIC and 5-6,000 TT from the numbers I saw. Some had more, some less (military). The vast majority of those being hired are still regional CAs, with some FOs from places like Endeavor, ASA, and ExpressJet getting hired with all the other boxes checked besides 121 PIC.

RyanP

Numbers are still higher than that for civilian at DAL, UAL said 7-8k total time..

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billyho

Well that's perfect. People complaining about the flow???
5-6000 hours and 3000 PIC is at least 6-8 years at a regional.

SqueeG

These numbers will come down a LOT over the next decade.

RyanP

Or oil will spike and something bad will happen with terrorism or the economy. Again. And they won't...

FlameNSky

Very Likely. As will the envoy flow time. If someone upgrades at (take your pick) and upgrades in two years (this is a gamble at ANY regional today), it will take them 4 years to get the PIC time to move on. If someone comes to envoy, their flow projections are at the same 6 year mark. Except, its a guarantee, when your number comes up, you go. All the while, you can still apply and get hired elsewhere just as you would if you worked at Quick Upgrade Airlines.

Either way, you are going to be involved in the application/interview process at various airlines, its just nice to have that guaranteed back up. If you are a captain or senior FO at another regional, it probably would not be the best move to make. But to a junior FO or 1499 hr CFI, why not take the option that will guarantee you will be an AA pilot one day.