Originally Posted by
FlewNavy
I have a question about currency. I will be retiring in 18 months with 2500+ hours of EA-6B and F-18 aircraft commander time but will be retiring from non-flying staff duty. Will bug smasher flight time count towards currency requirements at a major or should I just count on being a regional FO first? I have a service academy, masters degree, ATP, test pilot school, NATOPS instructor, CFI CFII on my resume as well. Opportunities to fly in the Navy will require me to delay retirement for an additional 24-36 months and the additional retirement pay probably will not make up for 3 years of lost seniority when I have only 20-22 years remaining to fly for an airline.
Thanks in advance!
My two (uninformed) cents: The regional FO job will get you 121 experience and currency while showing recruiters you're willing to do what it takes to get the job. You've already got plenty of PIC time and a great career. I've flown with a few ex-mil guys with weaker resumes than yours who briefly did the RJ FO route on their way to UAL.
Staying in the Navy will earn you more bucks, but might cost you a couple of years seniority and you don't know what the industry will look like then. If O-6 retirement is possible, you'll carry that for life, but every number you pass up is a number closer to furlough or farther from your next milestone (lineholder, captain, etc.).
If SWA is still requiring a 737 type, it might not be a bad idea to use your military education benefits to combine the 737 type and ATP if you don't already have it.