pc-12 FO or Encore interview

[SDpilot]

Hi everyone,

I need some advice. I recentley got a job offer for a pc-12 FO and also an interview with Encore. The problem I have is The FO position starts before the encore interview is scheduled. I have to sign a training bond and won't be able to leave the FO position even if the Interview went well. So I have to choose between the two. Do I turn down a guaranteed job for an interview?

About me:

1400 TT
1200 PIC
100 Multi
50 Multi PIC
All Piston no IFR experience

[TonicBear]

The PC12 gig is a sure thing, Encore can PFO you and now you got nothing. I would say stick with the Pilatus gig, learn 2-crew SOPs and turbine ops and then if you still want the airlines, go for it (after your bond is up ofcourse) Just my opinion.

[fish4life]

Tell the PC-12 operator that this other opportunity came up and you don’t want to be the guy that starts with a company and bails on them. If they are a decent company they would understand and appreciate the honesty which would probably leave you with an opportunity there still.

[Sharklasers]

The PC12 gig is a sure thing, Encore can PFO you and now you got nothing. I would say stick with the Pilatus gig, learn 2-crew SOPs and turbine ops and then if you still want the airlines, go for it (after your bond is up ofcourse) Just my opinion.

This is bad advice.

While I’m not a fan of the world we live in where low time pilots can walk right into a large airline operation it is our reality.
You will be doing yourself no favours by going and flying 703 for a year or 2 only to end up going to encore/jazz in the end anyway. I do believe there is value in scarring yourself in a small airplane flying in a challenging environment.

But if you want to be in the airlines with all that entails (job security, pension, and paycheque) you need to understand right now that you will live and die by your seniority number like it or not. By differing 2 years you are giving up between 200-800 seniority numbers. That’s the difference between a quick upgrade and 10 years in the right seat of a dash-8. Or working every Christmas for the rest of your life. Ask someone who was hired at AC in 1994 how their careers went (seniority number 300ish, 3 years to the left seat of the airbus, currently a 777/787 skipper etc) then find someone hired in 1997 (#1100) who only now can hold summer vacation on the A320.
Things will go back to normal and faster than you think, when it does where do you want to find yourself? Because I promise when the slow down happens you will be kicking yourself if your on the ass end of this wave where everyone is getting hired young and is in front of you. Or worse, if your on the outside looking in.

[ehv8oar]

This is bad advice.

While I’m not a fan of the world we live in where low time pilots can walk right into a large airline operation it is our reality.
You will be doing yourself no favours by going and flying 703 for a year or 2 only to end up going to encore/jazz in the end anyway. I do believe there is value in scarring yourself in a small airplane flying in a challenging environment.

But if you want to be in the airlines with all that entails (job security, pension, and paycheque) you need to understand right now that you will live and die by your seniority number like it or not. By differing 2 years you are giving up between 200-800 seniority numbers. That’s the difference between a quick upgrade and 10 years in the right seat of a dash-8. Or working every Christmas for the rest of your life. Ask someone who was hired at AC in 1994 how their careers went (seniority number 300ish, 3 years to the left seat of the airbus, currently a 777/787 skipper etc) then find someone hired in 1997 (#1100) who only now can hold summer vacation on the A320.
Things will go back to normal and faster than you think, when it does where do you want to find yourself? Because I promise when the slow down happens you will be kicking yourself if your on the ass end of this wave where everyone is getting hired young and is in front of you. Or worse, if your on the outside looking in.

This in my opinion is very good advice.

Having originally finished my training in 2007 (just as the recession kicked in) I then pretty much sat and waited for 7 years for things to get better. It's only in the last couple of years that these early career airline opportunities have arrived and like the poster above says it doesn't take much to make the good times stop in the aviation industry. It's like musical chairs, you want to be sat in the seat when the music stops (and it will) and not be the one left standing.

If you have no desire whatsoever to be in the airlines then take the PC12 job, otherwise in my opinion go for encore.

[Bradley Tucker]

This is good avice assuming he gets past the interview and then the training. Getting the interview is just the start. I know of people with more experience not get through the interview and others that could not pass SIM with actual IFR experience and 2 crew operations.
And he would be giving up a sure job of course pending training.

At the end of the day it is only you that can decide what is best for you. Giving up a job for an interview is the question. What if you say no to the PC12 and don't get past the interview at Encore, go back to the PC12 and it's now filled and you have nothing.

It's a hard decision I wish you all the best

[ehv8oar]

hmm but is the PC12 job dependent on passing a PCC or a PPC? If it's a PPC then the PC12 job isn't guaranteed either at this point.

How big is the bond for the PC12? Maybe you could pay it off from working at encore.

[paytoplay]

In the end it’s up to you but you do have enough experience to get yourself in the right seat of a twin turbine (kingair/b1900/metro etc) at a 703/704 or even 705lite so even if for whatever reason Encore doesn’t work out .. There are other opportunities out there similar to that of the PC12 gig. This is being said under the assumption that you’re continuing to fly in the mean time at your current gig. If that’s not the case then I would give encore some time once you can afford it but don’t linger around out of a cockpit for too long. Goodluck

[Sharklasers]

This is good avice assuming he gets past the interview and then the training. Getting the interview is just the start. I know of people with more experience not get through the interview and others that could not pass SIM with actual IFR experience and 2 crew operations.
And he would be giving up a sure job of course pending training.

At the end of the day it is only you that can decide what is best for you. Giving up a job for an interview is the question. What if you say no to the PC12 and don't get past the interview at Encore, go back to the PC12 and it's now filled and you have nothing.

It's a hard decision I wish you all the best

He has 1500 hours Im sure he will be able to find another 703 job in about an hour in this climate. To me this would be a no brainer. Go get that number.

[shimmydampner]

Encore can PFO you and now you got nothing.

The way Encore seems to be cratering runways with Q4s these days I assumed they were taking pretty much anyone with a pulse.

[SDpilot]

Thanks for the advice guys

[piperdriver]

Encore can PFO you and now you got nothing.

The way Encore seems to be cratering runways with Q4s these days I assumed they were taking pretty much anyone with a pulse.

LMAO. Thank you that made my day.

[MrAviator19]

Hi everyone,

I need some advice. I recentley got a job offer for a pc-12 FO and also an interview with Encore. The problem I have is The FO position starts before the encore interview is scheduled. I have to sign a training bond and won't be able to leave the FO position even if the Interview went well. So I have to choose between the two. Do I turn down a guaranteed job for an interview?

About me:

1400 TT
1200 PIC
100 Multi
50 Multi PIC
All Piston no IFR experience

In this climate, TT and PIC is key. Regional carriers don't care if you flew piston or turbine, or got 703/704 operational experience. These days, it's only good to have those things for yourself personally to learn & grow as a pilot, but if 705 is your end goal then go for Encore. With your level of experience, you have nothing to lose except a bonded RIGHT seat in the Pilatus. There are PC-12 CAPTAINS in Ontario with less experience so a right seat is a shitty deal for you. I would never take it.

MrA