Twin TBProp or Regional Jet?

[4loren]

Okay,
I know you guys are lackin for some good old controversy [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] . I must apologize beforehand for not actually naming the companies, it should not be relavant to this post. My DH and me are juggling with which plane/company he should fly for. He is currently flying a Twin TBProp and being called back from furlough for the EMB145.

So based on your experience what do you suggest?

TBProp pros: PIC 1000+ hrs within 2-3 yrs (move to majors soon)
TBProp cons: plane below 19000 lbs and unsure if majors will still consider for hire

EMBJet pros: it's a JET! (my DH's reasoning), can purchase house (staying put for a few years)
EMBjet cons: 6-10 year until PIC 1000+

So the question really is: What major airlines will or will not hire a Turbo Prop driver?

-L

[lrcantrell]

I have to say I'm with your husband, it's a jet! My husband just started flying the Lear back in May and he's so happy to be flying that rather than the other. Being able to settle down with a house is a bonus as well! How much longer would it take him to get to the major airlines if he chooses the jet option? My husband is flying so much right now, he's thinking only another year before he can apply.

[roz]

You don't say how old he is. But, assuming he is young and if he can stay put and you can buy a house, he should go with the EMB145. It will be a long time before any of the majors are hiring again since they have so many on furlough. Right now, those that are hiring are taking their pick from the cream of the crop of furloughed pilots. There are a lot of furloughed pilots with very heavy time and who are typed in the aircraft already. My husband's company has a new hire class in session--several have over 20,000 hours and all are already typed in the aircraft. It's sad, but true. Before 9/11 it was possible (although difficult) to transition from a turbo-prop to a major. Now, it is more likely that someone could transition to Comair, ASA and the like--but for the most part it is senior Piedmont and Allegheny Dash-8 pilots who are bailing out to those airlines given the pending demise of their airlines and jobs. So, again, we are talking about very senior people with 10,000 PIC time. So that 6-10 year period is actually a good timeframe.

[Barbara]

In addition to the points already made, so many of the regionals are operating ERJs & CRJs these days (50 seaters, 70 seaters & now 90 seaters.) Much more of the competition will be against others with turbofan (turbojet) time.

Depending on where he wants to go, post regional... he might be better off to get in the ERJ & stay there for as long as it takes. It may take longer to get the PIC time, but he should end up more competitive, and with more options, in the end.

JetBlue wants to see time in aircraft with a glass cockpit, and I hear they won't even look at applicants with PIC time in aircraft less than 20K gross weight, but Alaska WILL hire turboprop Captains. His longterm goals may play a factor in his decision.

Pay is another consideration. After a couple years, an RJ FO can make more than a turboprop CA. When my husband picks up a couple extra 2-day trips in a month, he can make more money than an RJ Reserve CA.

Is his airline enforcing a seat lock policy? If he goes into the turboprop now, and wants to switch into the RJ after 6 months, will he be seat locked in the right seat of the turboprop for a year or more, before being able to transition over?

[MQAAord]

Take the recall and the EMB bid. It'll be at LEAST 7 years before the majors start hiring again.

[Vic]

4loren:
Here is my 2 cents [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
IT IS ALL ABOUT PIC TIME, you are right.

The majors will hire prop drivers!
If it is 121 company Turbine PIC is Turbine PIC, in Jetstream or CRJ-700 doesn't matter. You still make all decisions and bare all responsibility.

I would take whichever job will make ME happier!
You might hate your next 3-6 years being an FO on the jet with reserve for a while, stinky ops and ALPA turbulence... Especially if you need to commute.

If the prop company will give you CA position, stability, OK pay and has good safety record and attitude why not? If it is not 121 ñ you better fly a lot!!! I would take it if they give me at least 900 PIC hours a year 

You might as well get PIC time there and get on with one of the low cost companies, upgrade in 1.5 years and when majors start hiring take a shot! Or not, stay there and make a career out of it...

[roz]

I cannot agree with Vic. None of the LCC's are hiring low time people and all are choosing from the vast array of furloughed pilots. And most do not consider time in under 20,000 lbs. JetBlue wants glass cockpit time. They used to take people with 1500 hours--but that was before 9/11 when they were a start-up. SWA doesn't even take applications any longer. Ditto all the others. Heck, even NetJets won't take any new applications! I will reiterate what I said in my original reply. My husband's carrier has a new hire class on board now with several 20,000 + hour pilots in it. The majors won't be hiring soon. And, if what industry analysts predict comes true, at least one major won't make it, putting even more pilots on the street. And the LCC's are slowing their growth. Upgrade time is a lot longer than 1.5 years. Believe me, I know!

[Kristie]

what is glass cockpit time?

[roz]

A glass cockpit doesn't have the round gauges on the instrument panel. Instead the plane has CRT tubes--like your TV. So there is a graphic display of the engine and navigational gauges.

JetBlue flies A320's. Guess what? A320's have--glass cockpits. JetBlue recruiters seem to think it's different. They want pilots who are computer savvy since they outfit them with laptops and do all of their calculations and reporting that way. Of course, now they probably want pilots with tons of A320 time! They can be selective now because they can. In the start up stage, they were hiring people with 1,500 hours TT. They hired some one we know with zero PIC time in a turbo prop in May, 2001--he was an FO. He is a captain with them now--although he had trouble upgrading (duh). He got the job cause he is personable, looks the part and when they asked why he wanted to work there, he told them, "Because I look terrible in a hat--no hat ever fits me right." (They don't have to wear hats). They loved the answer! But, who knows what their minimum is now...

[Barbara]

Here's a couple quickie photos of a glass cockpit v. a more "traditional" cockpit.


[img:2f7649fd9e]http://home.earthlink.net/~polarpop/glasscockpit.jpg[/img:2f7649fd9e]

[img:2f7649fd9e]http://home.earthlink.net/~polarpop/traditionalcockpit.jpg[/img:2f7649fd9e]