Airline Upgrade Question

[flygirl123]

Here is a scenario:

Lets say X Airline’s most captains will be retiring 20 years later.
Does that mean the first officer’s will be staying in the right seat for another 20 more years?
If you fly a 747, 727 you’re most likely to be starting of as a second officer.
So, does that mean you wont be living the life of a pilot (actually flying) as co-pilot for another 20 years and captain for 40 years?

[beast]

Theoretically, yes. But remember, a lot of F/O's will be jumping ship -also, nowadays, since most operators of 3 crew aircraft are night cargo outfits, most of the Captains will not be staying until retirement, so both levels will experience turnover.

But yes, a lot of young Captains in a company can slow the upgrade process down to near nothing - This is happening at Westjet already - with the expansion pretty much complete, upgrade times are increasing past the 10 year point

[flygirl123]

Theoretically, yes. But remember, a lot of F/O's will be jumping ship -also, nowadays, since most operators of 3 crew aircraft are night cargo outfits, most of the Captains will not be staying until retirement, so both levels will experience turnover.

So, for the new pilots placed as second officer on the 727 or 747 will be stuck at that position for another 20 years?

[deflux]

"Most" captains at the cargo carriers that fly the 72 aren't going to retire there...

If you sit sideways for 20 years something is wrong. This industry changes so rapidly that by the time you finish your training (you just started, right?) things might pick up again.

[flying4dollars]

Theoretically, yes. But remember, a lot of F/O's will be jumping ship -also, nowadays, since most operators of 3 crew aircraft are night cargo outfits, most of the Captains will not be staying until retirement, so both levels will experience turnover.

So, for the new pilots placed as second officer on the 727 or 747 will be stuck at that position for another 20 years?

I don't think a second officer will be in his position for more than a couple/few years, unless he/she wants to stay there.