Originally Posted by
papyco
In my experience, not a single Legacy airline hiring manager (HR or pilot) ever mentioned checking a "121 box". Actually, this website is the only place I have ever heard of this 121 box being mentioned as being important for a military guy to fill. I know numerous military pilots who have recently left active duty and are now flying for a major (UAL, FedEx, Alaska) or are in the interview process (AA, DAL). Not a single one of them has ever flown for a regional.
The only reason a Mil guy should need to work for a regional is if he/she can't get a Reserve flying gig. Specifically talking to the UAL, AA and FedEx hiring folks, they stated that they did not care if a Mil guy staid current flying a F-18 or a C-172. Just fly something to maintain currency. Now, if you have the option of maintaining currency in the Reserves, I highly recommend doing that vice working for a regional due to the pay and quality of life.
I agree and disagree with your post.
For the military pilots who have good connections and/or who have solid flying experience and currency, they can go straight to the majors. But this is not a guarantee especially during times when airlines can be picky and choosy with their hiring selections.
I know several former military pilots at lower caliber (is that a nice way of saying it?) airlines who are now trying to upgrade to the DALs, UALs, SWAs, and FDXs. They have all of their former mil experience with a few thousand PART121 hours and connections.
The average military pilot may have to wait a bit longer for the pool of extremely qualified pilots to be drained first. FDX was hiring astronauts and people with lots of flying hours because they could. The average mil pilot wasn't even on their radar.
I know three recently separated military heavy drivers with about 3000 hours each. They've not been called by any majors yet. They all were instructors and evaluators. I suspect their flying hours are a bit too low right now.