Originally Posted by
Albief15
My own opinion is that by 2020 or so there will be more flow throughs with the regionals, and perhaps the Air Force and A4A (or whatever the industry calls itself now) will work on some kind of Phoenix Aviation v2 or similar. The Air Force is hemorrhaging pilots. The airlines need a dedicated source of new pilots. Both could combine their issues and find a win/win solution for their needs. The problem is I suspect the pilots would be in for 15-20 years instead of 10-12 if they worked something out.
The latest SWA open house is an example of what I see happening, and Jetblue has had open houses for some time. These airlines will host events on their own similar to job fairs, but not requiring the "kiss the ring" entry costs WIA, OBAP, and NGPA charge. Airlines will start going more VFR direct to the pilots with info about their companies.
Here's what I see that gets a guy multiple calls from different airlines:
Military IP/SEFE time
> 1000 PIC Turbine Fighter, 1500 is a lock
WIC Grad or Test PIlot
>2000 PIC Transport
121 time (SWA is the new FedEx lead in. One or two SWA pilots in about every class in 2016) Regional time is also attractive and makes a resume "pop" up.
No busted checkrides, DUIs, UCMJ
Now-plenty of pilots without the above get calls, but guys/gals with the quals above or similar seem to get more than one offer.
Regional/121 pilots
Recruiter experience
LCA experience
Training Department experience
Regional guys tend to not get as many 3-4 offer sets but the guys I see that do get called have LCA or other semi-management type gigs. They are looking for pilots who want to do more than just show up and fly the line. (Not judging-I am a "go to work, do my job" guy right now too.)
Networking helps. Job Fairs help. Biggest help is move up. If Allegiant isn't your dream job, I'd take it to leave a regional, even if it meant going to right seat. The 1000 PIC verses leaving for bigger equipment is always a tough call. Overall, if within 500 hours of PIC requirement of 1000 I'd give it one more year and get the time, but sitting around at ASA or Republic for 12 years doesn't seem to make an application sweeter. Look to get to Spirit, Allegiant, Atlas, or something else and keep adding to your experience. I see guys hired from Kalitta and Atlas all the time at the Legacies, FedEx, and UPS. Stay thirsty, and if you have been at your regional more than 7-10 years you probably need to try something else if you aren't getting called.
One last note--we "save" a bunch of guys with app reviews. If your app doesn't have the right boxes checked...like "English Proficient" or "FCC Radio operators permit" the computer skips right over you. I recently QC'd a friends app that was an F-22 SEFE. He failed to check the "have you ever been an evaluator" block despite it being in his job title. You don't get called--your application does. Do whatever it takes to make sure its right. Print, review, and have a friend review it. There are some great professional services (we are affiliated with one of them run by former UAL hiring chief) but even if you don't use one PRINT IT OUT and review it. Guys will sit and ***** about not getting called for months, only to find their own mistake probably kept them from getting called for months (or worse).