Calling any Express Jet employees or pilots in general

[bwade210]

On Monday Feb. the 5th I was called in to interview with Express Jet for a customer service postion in SAT. The interview went really well and I was told by my interviewer that I would be contacted this week about a formal job offer. My question concerns the fact that my career goal is to be a pilot for XJT, rather than a customer cervice rep. (not that there's anything wrong with that). So... would it be in my best interest and in turn improve my chances of "landing" a job as an F.O. if I worked for XJT learning the companies procedures and operations while continuing to build my hours or should I stick to my intial plan of becoming a full time C.F.I. ANY input and advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Captain_Bob]

Well...

The experience gained as a CFI is quite frankly... invaluable. Also... working for us will allow you to get hired at reduced mins...

So... why not combine the two. Instead of just "building" your hours... make them more productive by getting your CFI ratings... and maybe instruct on your days off.

That to me would be the most ideal situation. You could be earning money both at your regular job (XJT), and a few bucks extra on the side instructing gaining some great experience as you go...

What do you think about that?

Bob

[bwade210]

That is what I was thinking of doing. It seems like the more challenging option but maybe thats because it's the best one for me. Thanks for the advice Captain BOB.

[CapnJim]

I'll back that up, bwade, although I'll add that if you're forced to choose between the two, go with the CFI route as it will open more doors.

Oh, and here's a better avatar, if you're interested:

[Alchemy]

Congratulations on the job! Xjet is a good company and I hope you will like it here. Hopefully we can make these new ventures a success.

Regarding CFI vs. Ramp, I would try to do both, but at some point you will probably want to switch to CFI'ing full time. Maybe you could get them to switch you to a part time agent at that point.

Are you already working on your CFI? I worked at an FBO while I was working on my ratings, and it was a good way to offset the cost of flight training. I'm sure working the airline ramp will be just as good if not better.

[bwade210]

I am saving money up for my C.F.I. (w/ Skymates) and have about half right now. Additionally I was recently introduced to a local businessman/ pilot who flies a Cessna 310 R for his air taxi service out of SAT. I have flown with him 5 times so far and really enjoy it. He wants to eventually make me the P.I.C. so he can still be in the air, without doing all of the work. (i.e. cleaning the plane, refuleing, preventative maintenance, carrying pax luggage) I figure that this would also be great way of logging M.E. time while I work XJT.

[kellwolf]

Not exactly sure about the "reduced mins" thing, though. I worked for XJT for about 6 months, and I didn't get a call until I was over 900TT. Another guy that worked with me had over 600TT and 100ME, and he was doing traffic watch in LIT at the same time. He didn't get called for an interview while I was working there. He may have by now, but I don't know if it actually reduced his mins or not.

Will it help you get on? It definately couldn't hurt, that's for sure. It's one of the reasons I took the job when I was looking for something in MEM back in 04. I couldn't tell you if me working there helped get the interview or not since I wound up at Pinnacle instead. You will DEFINATELY learn a little bit more about how the airline works as a whole doing the CSA/ramp thing, though. I fly with a few CAs that have done nothing but fly, and I'm amazed at how little they know about the ramp/CSA side of things. It gives you a better perspective of the other guys you're working with, and I think it allows the team to function a little better if people know a little bit more about what the other half is going through.

[CTFlyer]

Speaking of ExpressJet, does anybody know if they would hold a job history of office work against an applicant? I'm thinking of making the jump, and I've got 10 years of information systems office work in my background, which I realize does nothing to help land a flying job. I was also considering ATP's course to be eligible for reduced flying minimums - I have zero connections at the regional airline level.

[CTFlyer]

"flying minimums"

Sorry, make that "hiring minimums"

[DE727UPS]

"Cessna 310 R for his air taxi service"
"He wants to eventually make me the P.I.C"

Sounds great but it sounds like you'd need 1200 total to do that IFR.

[dieselman1220]

and you would probably have to have at least 500 TT or more plus some other strict crap to meet the insurance on a 310. I was a ramp agent for Colgan while I was working on my ratings, when I met Chuck he said just get about 350 hours with some multi and we would talk. Granted Colgan is a much smaller company than Xjet but I agree you really learn alot about the airline industry and gain other valuable experience by seeing how things work from the ground. Congrats

[ChrisH]

I work for ExpressJet at a CSA/ Ramp agent. I am in the same boat as you, wanting to fly for them in the future. As a full-time agent, at my station (BTR), you can bid for 2 off days per week, or 3 off days per week. I haven't been able to bid yet, because I started after the last bid, but with two days off, right now, I have plenty of time on those days to fly, as well as on days I don't have to be into work until late, such as 2pm or 4pm.

I have talked to a couple of guys who have worked for XJT in other positions, before being hired as a pilot, and they have said it does help. I'd take the job. It is a lot of fun, and you will learn a lot about the airlines, how they work, etc.

I know a guy who worked for NWA as a CSA/ Ramp agent, and got his dispatcher license. Like pilots, dispatchers start at the regional level, and work their way up to the majors. With no experience, and a fresh dispatcher license, he decided to send his resume into NWA, not expecting much. Well, he not only got invited to an interview, much to his surprise, but also got the job offer. He asked the interviewer, out of curiosity, why they had offered him the job, not having any experience, and not having worked as a dispatcher for a regional, and her reply was, "time with the company counts for a lot". While a dispatcher may not be a pilot, I think any company will be happy to hire internally, if they can. I'd take the job.

[FatBastard]

Express Jet is a great company to work for. However, in my station, we have A LOT of politics that go on, and ones' back gets quite sore from all the knives people plunge into it.

I have seen these people do some very questionable things, like employee theft, stealing money,taking the alcoholic beverages off flights and drinking it while on duty,favortism,management believing hersay statements that employees make about other employees because that employee doesn't like this employee and uses that as a basis for discipline(Unfortunately a couple of people lost thier jobs over this) and it seems they always at least around here want to get you involved in some sort of drama. Honestly, I used to wonder why some of the flight crews thought rampers were, well stupid. Needlesss to say I don't wonder that anymore. You can really tell the difference between a degreed professional and and someone who has a high school diploma, or less.
Anyway reduced hiring mins for you, 500/100. Just a heads up of my torture with the uneducated that I have seen with these neanderthals that get hired around here.

Now there is nothing wrong with working ramp, and at express it opens a lot of doors for you. If you got a great group of people at your station, great!!

If you don't, do your time and tranfer as quickly as possible!!

[bwade210]

Thank you all for your great responses. I truly value and appreciate the advice!