ERJ-145 with FlyBMI - a good first job?
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Apply for as much as you can and accept the first offer that is made. I recall seeing one of my peers from my ATPL days, get left by the wayside and never get that first break, after being a little too choosy.
The first time I flew anything advanced with decent automatics and an autothrottle, was when I started flying widebodies. I started out on props and then moved onto the 146 (which is old!!!) and my experience never held me back at all. I would have donated a testicle to start on the E135/145 with bmi and witnessed a friend that did so in awe.
The first time I flew anything advanced with decent automatics and an autothrottle, was when I started flying widebodies. I started out on props and then moved onto the 146 (which is old!!!) and my experience never held me back at all. I would have donated a testicle to start on the E135/145 with bmi and witnessed a friend that did so in awe.
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The only problem with this job is the need to pay to type rate.
To me the question you need to ask your self is “what realistically are my chances of a pay to type rate job on a 737/320 in the next 3 months”. When you have honestly answered that question you can make a decision on what to do if offered the job.
To me the question you need to ask your self is “what realistically are my chances of a pay to type rate job on a 737/320 in the next 3 months”. When you have honestly answered that question you can make a decision on what to do if offered the job.
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An opportunity to fly a jet or a heavy ish TP in a commercial airline for anyone who has only a CPLME IR and no experience is a opportunity of a lifetime so I would take it - even if you had to pay for a TR. It’s beggars belief that people want jobs and the rest handed to them on a plate.
Think of the vast number of guys who have sacrificed much to get a chance and made something of it.
Flying TProps or old BA 146s offers skills that airlines warrant - its commercial airline flying ... so embrace all opportunities and things will come through - each has a different story ......it all depends what you have on your plate - take and make what you wish........
A 145 rating in BMI also opens doors in the Corporate industry on the Legacy - which in itself is a dream for many........
Think of the vast number of guys who have sacrificed much to get a chance and made something of it.
Flying TProps or old BA 146s offers skills that airlines warrant - its commercial airline flying ... so embrace all opportunities and things will come through - each has a different story ......it all depends what you have on your plate - take and make what you wish........
A 145 rating in BMI also opens doors in the Corporate industry on the Legacy - which in itself is a dream for many........
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I was hesitant myself joining back a few years ago, especially made worse by those from CAE oxford who charged us double for the pleasure of the type rating that would have otherwise been bonded by the company! Anyway that aside the 145 was a great aircraft to fly a real hands on plane. Really missed those approaches into a very windy Aberdeen or Bristol also small enough outfit that you knew almost everyone you flew with.
For what it’s worth this is what was summed up to me by a senior BA captain when I was after my first airline job. “You know it’s funny guys new to the industry are so desperate to fly shiny big jets but let’s say you started your career on the 320 and ended it on the 380 fundamentally there is hardly any difference in flying between the two. One day you will be crossing the Atlantic for the thousandth time looking out the window and realize that there was a whole world of flying to be had and that you completely missed out on”.
I can honestly tell you that now that I am now flying widebodies and can say for certain that the 145 was by far the best flying fun I had.
Best set of luck with your decision.
For what it’s worth this is what was summed up to me by a senior BA captain when I was after my first airline job. “You know it’s funny guys new to the industry are so desperate to fly shiny big jets but let’s say you started your career on the 320 and ended it on the 380 fundamentally there is hardly any difference in flying between the two. One day you will be crossing the Atlantic for the thousandth time looking out the window and realize that there was a whole world of flying to be had and that you completely missed out on”.
I can honestly tell you that now that I am now flying widebodies and can say for certain that the 145 was by far the best flying fun I had.
Best set of luck with your decision.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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The thing is that when you start putting down money in numbers like that, you don’t necessarily need offers... Take that money to Ryanair, pretty sure they still need some pilots and you’ll get a 737 rating out of it.
Also maybe worth to note that the original poster doesn’t mention that there is an actual offer in a way that you and I may understand it, simply “I heard that they are hiring low-hour pilots” and that what they have on offer is decent.
I will just repeat my original advice a last time since people don’t seem to read the actual posts and just want to wax on about how they climbed the ladder in different times and how you shouldn’t refuse anything
.
If the terms and conditions are good, it’s a guaranteed job and you feel it’s worth dropping 20k on the rating, go for it. Otherwise there are better ways to spend that money. You’re doing the right thing by ALSO thinking about what comes next, instead of only what is right now.
Also maybe worth to note that the original poster doesn’t mention that there is an actual offer in a way that you and I may understand it, simply “I heard that they are hiring low-hour pilots” and that what they have on offer is decent.
I will just repeat my original advice a last time since people don’t seem to read the actual posts and just want to wax on about how they climbed the ladder in different times and how you shouldn’t refuse anything
.If the terms and conditions are good, it’s a guaranteed job and you feel it’s worth dropping 20k on the rating, go for it. Otherwise there are better ways to spend that money. You’re doing the right thing by ALSO thinking about what comes next, instead of only what is right now.
I'm sure it has changed or something, last time I even remotely looked at Ryanair it was I think even 30k, but whatever. Missing my main point though. It's funny how in bad times with very little companies hiring, pay2fly is the worst thing ever. But now with it being a fairly good time for pilots to get a job, suddenly people give recommendations to pay for the honor to fly a nearly dead type.
Seriously people, all I'm saying is that if you spend that kind of money, at least spend it wisely and don't take blind recommendations to accept the first thing that comes your way. I have experienced the problems with hours on smaller types or under a certain weight limit not being valued for what it is. So the OP is right to ask the questions, and mostly just gets a load of other pilots who don't care to actually read, calling him/her arrogant for "not wanting to fly the ERJ" and telling him/her to accept the first damn thing.
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With the very greatest of respect I think you're getting ahead of yourself. I finished training during the last recession and would have given my right nut for a job on a King Air, Dash 8 or Saab 2000 let alone a jet.
While I understand you're looking ahead, and that's good, for your first job just get on the ladder. If you've got more than one offer then consider your options with weight categories and type relevance moving forward. But if there's one gig on the table and it gets you commercial jet time on your CV then crack on.
A mate left BMI Regional for EZY not so long ago so I'd imagine you'll be fine in any case.
But as I said, for now just get on the ladder. You've got plenty of time to be choosy later.
Best of luck with it.
While I understand you're looking ahead, and that's good, for your first job just get on the ladder. If you've got more than one offer then consider your options with weight categories and type relevance moving forward. But if there's one gig on the table and it gets you commercial jet time on your CV then crack on.
A mate left BMI Regional for EZY not so long ago so I'd imagine you'll be fine in any case.
But as I said, for now just get on the ladder. You've got plenty of time to be choosy later.
Best of luck with it.
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Couldn't agree more with the posters recommending starting out in something windswept and interesting and it's not just about type - there's a lot to be said for learning the ropes in a smaller outfit from a company culture, training and social perspective but there are many generally younger guys and girls these days who are not looking at the job from a flying perspective but purely from a career angle. I recall hearing something along the lines of "every day you're not sitting in the L/H seat of a widebody Boeing or Airbus, think about the money you are losing". There are a lot of youngsters who, having forked out the 150 odd grand for an integrated CPL/IR MCC/JOC now need to repay banks/parents etc. and find a way to live at the same time and when class mates are moving directly to jets from piston twins, it must be hard for those scratching around to understand why they can't as well (especially when they have been fed the zero to hero mantra from the ATO's from before they started groundschool (before they paid for the course in fact)). This is not 30 years ago - it is common these days to go directly to jets outside of BA without the need to fly something lighter, smaller etc. Just a thought.
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A job is the best first job. The worst thing with new fATPL is no job.
All subsequent jobs come a lot more easily once you are in that first job. 2 Whites 2 Reds is perfectly correct with what he says about that.
And if you are a real pilot, you will enjoy flying an aeroplane, whatever the job. And you will have whatever it is as something to remember and talk about for the rest of your career.
DON'T turn your nose up at the 145!
All subsequent jobs come a lot more easily once you are in that first job. 2 Whites 2 Reds is perfectly correct with what he says about that.
And if you are a real pilot, you will enjoy flying an aeroplane, whatever the job. And you will have whatever it is as something to remember and talk about for the rest of your career.
DON'T turn your nose up at the 145!
Last edited by Trossie; 3rd Jan 2019 at 22:26. Reason: typo (sp)
I literally flew with a brand new FO yesterday who, fresh out of school, got interviews with multiple companies that will fund the typerating. As long as the hiring situation is like that, I'm really not sure why'd you keep suggesting for someone to pay their way through a rating and basically funding their own 6-12 months of salary.
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I literally flew with a brand new FO yesterday who, fresh out of school, got interviews with multiple companies that will fund the typerating. As long as the hiring situation is like that, I'm really not sure why'd you keep suggesting for someone to pay their way through a rating and basically funding their own 6-12 months of salary.
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I'm sure it has changed or something, last time I even remotely looked at Ryanair it was I think even 30k, but whatever. Missing my main point though. It's funny how in bad times with very little companies hiring, pay2fly is the worst thing ever. But now with it being a fairly good time for pilots to get a job, suddenly people give recommendations to pay for the honor to fly a nearly dead type.
Seriously people, all I'm saying is that if you spend that kind of money, at least spend it wisely and don't take blind recommendations to accept the first thing that comes your way. I have experienced the problems with hours on smaller types or under a certain weight limit not being valued for what it is. So the OP is right to ask the questions, and mostly just gets a load of other pilots who don't care to actually read, calling him/her arrogant for "not wanting to fly the ERJ" and telling him/her to accept the first damn thing.
Seriously people, all I'm saying is that if you spend that kind of money, at least spend it wisely and don't take blind recommendations to accept the first thing that comes your way. I have experienced the problems with hours on smaller types or under a certain weight limit not being valued for what it is. So the OP is right to ask the questions, and mostly just gets a load of other pilots who don't care to actually read, calling him/her arrogant for "not wanting to fly the ERJ" and telling him/her to accept the first damn thing.
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In today’s market you can get a first job on 737 or 320 without even paying for typerating. No reason to waste time on ERJ. Another thing to consider - there will be another crisis sooner or later, pilot market will change again and then your ERJ experience will be simply ignored same like any turboprop time - it has been like that a few years ago.
