Originally Posted by
Lambourne
One issue affecting guard/reserve hiring could be the recent litigation that UAL went through with MIL leave pilots. There is a significant added cost to have MIL leave pilots on the books (PDAP while on leave is a big one) When given the choice of a non-MIL qualified pilot and a MIL pilot that will be taking Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July etc off for the rest of their career for "duty" it makes the decision easier. This is a bottom line business and the added cost is surely baked into the pie. In addition to the fact there are so many qualified regional pilots that have experience in airline flying could be a big reason there might not be as many MIL pilots getting called as before.
Alright, I'll take a stab at this strongly presumptuous post myself.
I'm a 2006 hire (previous l-CAL). All military background…all fighter time besides a stint as an IFF IP for a couple of years…current F-16 IP ANG.
Here's the rub in my opinion. Airline flying is airline flying…i.e. how well can you "manage" systems and know the systems and limitations. There's the skill part (10%) and the other 90% of the job. The actual hand flying itself is negligible once you reach that level because; one, it's assumed if you do reach the "major" level you should be able to fly a heavy type jet and two, the airlines rely heavily on automation to the point that hand flying only equates to about 10-15 minutes on any given flight…mainly the takeoff and landing. The 10% is where stick and rudder skills do play a part - landing in a strong crosswind, having some kind of non-normal and keeping your cool, shooting a gusty ILS down to CAT I mins, etc…
Speaking of the non-normal part - this is where I believe military, and even more so fighter pilots, have a very strong case. All mil guys are produced from the same level of standards when they go through UPT - and the airlines know this level of product. The USAF and USN stress keeping your cool throughout multiple "non-normal" situations, and I believe this does effect a mil guy's ability to deal with stressful situations. I can say without a doubt that dealing with a non-normal with a student on the wing down at 500 ft and 500 kts, or doing well in a challenging 4 v X scenario leading the 4 ship is much more brain intensive or "stick and rudder" intensive than flying a heavy straight and level from from EWR to LAX.
Before you curse me out, please read my third paragraph…THERE ARE challenges in airline flying. And I think a military background deals with those challenges very well…worth the price of a few drills and mil leaves here and there…and the airlines are aware of that. So they will…and definitely should…continue to hire active guard/reserve pilots. And please don't think that civilian guys are inferior by any means…my response is a rebuttal to the sophomoric post above only.