Originally Posted by
C130H
Rocky Calkins the head of pilot hiring at Southwest advised that I come to Ameriflight over a regional carrier in order to meet their 1,000 hour Turbine PIC requirement much quicker. BUT: One of the women that works under him did however make the comment "why would he refer you there over a regional?" after a long silence she then said "oh I forget that you are military."
Southwest is in the process of lowering (if they haven't already) their TPIC requirement to 500 hours. There are only a couple of airlines that have that as a requirement, and by the time it matters for you, no airlines will have the 1,000 TPIC requirement.
Yes getting 1,000 TPIC is going to happen quicker at AMF, but there are plenty of pilots with zero TPIC who have been hired at major 121 outfits. Airline recruiters and the hiring departments are looking for "total package" over any individual hourly requirement, and SWA and FedEx will follow suit and drop the 1,000 TPIC requirement.
If you have the hours to go to AMF, then you have the hours to get a jet job at places likeTMC or go to a regional. You can skip AMF and get either 135 jet or 121 jet time and upgrades at either are going to come quick for you.
If you have the specific desire to fly single pilot IFR in antique airplanes then go to AMF, it is a unique experience and it will be some of the most challenging flying you will do. Career track wise I would say avoid it without question.