regional: flying jets or turboprops??

Flying_Corporal

Flying_Corporal

New Member
If one had a choice to pick a regional airline that flies truboprops (e.g. CommutAir) or that flies jets (Coex), which one would be a better choice?

Some say upgrade time is the key, others that experience flying jets is what matters most.

Thanks.
 
I would say pick an airline that you think you will enjoy working for and can retire from. It may just come to that.
 
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I would say pick an airline that you think you will enjoy working for and can retire from. It may just come to that.

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With the state that the industry is in, it could be tough to do that. Your only option might be to fly for Great Lakes, but a 25-year old may not want to fly Brasilias for them for the rest of his life.

I would enjoy working for American right off the bat (man, some o' those stewardesses--er, I mean flight attendants) and retiring from them. But, I doubt that's gonna happen. I prolly won't even have much choice in the regional I fly for. Beggars can't be choosers.

In response to the original question, if you fly for an airline that has both turboprops and jets, Doug's recommendation is that if you start off in the TP and have a choice in upgrading or transitioning to a jet, take the upgrade. Lotsa people figure the majors like to see jet time. Which is true. But they'd rather see PIC time. Be a TP captain. The majors hire future captains, not future F/Os.

Check out Doug's FAQ: http://www.jetcareers.com/faq.htm

EDIT: Oh, and I'm not even close to flying professionally yet, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I noticed JAM is a Challenger first officer, so consider the source.
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But that's very true though! You hit the nail on the head.

Many carriers like SWA, UPS and FDX require 1000 hours of turbine PIC. Turbine means either turboprop or jet.

Even with more than 7,000 hours of turbine copilot (SIC) time, my resume would go to the circular file and the applicant who may have less total time, but 1,000 hours of PIC time in a Beech 1900 is golden.
 
There are a lot of pilots that will refuse to fly a turboprop. In my opinion, that should disqualify them from the job right then and there. If you are just starting out, don't be picky on what equipment you fly. Just be glad you even have a job flying it. Me personally, I'd go for the TP in a heartbeat. If given the choice of a Beech 1900 or an RJ, I'd probably take the Beech. The pay might be more in the RJ, but I bet the upgrade time is better in the Beech. Doug's right about SWA. EVERY pilot I've talked to has told me to get that PIC time any way I can. Most of the guys I've talked to have come from Mesa, Great Lakes, Horizon, etc, and pretty much all of them flew the Beech. Some of them still know people there, which is good news for me.
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You guys are missing something. Flying for a RJ regional doesnt always mean long times to upgrade. Also some airlines, I think Jetblue, arent taking 19 seat PIC time toward there min. (something to do with weight of the a/c). Would I rather fly a beech 1900 and upgrade in 2 years or fly an RJ and upgrade in 2-3 years. I knew people prior to 9-11 who went to Corporate Airlines and some who went to an RJ regional at the same time. They upgraded at the same time 3 years later.

Alot of guys at the majors now, do have 19 seat time. The 19 seat market is shrinking though so many are bypassing flying them.
Ok kellwolf, now lets say upgrade time is equal, still going for the B1900?
 
All that hand-flying in the B1900 is an advantage unto itself, for my money. As Doug has mentioned in some thread or article or I can't remember, your instrument skills and currency are gonna be sharp as a tac.

If I had a decision between flying the CRJ and the 1900 ... hm ... the CRJ still pays better ... [strokes non-existent beard]

Then again, you're asking kell. Not me.
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As Doug said a while back (sure is alot of Doug quoting going on), "Do you want to be an airline pilot or do you want to become an airline pilot." Part of the ride is enjoying the way up!
 
To be quite honest, I'll fly whatever equipment the carrier has and deal with it. If it's a turboprop - so be it. I find the things kind of cool. Don't know if Shooter was kidding, but I'd jump at the chance to fly a Dash-8.

If the carrier has RJ's - cool beans. I'm all over that too.

{this is, of course, if I even GO the regional/airline route - I've started to lean more towards the charter/corporate side of things}.
 
no I wasn't kidding. As a passenger, it is my favorite airline plane to fly on. I hate riding in a 737 but I bet the front seats are better.
 
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That wasnt the orginal question though.

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Seems like I answered the question. If given a choice between the two, which would you choose?

My answer (in short): Doesn't matter to me.

You have very little control over what upgrade times are, right? (feel free to correct me here. I really don't have a clue).
 
Oh! So youre the guy when you ask "What do you want to go do" ..."Oh I dont care"
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The question as It was asked, is a hard one to answer. If he/she gives us specific airlines it would be easier to answer, its a case by case basis. In the examples he gave Id go with Coex. The lifestyles and the types of flying you will do are dramatically different in the RJ then a turboprop. Dont believe that once you get your 1000PIC youll be in class with SWA the next week. Yes 1000PIC is a mark that many have, but dont think that once you get it, youll be a shoe-in.
 
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In the examples he gave Id go with Coex. The lifestyles and the types of flying you will do are dramatically different in the RJ then a turboprop.

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Coex is all ERJ fleet as far as I know. Great airline to work for with quick upgrades before.
 
Yes they are all ERJ. Theyve had folks on furlough ever since 9-11 and only over the past 6 months or so gotten them back, so upgrades are not what they used to be.
 
At the end of the day, you want to choose an airline that has a combination of career-advancing opportunities and a reasonable quality of life. Which one of those you place a higher priority on is very much a personal decision. For many, just getting an airline job is a big step in the first place so they'll be happy with whatever equipment is flown.

Ray
 
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At the end of the day, you want to choose an airline that has a combination of career-advancing opportunities and a reasonable quality of life.

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Mesa's off the list, LOL.
 
I think I might still go with the Beech, assuming upgrade times were the same. Like Aviator 737 said, hand flying it is a bonus all its own. In an RJ, there will probably be times I feel like I'm closer to programming a microwave than flying an airplane. Plus, I can tell my grandkids I flew TPs before they went the way of radial engines.
 
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