Building hours at a regional then bailing to part 135?

thevideographer

thevideographer

Well-Known Member
So my goal is to be a corporate pilot, and right now I have enough hours that I can start to think about moving on from instructing. In general part 135 jobs seem to need a lot more hours than part 121 - most of them require a full ATP or 500 multi for an entry level FO job. That will take at least another 1-2 years of instructing to build. Part 121 carriers on the other hand are desperate. I could interview at a regional right now and get hired, work there for 2 years to get some multi-turbine hours, then start applying for corporate jobs.

Is that a good plan? Would it look bad to future employers if I left a regional after 2 years as an FO? Would I end up stuck at a regional?
 
thevideographer said:
So my goal is to be a corporate pilot, and right now I have enough hours that I can start to think about moving on from instructing. In general part 135 jobs seem to need a lot more hours than part 121 - most of them require a full ATP or 500 multi for an entry level FO job. That will take at least another 1-2 years of instructing to build. Part 121 carriers on the other hand are desperate. I could interview at a regional right now and get hired, work there for 2 years to get some multi-turbine hours, then start applying for corporate jobs.

Is that a good plan? Would it look bad to future employers if I left a regional after 2 years as an FO? Would I end up stuck at a regional?
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I don't think anyone anywhere has faulted anyone for leaving a regional on their own volition. I've been at a 135 job for a while now and we've had countless people come through with prior 121 time.

That said, it's still generally a lateral move, so moving from a 121 regional to a 135 job is pretty easy. Finding a corporate job from a 135 job, however, is like saying "I'm going to work at a regional for a couple years, then get hired at FedEx." It has a lot to do with luck and timing, not so much hard work and putting in your time.
 
I just left Xjet (ERJ side) on Sunday after 17 months for a 135 King air PIC position. Put in a year or 2 at a growing busy regional and get an ATP, a type rating and 1000 hours jet time and you will be able to find a good opportunity in the 135 world.
 
It doesnt matter, If you want to fly 135 then find a 135 job. The only advantage I could see going to a regional then 135 is resume building, and it might help you if you decide to go back to 121 after a little while.
 
skypilot6 said:
It doesnt matter, If you want to fly 135 then find a 135 job. The only advantage I could see going to a regional then 135 is resume building, and it might help you if you decide to go back to 121 after a little while.
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Compound interest is why I went back and have to stay 135. Money in my 20's is worth millions in my 50s.
 
Instruction and traffic watch got me to ATP mins which got me to Cape Air which got me my first 135 PIC turbine job. 4 years total.
 
After flight instructing, 135 SP Cargo, 370 first year, 280 Second year, then 91/135 Jet, 350 give or take a little last 2 years.

My friends that went to the Airlines around the same time I went to Cargo with roughly the same TT have anywhere from 1000 to 1500 more hours than I do now. Building time is not the name of the game at the 135 level.
 
I flight instructed, then worked weather mod. It was just a little over 4 1/2 years from my first flight instructing job to my first 135 job.
 
I have to say the Embraer-145 type is the best thing to come from the regionals for me, as it covers the 135 and legacies, for which I've seen quits a few jobs over here and overseas. That being said, 135 sometimes is all about who you know (not talking about amflight). I think we had almost 400 applications were I ended up, but the guy who hired me recognized my name from a previous employer. After that first year of turbine experience though, I think you'll start seeing some more opportunities. BTW, I think the smaller CRJ type also covers the challenger or one of those business jets, but I haven't looked into that.
 
rockman2343@aol.com said:
I have to say the Embraer-145 type is the best thing to come from the regionals for me, as it covers the 135 and legacies, for which I've seen quits a few jobs over here and overseas. That being said, 135 sometimes is all about who you know (not talking about amflight). I think we had almost 400 applications were I ended up, but the guy who hired me recognized my name from a previous employer. After that first year of turbine experience though, I think you'll start seeing some more opportunities. BTW, I think the smaller CRJ type also covers the challenger or one of those business jets, but I haven't looked into that.
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The CL-65 type covers the CRJ100, 200, 700, 900, 1000, Challenger 850, 870 and 890.
 
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