Majors hiring pathway
Posted by Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 34 comments
Seems like every month as of late I’m seeing CFIs that I was friends with and instructed/flew with them to get them to be MEIs, get class dates for United and Delta. I’m extremely happy for them but also very jealous and can’t help but feel like I chose wrong in my career progression.
I got a lucky SIC job flying a mid size jet for a 91/135 doing about 30-45 hours a month when I had just under 1000 hours. Got my ATP and first PIC type last year and have gotten about 200 TPIC and 2000 hours total time.
These friends of mine that got hired stuck with being a CFI till 1500 hours and then got jobs with an LCC back in 2023 and one other at a regional and then upgraded to captain for a short time. Now they got class dates at Delta and United and it seems like I chose completely wrong and should have stuck with being a cfi and getting 1500 hours quick (was doing about 80-100 hours a month) and applying and going to a LCC or regional.
Seems like a very very big degrade in both pay, QoL, and no more TPIC time if I put apps in for regionals. Any advise?
LycomingO235@reddit
Buddy, I have 2500TT and am still waiting for my first jet job. I see people that have less TT getting CJOs at majors & legacies. Timing is everything and comparison is the thief of joy.
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
Well said, hard not to compare to peers especially when I instructed them. Im not discounting or talking down about my time, I know I got extremely lucky with my first jet job. I guess you never know what the magic 8 ball has in store for you.
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
Your choice of route to the majors is always a crapshoot. It is like choosing a line at the grocery store. You make your best guess then go stand in that line.
Rightrudder74@reddit
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
0621Hertz@reddit
I can assure you that others were very jealous of you when you got a jet job under 1,000 hours.
You didn’t choose wrong, you just chose differently.
Everyone forges their own path, and if 121 is the career you want, then get a 121 job.
The ULCCs kinda suck at the moment so I suggest a regional airline without a contract.
PM_ME_YOUR_FOQA@reddit
I don't know if I'd leave a PIC jet gig to sling gear on an RJ. He should at least get a 1000 TPIC and then aim higher. ACMIs/LLCs
0621Hertz@reddit
The thing is imo the LLCs are not really desirable right now.
doomed43@reddit
Are they? I’ve had my app reviewed and had it in with Envoy for a while and heard nothing
0621Hertz@reddit
I don’t know the mystery to getting the app pulled, I’m just saying if you have turbine experience you get a sooner class date after your CJO.
PM_ME_YOUR_FOQA@reddit
Average flight time in the latest Blue Globe class is 8.5k TT. That’s the average. That means we have 15k spirit captains and very few lucky 2k-3k RJ guys that ticked the right boxes to get their apps pulled. In classes that average 70 the spread is very broad. But most new hires have a lot more time than 2-3k at this time.
I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’re are not competitive with your stats at this time. The good news is that you’re a PIC on a jet. Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep flying, keep your record clean. Try to get additional responsibilities. Director of safety or chief pilot. Tulip does hire from 135. But 2k TT with 0 121 isn’t gonna get your app pulled at this time.
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the detailed response. I very much know I am not competitive in the slightest compared to 121 guys and gals. I will be looking at picking up any additional positions/roles I can at my company to boost the resume. I know I am very lucky and very appreciative of where I am at currently. Grass is always greener on the other side!
PM_ME_YOUR_FOQA@reddit
Yeah man. You’re doing good. Don’t get fiddle fingers. I’d stay and get your 1000 TPIC. Then look around. If the job is good, pay is good, ride it out. If not go to an ACMI or an LLC but I wouldn’t go to a regional unless I had to from your position.
throwaway642246@reddit
Incredible perspective. Thanks so much for that.
Nearby-Grass-3279@reddit
For your next job, pick one that you actually want to be at. That way if it’s longer than you expected you aren’t thinking as much about others’ position
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
I never said I didn’t love and enjoy my job. I love the plane I fly and I’m not worked to death with min rest and max duty days. I get average 30 hours a month. My issue is I’m NOT flying, I want to fly more and build hours to be more competitive. It’s just very hard to not want to dream of that major airline job with the benefits and 401k matching and pay scale.
Nearby-Grass-3279@reddit
I also didn’t imply you didn’t like your job. But should you change jobs, keep that in mind
Any-Cable-5175@reddit
Why do so many posts exclude “AA”, as if that’s not on par to work like United and Delta lol
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
I excluded AA because none of the people I’m talking about in my post got a class date at AA that’s the only reason.
RastaFarva@reddit
Don’t listen to people saying to stay put. Make the jump to a regional and get 121 time. I was in your exact shoes, jumped to a regional, then to ACMI and got hired by a legacy all within a year. Don’t get complacent, break the golden handcuffs.
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
This is great to hear. Thank you
MangledX@reddit
I know a lot of people who struck it 'lucky' by getting into right seats in sketchy 91k gigs, and while they've acquired time - they're stuck in loops they can't get out of. I know some of them have developed bad habits in their flying and some of the folks they fly with and fly for are sketchy as hell. I don't know if this vibe flows up to the guys hiring at the bigger named places, but it feels like 91 flying has the effect on a lot of folks. To be clear, I have no data to back this other than the fact that I hear this roadblock occurring a lot for people in your similar situation which leads one to wonder if they look down on the type of flying out of 91 ops.
Gold-Weather_69@reddit
I’m at 2k TT and still waiting for my first jet job. Glad I have a degree to fall back on during time like this… it’s all about timing in this industry.
Prize-Bird-2561@reddit
Are you going to conventions? Asking your buddies for CPO meet and greets? Have you paid for a job app review? Are you updating the hours on your app monthly? Or did you just submit the app and disappointed that you haven’t gotten a call?
Bowzy228@reddit
That’s just how things work in life. Especially in this industry. Guys I used to split time with when I was building time for commercial are at ATP minimums. Some already have a CJO. I still can’t find my first job.
Terrible-Parfait4569@reddit
You can't predict the future. Imagine how you would feel if you didn't take the jet job at 1000 hours and you are at 2000 hours still stuck as a CFI, with no salary and benefits. You may think differently then...
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
Never thought of it this way since it was on the back half of Covid hiring but just starting to slow down. Great point. I’ve said in some of my replies that I very much appreciate and understand that I got lucky and fortunate enough to get into a jet at low time. Everything happens for a reason right
Right-Suggestion-667@reddit
Yall just took different paths and that’s okay. If you do ultimately wanna go 121 as end goal you’ll have to make the jump eventually. Might have too much time for the regionals so id suggest trying to get on at an ACMI or a LCC. Try and apply for the majors but you potentially might have some issues with no 121 time
Noswad_12@reddit
You are PIC typed but are you acting as PIC? Be careful how you log those hours, if you aren’t PIC on the paperwork then you cannot log PIC.
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
Yes, had my 135.299 ride with the FAA a bit after my PIC type.
Noswad_12@reddit
It’s been a while since I flew 135 but you should be in the clear then, as long as you’re listed as PIC on your trip sheet. I ask because it looks like you were low time when you upgraded so good for you dude!
Tall_Sherbert7375@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the concern! Yeah I had roughly 2 years as SIC experience and then a new plane I got upgraded to they ran me through PIC and ATP in the same initial and November this year I did my 299 ride and my name is on the logbooks and trip sheets. I will absolutely not mess with that stuff trying to play the game and fudge numbers. I’ve heard too many stories during interviews gone wrong.
Noswad_12@reddit
Few years ago I was stuck in limbo with a PIC type in the Falcon 2000 but I wasn’t officially upgraded with my 91 outfit so i had to look into how to properly log that time even when I was PF. So I always spread a word of caution with it. Keep chugging away at those hours dude, TPIC is gold
ABlix@reddit
You have 2000TT. Just relax, enjoy where you're at, thousands would kill to be there. Continue building quality time. You'll get there when you get there.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Seems like every month as of late I’m seeing CFIs that I was friends with and instructed/flew with them to get them to be MEIs, get class dates for United and Delta. I’m extremely happy for them but also very jealous and can’t help but feel like I chose wrong in my career progression.
I got a lucky SIC job flying a mid size jet for a 91/135 doing about 30-45 hours a month when I had just under 1000 hours. Got my ATP and first PIC type last year and have gotten about 200 TPIC and 2000 hours total time.
These friends of mine that got hired stuck with being a CFI till 1500 hours and then got jobs with an LCC back in 2023 and one other at a regional and then upgraded to captain for a short time. Now they got class dates at Delta and United and it seems like I chose completely wrong and should have stuck with being a cfi and getting 1500 hours quick (was doing about 80-100 hours a month) and applying and going to a LCC or regional.
Seems like a very very big degrade in both pay, QoL, and no more TPIC time if I put apps in for regionals. Any advise?
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