Originally Posted by 206dude

I’m looking for real opinions/answers, not what some HR/recruiter might say if asked the same questions. Please don’t hold back.

Based on the following information, is my friend a viable candidate for a new hire FO position at a regional?

10,000+ hours RW PIC
6,000+ hours combined night
850+ hours FW PIC
200+ hours FW IFR
50 hours FW ME
400+ hour X-C
1st class med/FCC radio license
Passed FW ATP written 90% less than six months ago

Here’s the kicker . . . he’s 53 years-old and retiring from a government RW flying job. He’s got a GREAT retirement, so he doesn’t care about the money. He’s always dreamed of being an airline pilot. He lives in Southern California and is intrigued by the Skywest domicile possibilities (after commuting for a few years until he can hold a line in SAN, LAX, SFO).

Technically, he’s got 12 years max of airline piloting in him, but is he hirable? Honestly, would anyone realistically give this guy a shot? HR would never officially say “no” for fear of age discrimination. It would appear tough to finding enough qualified applicants at the regionals these days. He is definitely “qualified” for an entry-level “Restricted ATP Holder” slot, but is he viable?

My friend is excited about the possibilities, but I want him to be realistic. There are a LOT of RW jobs out there for someone with his experience. They pay a LOT more, but for some reason he wants this. What are your opinions based you what you see at your companies these days?