Old 08-09-2015 | 05:23 AM
  #50  
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Tweetdrvr
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: A-300 F/O
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Get as much irrefutable A-code time as you can now and keep track of who you fly with and when, so you can account for it on job apps.

Search the mil forum on the topics, log books, ANG and AFRC jobs, ANG/AFRC retiree hire program, military leave, USERRA, Interview Prep, and do Emerald Coast's Interview Prep.

EC will help your interview skills at all levels for ANG/AFRC, regionals, or majors.

If you get kicked out, try to get a T-1 IP job with the 340th FTG. This hiring wave is starting to effect the manning in both AGR and TR ranks, and it will boost your multi turbine PIC Time. People poo poo the T-37 vs the T-6 all the time, then complain about why company X doesn't count single turbo prop, if that is the predominance of their PIC time. The Tweet got me 2k of IP/PIC time in a twin jet and I have the hearing loss to prove it, and everyone's app accepts it. Plus you can put food on the table and have better QOL while you wait for a regional job, have better QOL if you have to go the regionals, and network with airline pilots in the squadron.

If you get TERA, I think you might be able to avoid the regionals, depending on how much PIC you can get in the next year. But I would not shy away from a regional. I went to ASA in 2004 to put 121 time on my resume. I hated the pay, and did a ton of mil leave, but I liked the CRJ, loved the guys I flew with, and their training department was top notch. I think having that box checked on my ticket got me out of there into my current gig in less than 6 months. I know a few retirees who have done a year or so at regionals to stay current, and a few reservists who have done it to put 121 time on their resume.

A year is enough time to learn all this. If you get to go until 20, then it is more time to learn. If you get a non flying assignment to finish out, you will have to do a regional to get current again. The shortage of qualified pilots willing to work for their low wages virtually ensures that anyone willing to work with no skeletons in the closet will get hired regardless of recency of experience. A friend was furloughed from Net Jets, working a non flying ANG job, and got hired last year at Chautauqua after four years not flying to use them to get current for a major airline job. He went to training, did IOE, and got 100 hours, then went mil leave until 2nd year pay kicked in.

There are many paths to your dream job and they all take hard work. There is still a bit of timing and luck. I know two navs who separated when I did in 1992 who had airline jobs before 2000, and I went to UPT on a guard pilot slot as a prior EWO.

Good luck. I hope this helps.
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