Is a 744 different? :confused:

I don't know but if I'm going to be doing the same type of flying I might as well do it somewhere where I can get international experience. My point is that I don't feel I'm picking up too many valuable skills here. Don't get me wrong it has been a learning experience but that was largely during the first few months. Just 121 ops type stuff.

AA required 1000 hrs turbine, 500 hrs turbine PIC. I'd recommend staying in your RJ if you can achieve those goals.

While you're gaining time apply to the majors. All are hiring or will be soon.

Continue applying at other carriers but if all you're going to get is FO time at some point you'll need to get turbine PIC to be competitive. For this reason staying in your current job might make sense.

Del Rio 1984. It was a long year...

lol I'm not in Del Rio anymore I should change that.

Go overseas
 

Hi,

With 2000 and some hours you will get any job you want in the Middle East or even in parts of Europe. They are screaming for pilots, and will give you a Captain job with those hours.

I paid my dues, hauled freight in piston airplanes, did the charter thing and finally got to see the inside of a Citation 500 with 3500 TT. It doesn't have to be that way, a lot of planes in Europe flies around with less than 4000 TT up front. Strangely it works quite well.

I am bumping up against 10000 TT time now, and if I had known what I know now 13 years ago I would do what you are doing. Jump the line, go get the international experience and enjoy an exchange rate of USD 1.45 to a Euro. The bonanza over there will not last forever, go for it while you can.

Good luck,
DA50Driver

The one with more PIC jet time will be more marketable.

Hey TD, if you think your flying skills will get better or that you'll get to use them more often flying a heavy instead of an RJ I'm here to tell you that you're wrong. I flew RJs for years and now I fly the 747-400 and I now do more flying on automation and less takeoffs and landings by far. At my current airline if you fly manually above 1000' the other guy in the cockpit will become visibly uncomfortable and their handling skills leave much to be desired. The airplane does not fly any differrent than any other, and most of your time and effort will be spent on managing automation... far more than the RJ. Watching the autopilot for 12 hours in cruise and speaking to one after another controller over HF radio or spending over an hour each time you go thru customs in Bombay India or having the pleasure of experiencing the interesting smells in places like Hong Kong is not called experience or skill, it's called "pain in the @ss".

Even if you have lots of heavy international time, unless you also have at least 1000 hr. jet PIC to go along with it you're not considered competetive for most jobs. So getting the jet PIC is certainly the priority if your aim is to be more marketable.

Cheers