Cape Air

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Pilotman83

Well-Known Member
I have a friend who has been looking into Cape Air to finish building some time towards his ATP. Just like me, he doesn't qualify for the 1000 hour restricted ATP. He says they are hiring FO's on the 402. I don't really know much about the company, or if that would even be a good way to get from about 700 hours to 1500 hours. He's trying to convince me to do the same, but I am pretty content with my current CFI job. But does anybody know much about Cape Air?
 
thevideographer said:
What's their FO pay? An average bus driving job around here (training included) pays about $16 an hour. Just saying.
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Well in this case since you are quite literally dead weight, ballast if you will, and according to the legal opinions logging the time isn't probably appropriate(at least for a certificate or rating), I don't think it warrants all that much pay. I mean, you are taking a seat that a revenue passenger could occupy, just so you can build flight time to get an ATP so you can be of use to them.
 
I'd stick it out instructing. I think you'll find that time to be more valuable towards your progression and learning. There's not a lot to be learned (or logged) sitting right seat in a 402.
 
z987k said:
Well in this case since you are quite literally dead weight, ballast if you will, and according to the legal opinions logging the time isn't probably appropriate(at least for a certificate or rating), I don't think it warrants all that much pay. I mean, you are taking a seat that a revenue passenger could occupy, just so you can build flight time to get an ATP so you can be of use to them.
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Or you could flight instruct for over twice as much money. Okay, that may not be for everyone. But I would also point out that their starting captain pay is $15 per hour (still less than the bus driver). That's not a lot for someone with an ATP really, when even the regionals are hiring at $30 an hour. My point is, anyone who agrees to fly a plane with 2 engines and 8 passengers for less than some Starbucks locations pay is doing a disservice to themself and the industry.
 
They fly out of my airport and have a flow program with my college. Rampers make more than starting FOs. Just what I have heard so don't quote me...but I heard it's $9 starting but duty hour and not flight hour. Also you have the possibility of being bumped per their ops specs I've heard? I'd just stick with instructing. 1000 hours to fly a 402 when you need 1500 for a regional? Come on. Although maybe I think that way because I qualify for a rATP.

My view point....doesn't look like it's worth it to me...to be honest. Also they'll probably end up out here...in Billings....in Montana.....flying over nothing......for oil rig people.........and lots of not fun passengers...just what I see every day at work. Also use to have the Silver Airways contract before Cape took over. Silver pilots hated it out here and were thrilled they were leaving because the routes and paxs but who knows about Cape. If he wants to get to the regionals faster why would you go through all this trouble for Cape Air for 500 hours? Stick to the real goal is my suggestion. It'll most likely help you save money and the extra hard work.
 
Pay2 said:
I'd stick it out instructing. I think you'll find that time to be more valuable towards your progression and learning. There's not a lot to be learned (or logged) sitting right seat in a 402.
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Disagree 100%. Put in a few months in the right seat of the 402 learning the operation, then get a free ATP out of the deal when you move over to the left seat. For those who haven't flown in a professional IFR environment before, it's a great way to learn before being thrown the keys solo.

Anyone considering staying as a CFI, or driving a bus for that matter, is simply not interesting in career advancement. At your stage of your career, you guys should be all about gaining valuable experience, not comparing CFI vs. Cape Air pay... Cape Air is far, far better for your resume, and I guarantee you'll make more flying for Cape (once you get your 1500 hours) than you would as a CFI.
 
dasleben said:
Disagree 100%. Put in a few months in the right seat of the 402 learning the operation, then get a free ATP out of the deal when you move over to the left seat. For those who haven't flown in a professional IFR environment before, it's a great way to learn before being thrown the keys solo.

Anyone considering staying as a CFI, or driving a bus for that matter, is really walking away from a great opportunity.
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Am I missing something? I thought he was asking bust through 5-600 hours and go to a regional or go to Cape Air now?
 
tcco94 said:
Am I missing something? I thought he was asking bust through 5-600 hours and go to a regional or go to Cape Air now?
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Really, it doesn't matter. I see it time and time again though: Low-time pilots chasing money around early in their careers, which is a mistake. Go where the experience is... Cape Air made me the pilot I am today. There are lots of years ahead to fly jets; go fly old junk single-pilot in the weather for a while. It's good for ya.
 
dasleben said:
go fly old junk single-pilot in the weather for a while. It's good for ya.
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I agree and would love too but I'm not necessarily driven by the "money" besides the $90,000 black cloud that's about to dump on my head asking for payments....

That's why I tend to drift away from those jobs.
 
tcco94 said:
I agree and would love too but I'm not necessarily driven by the "money" besides the $90,000 black cloud that's about to dump on my head asking for payments....

That's why I tend to drift away from those jobs.
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You're lucky you got out with only $90,000. :)

I will say this, though: I made $50,000 my first year at Cape. It might be $15/hr in the left seat, but it's paid per duty hour, not flight hour. Work a 14 hour duty day, get paid 14 hours (plus there are some OT rules).
 
thevideographer said:
Or you could flight instruct for over twice as much money. Okay, that may not be for everyone. But I would also point out that their starting captain pay is $15 per hour (still less than the bus driver). That's not a lot for someone with an ATP really, when even the regionals are hiring at $30 an hour. My point is, anyone who agrees to fly a plane with 2 engines and 8 passengers for less than some Starbucks locations pay is doing a disservice to themself and the industry.
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It's duty hour not flight hour. Like dasleben said. $30 a duty hour is on par with most regional captians 1st year.
 
dasleben said:
You're lucky you got out with only $90,000. :)

I will say this, though: I made $50,000 my first year at Cape. It might be $15/hr in the left seat, but it's paid per duty hour, not flight hour. Work a 14 hour duty day, get paid 14 hours (plus there are some OT rules).
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I am happy with 90k....but I did my research for a long time. When Riddle offered me acceptance and gave me a financial aid package of $11,000 asking for around $44,000 for just my freshman year I told them no. Likewise for W. Michigan, SIU, Kent State....the best options were UND and my smaller school Rocky. Even though I'm sure those big name schools were fun and nice, I am not complaining about my loan situation...specially knowing most on here may be double that.

They fly out of my airport. When they came in I found out about that because people were joking that rampers made more than the starting FO's. I would consider giving it some consideration but my motivation may be different 200 hours down the road....and I may enjoy the instruction anyways....surprise surprise huh?!
 
Cape Air really isn't for someone who wants to go to the regionals. People go there to get multi time for a 135 job. Depending on where you get bases, you might not fly much as an FO because you could get bumped for weight and balance or a 9th passenger. I enjoyed my time there as a Captain. The biggest downside was the constant relocating due to base bids.
 
tlove482 said:
Cape Air really isn't for someone who wants to go to the regionals. People go there to get multi time for a 135 job. Depending on where you get bases, you might not fly much as an FO because you could get bumped for weight and balance or a 9th passenger. I enjoyed my time there as a Captain. The biggest downside was the constant relocating due to base bids.
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It's a whole mix... A lot of us 9K alum are in 121 jobs beyond the regionals these days.
 
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But 1000 hours min requirement? Who does Cape Air want to attract? Especially with the rATP out now....
 
tcco94 said:
But 1000 hours min requirement? Who does Cape Air want to attract? Especially with the rATP out now....
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Well, I think there will always be a certain type who's attracted to a place like Cape. When I was furloughed from XJT, I actually walked away from a preferential interview at Compass (when they had Delta flow!) to go to Cape. I don't regret it at all. The top 30% of that seniority list will never leave.

I ended up back in 121 anyway, but what I do now is a lot more my speed than jumpseating to work every 2-3 days to fly domestic. YMMV.
 
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