I'm about 20 months away from retirement and really wanting to fly part 121 post retirement. That leaves me about 2 months left to get all my feces in a foot holder before hitting it hard. QOL is primary after a 20 year military career.
My basic stats are USAF Test Pilot School Grad, ATP MEL, 3200 TT, 1800 PIC...still trying to figure out all the conversions so PIC may be higher. I've gotten Form 8's in C-141s, C-130s, C-17's, MQ-9's and Global Express with the AF, no Q-2's or 3's. Most of my time is in C-17's including a lot of FTU IP and Test PIC time.
Other intangibles, BS Physics (3.1 GPA)-Univ of MO, MS Aviation Systems (4.0) and MBA (3.90)-Univ of TN, specialist in Lean Sigma and Organizational Optimization.
The big problem is that I only have some MQ-9 time in the last 2 years (fini flight was July 15, launch and recovery), my last job was the CC of an MQ-1/9 Test, Production and Sustainment unit. If I do nothing except my 9-5, it will be 7 years when I retire since I last flew manned. What can I do to have a shot with that long of a break in flying manned aircraft? Any suggestions out there as to how can I get back into being competitive at a major or FEDEX/UPS? I've seen some advice out there to just put in apps now with my avail date published...should I do that?