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That's nice and all, and I sure wouldn't pass it up, but...
With 9 months on the jet at ExpressJet, I really believe now that another year or two in the right seat would really do me good before upgrade. Every trip I fly I'm learning so much more with every leg, and there is so much more that I think I could learn in another year or two.
For those (like me) who aren't facing upgrade soon, don't fret. This time in the right seat (or in another job) is definitely a good thing.
I couldn't imagine going from being an MEI with 1500 hours to jet captain in a year. That is a tough transition! Especially when you'll be flying on reserve with new reserve FOs coming straight out of training and all.
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Excellent points. After being at Air Midwest for a year, I could have gone Beech Captain, ERJ Captain, or CRJ FO. I chose to go CRJ FO for the same reasons: I was qualified per the FARs, but not per my comfort level. Heck, even after sitting in the right seat of the CRJ for 3+ years, that was still a daunting move to the left.
Be cautious of upgrading too quick. That's how we bent an airplane in ROA a few years back.