SkyHigh

I agree that the average Joe can make it through, however it usually takes a period of massive hiring before the man on the street has a chance. If an airline is hiring only a handful a year then there are enough pilots on the friends and family plan to fill the need. However once the need surges beyond several hundred then eventually they have to start taking unknowns from the outside.

When you do the math the odds are very long however. You are competing against the perpetual 18,000 pilots who are in the national pool and are current, qualified, have a college degree and usually are a sitting captain. The airlines only hire a small average every year. You have to be lucky enough to be current and ready at a time when there is a flush of hiring at the majors and get picked out of the 18,000.

In my estimation a hiring surge at the majors only happens every 15 years or so. If you miss the window then usually you are doomed to regional hell for the duration. Lately airlines have been adding the requirement of having multiple internal recommendations. There is no amount of luck that will get you around that. If you don't know anyone then you are not going.

Skyhigh