skysurfer80
Well-Known Member
Hi guys, I'm looking for some advice on which way to go to get to ATP mins. Specifically, I'm interested in the way the regionals will view different types of time. I'm currently at 600 hours and am trying to figure out the best way to go. I'm thinking about two different options:
Option 1: Buy a light single and fly it all over the place until I get up to ATP mins and then try to get a job with a regional airline. If I go this route I won't have any turbine time or time in a professional multi-crew environment. Another variant includes flying until 135 IFR mins and getting hired at a 135 outfit before moving on.
Option 2: I have an opportunity to fly right seat in a 135 outfit flying Caravans that would get me to ATP mins in about a year. I would be able to log the time, but the pay is criminal and the QOL is terrible. Presumed advantages are that it would be turbine time in a multi-crew environment for a scheduled operation.
I have a good non-aviation job that has provided the financial flexibility to be able to buy a plane and still come out ahead financially via Option 1 since I can do Option 1 and my day job concurrently. Option 2 requires me to relocate. In essence, I worry that the time in Option 1 would be much less desirable to the regionals than Option 2 and I would have a hard time getting a job with the regionals this way....thoughts? Also, I'm not getting any younger (30s) so time is a factor as well.
I appreciate your sharing of experience and advice, so thanks in advance.
Option 1: Buy a light single and fly it all over the place until I get up to ATP mins and then try to get a job with a regional airline. If I go this route I won't have any turbine time or time in a professional multi-crew environment. Another variant includes flying until 135 IFR mins and getting hired at a 135 outfit before moving on.
Option 2: I have an opportunity to fly right seat in a 135 outfit flying Caravans that would get me to ATP mins in about a year. I would be able to log the time, but the pay is criminal and the QOL is terrible. Presumed advantages are that it would be turbine time in a multi-crew environment for a scheduled operation.
I have a good non-aviation job that has provided the financial flexibility to be able to buy a plane and still come out ahead financially via Option 1 since I can do Option 1 and my day job concurrently. Option 2 requires me to relocate. In essence, I worry that the time in Option 1 would be much less desirable to the regionals than Option 2 and I would have a hard time getting a job with the regionals this way....thoughts? Also, I'm not getting any younger (30s) so time is a factor as well.
I appreciate your sharing of experience and advice, so thanks in advance.