Originally Posted by
Sliceback
Several carriers (most?) give you zero credit for your helo time. IMO you need to compare your resume as a civilian resume with prior military service.
Getting back into the saddle and cranking out hours(recent experience) with hopefully a quick upgrade is a good plan. The first road block you're facing is the lack of a four year degree. Out of all the guys hired I just saw the second or third announcement of a non four year degree guy hired. That's a really small pool and I'd assume that their resumes were impressive in other areas.
I recommend guys look at multi year plans. What's your resume look like in 1,2,3,4,5 years if you do plan A? Or plan B? If you're not competitive now work on a plan that makes you competitive when all the squares are filled at some year in the future.
Good luck.
There is one major carrier that doesn't count helo time for anything, and that is southwest. DAL/UAL require 1000 fw turbine hours, and AA doesn't have a fixed wing hour requirement other than ATP mins. They count helo time though. Plenty of army pilots at UAL I have talked to and several at the others as well.
Your opinion about comparing his resume with a civilian's is inaccurate according to most mainline recruiters I've talked to. Mil flight training and experience checks a separate box, and they don't exclude army.
People go straight from Great Lakes flying nothing larger than a big kingair (1900) to majors. Not sure why people keep thinking c12 time is insignificant.
Degree is the biggest hurdle IMO. And recency if you haven't flown much lately. I wouldn't be too worried about an upgrade with your 121 pic time and mil PIC time.