Hello,

I'm a 135 Guard guy, and have been on active orders for three years. I've been living within commuting distance to my home base for the last four, but my wife just recently got a full time job three hours away. We've been looking to make this transition for a while now as I've owed her an opportunity to pursue her own career after years of supporting my full time Guard commitments, and we'll be moving closer to friends and both our families. So, within the next year I'll be looking to start a professional career either with a major carrier or cargo legacy. I'm an aircraft commander in a heavy with around 1300-1400 total time, all from pilot training and heavy time in the tanker, with the exception of around 90 hours single engine years ago when I got my civilian license. Here's three questions I'm looking to get answered.

First, will I be competetive with only the written portion of the ATP completed?
Second, how does my "primary" and "secondary" time in the military translate to the airlines? Someone in my unit, a furloughed AA pilot, said he thought that any "primary" time, or time at the controls, in the military translates as PIC time to the airlines, even though we can log it in either seat and qualified as either an aircraft commander or co-pilot. Is this accurate?
Lastly, anyone have any insight on going to CAL as opposed to FEDEX? My wife is is openly concerned about both, but fears I'll be gone more and more regularly working my way up the totem pole with an airline. My father is a senior AA captain, and she sees even now that he has a pretty rough schedule (just three years shy of retirement).

Thanks for any thoughts and ieas.