New regional airline bridge program

Screaming_Emu said:
I think airlines are hoping that people see this program as a guaranteed job when they begin their college careers. I don't think it'll make much of a difference as far as recruiting. The end result is still the same, a low paying job with long hours, after investing over 100K. I'm happy to see the requirement that they have to flight instruct, but then again with the 1500 hour rule, EVERYONE will have to flight instruct.

And before the usual suspects freak out and say "damnit, I can become a super awesome pilot without flight instructing." Yes, you can. But its going to take a long time and you probably won't learn as much.
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Fixed for you!
 
MOGuy424 said:
I thought I read something like if you graduate from an accredited university it will be reduced to 1000 hrs, and military experience will reduce it further to 800 hrs, like someone flying KC135's would ever consider going to the regionals.
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My guess is that someone with kc135 experience would have a few more than 1500 hours. Except I heard MikeD was interviewing at Pinnacle and American Eagle this month hoping for a shot at the big leagues...
 
thevideographer said:
Jetblue also told us about their Cape Air program - and how you have the privilege of working as an intern (if your GPA is good), then working as a captain at Cape Air for $15/hr until you can interview at Jetblue. But it's a guaranteed interview!
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Well, think what you want about Cape, but I made about $35k there my first year at $15 per DUTY hour, which I think is respectable...or at least a heck of a lot better than first year pay at pretty much any other regional. I also personally know one of the two Cape pilots who are in new hire training at JetBlue right now. He was a flight instructor in Florida for a little while, then spent 3.5 years at Cape before going to JetBlue.

That's 5 years from start of career to FO at JetBlue for him. You're correct, it's not a *guaranteed* track, but those in the program have very good chances of being hired.

thevideographer said:
We need a new topic; ideas for having a career as a pilot without being bent over by a regional airline. There must be a way! And don't tell me Air Force, that isn't an option for everyone.
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I think this topic's been covered quite well before. You could be a flight instructor, charter pilot, corporate pilot, cargo pilot, firefighting pilot, air ambulance pilot, ferry pilot, bush pilot...the list goes on. They are all, potentially, career positions. And none of them require being bent over by a regional airline.

The issue here is not about a lack of jobs. It's about what a person is willing to do to get a job, then if said job is actually worth having. "The way" you're looking for is nothing more than a strong work ethic and a willingness to walk away from crappy job offers, with a dash of people skills mixed in.
 
jrh said:
Well, think what you want about Cape, but I made about $35k there my first year at $15 per DUTY hour, which I think is respectable...or at least a heck of a lot better than first year pay at pretty much any other regional. I also personally know one of the two Cape pilots who are in new hire training at JetBlue right now. He was a flight instructor in Florida for a little while, then spent 3.5 years at Cape before going to JetBlue.

That's 5 years from start of career to FO at JetBlue for him. You're correct, it's not a *guaranteed* track, but those in the program have very good chances of being hired.



I think this topic's been covered quite well before. You could be a flight instructor, charter pilot, corporate pilot, cargo pilot, firefighting pilot, air ambulance pilot, ferry pilot, bush pilot...the list goes on. They are all, potentially, career positions. And none of them require being bent over by a regional airline.

The issue here is not about a lack of jobs. It's about what a person is willing to do to get a job, then if said job is actually worth having. "The way" you're looking for is nothing more than a strong work ethic and a willingness to walk away from crappy job offers, with a dash of people skills mixed in.
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BUT PISTONS ARE DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!
 
jrh said:
Well, think what you want about Cape, but I made about $35k there my first year at $15 per DUTY hour, which I think is respectable...or at least a heck of a lot better than first year pay at pretty much any other regional. I also personally know one of the two Cape pilots who are in new hire training at JetBlue right now. He was a flight instructor in Florida for a little while, then spent 3.5 years at Cape before going to JetBlue.

That's 5 years from start of career to FO at JetBlue for him. You're correct, it's not a *guaranteed* track, but those in the program have very good chances of being hired.
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Yeah, I did $47k in W2 wages my first year there. Granted, I worked pretty hard for most of it, but that ain't bad scratch for a 402.

The JetBlue bridge program is a bit of a sore subject for a lot of us...some of those bridge program guys would sit in the BOS crew room and brag to all of us (who were actually signing logbooks for a living) that they had a guaranteed JetBlue interview. To this day, I still can't get a call from them, and I probably have more PIC, definitely more jet time, and the same education. Oh well, such is life.
 
dasleben said:
The JetBlue bridge program is a bit of a sore subject for a lot of us...some of those bridge program guys would sit in the BOS crew room and brag to all of us (who were actually signing logbooks for a living) that they had a guaranteed JetBlue interview. To this day, I still can't get a call from them, and I probably have more PIC, definitely more jet time, and the same education. Oh well, such is life.
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I understand what you're saying, but that's sort of the nature of all bridge programs, everywhere. Somebody's in and somebody's out.

The thing I always remember is, there's no free lunch. Joining a bridge program is a gamble. Although it might put the participants ahead, it might also waste their time or take them in a direction they don't want to go. Personally, I'm glad I never got tied down/wasted time with one.
 
dasleben said:
Yeah, I did $47k in W2 wages my first year there. Granted, I worked pretty hard for most of it, but that ain't bad scratch for a 402.

The JetBlue bridge program is a bit of a sore subject for a lot of us...some of those bridge program guys would sit in the BOS crew room and brag to all of us (who were actually signing logbooks for a living) that they had a guaranteed JetBlue interview. To this day, I still can't get a call from them, and I probably have more PIC, definitely more jet time, and the same education. Oh well, such is life.
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And some people wonder why Riddle kids have the reputation that they do.
 
The way I see it is you don't need a bridge program if you have a shortage. I think when you get the minimums you won't need preferential hiring. That assumes the shortage is real this time. So I wouldn't go to one school over another just because this untested program is in place.
 
z987k said:
Oh me to. I was anointed test pilot status by various people on this forum. SUPER dangerous.
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PHONY! I don't believe it. I want to see a photocopied version of your JC Test Pilot Certificate. These things aren't just given out, you know. You have to earn them.

:):biggrin:
 
Apophis said:
PHONY! I don't believe it. I want to see a photocopied version of your JC Test Pilot Certificate. These things aren't just given out, you know. You have to earn them.

:):biggrin:
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All you have to do is a flight without any performance data. Instant test pilot. Thus I was anointed. How else can I figure out if my champ will get off the ground in 10k ft? Without the paperwork, the wings literally do not produce lift.
 
BobDDuck said:
PSA is SOOOO proud about this agreement. I had a conversation with somebody in management the other day about recruitment. They said that low time CFIs at Ohio State will be excited to come to PSA because it's "local" (Dayton base I guess?) and PSA is the only regional in the country to be in Phase 4 SMS. Nevermind the fact the upgrade is 4+ years, starting pay is $24 an hour and the quality of life is some of the lowest in the Regional industry, but they've got STAGE FOUR SMS! Woot!!!
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You have to get it right. It's THE Ohio State University. 8)
 
z987k said:
All you have to do is a flight without any performance data. Instant test pilot. Thus I was anointed. How else can I figure out if my champ will get off the ground in 10k ft? Without the paperwork, the wings literally do not produce lift.
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Have you tried it on a threadmill?
 
ComplexHiAv8r said:
You have to get it right. It's THE Ohio State University. 8)
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I don't think so. One of the penalties accesses by the NCAA two years ago when their football program had all those "issues" was that they could no longer refer to themselves as THE Ohio State University, but rather just An Ohio State University for a period of 10 years.
 
thevideographer said:
We need a new topic; ideas for having a career as a pilot without being bent over by a regional airline. There must be a way! And don't tell me Air Force, that isn't an option for everyone.
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The only alternative I can think of is the 135/91 side and making the jump. Thing is, 121 is getting pretty friggen specific in what they want. By the time you've checked off all the boxes flying on the GA side of the field, you've probably got one of the best jobs in aviation and you're probably OLD. Would anyone really give up a higher end corporate gig for a major though? Unless your desire is to fly a building, be away from home more for a slight increase in pay, I'm thinking not.

I also don't think moving 17,000 times to get various jobs/upgrades on the GA side is for everyone either.
 
Murdoughnut sez:

Having attended The OSU for 2.5 years, I have to ask - how in the hell does anyone flight train there? When I was there it was freezing as balls with 100-foot ceilings from October to May.

But the IFR time's easy to get...
 
FloridaLarry said:
Murdoughnut sez:

Having attended The OSU for 2.5 years, I have to ask - how in the hell does anyone flight train there? When I was there it was freezing as balls with 100-foot ceilings from October to May.

But the IFR time's easy to get...
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If you have boots/TKS...
 
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