Originally Posted by
Pilot84
I recently attended the AE job fair in Chicago and was told to get about 25 hours of multi time and I would be flown down to DFW for an interview. I am a low time pilot with just short of 300 mark and 25 hours of multi. Im not sure what to do. I can build the 25 hours which would cost me about 5K. However, I am nervous that when I get my 50 hours of multi, as they asked, I will not hear anything from them or they will stop hiring. I can fly the 25 hours within prob. the next 2 weeks. I dont want to be left with a total of 50 multi hours, down 5K without a job as not many regionals hiring right now. Any suggestions?
Pilot84,
It's funny you are worried about spending 5K to get an additional 25 hours of multi so you can interview at Eagle. Just 6 months ago, I was stuck at 62 hours of multi and Eagle was telling me to go get an additional 38 hours of multi so I could meet their 100 hour multi requirement. When I was at that point, I considered myself very fortunate to even be considered at another regional with those hours. It shocks me when now others might consider themselves competitive (yet alone) ready for the airlines with a third of what I had. I'm sure others said the same thing of me 6 months ago, but I made it. I'm not saying you can't do it (because I don't know you), but I'm just making a point about how stubborn Eagle was with me and now it seems they'll take anything with a pulse whether its good for them, their applicants, or not. Frankly, I'm glad they were stubborn because I wouldn't be where I'm at now.
I feel your concern for wanting to get in while the "getting in" is good, but you should be honest with yourself...you need to get those hours up. We're all in debt up to our eyeballs, so if you can get the 5K to get your hours up, do it. You'll be more competitive and the experience will go a long ways. Others have suggested CFI'ing and that's probably a good idea.