Thinking of applying
 

I flew for a regional for 9 years and a commuter turboprop for a year before that. 6000TT, 5500 turbine. No TPIC though. For the last 2 1/2 years I've been working as an instructor/examiner at FlightSafety. Thinking of applying at AA. I left the regionals because I financially couldn't support my family. FSI is nice but its not flying. I'll shovel dirt before I go to a regional again. I have multiple types on an ATP. Will the lack of recent "real" aircraft flying hurt? I'm current per all the regs, 135Ck airman for 4 companies and have type authority on 2 aircraft programs. Thanks.

Like a friend told me years ago about going out one night in college…if you stay home, there is a 100% chance you won't have fun…if you go out, there is a 99% chance you won't have fun, but that 1% could be worth it!!! Same for applying, 100% chance you WON'T get hired if you don't apply, prob a 99% chance you won't get hired if you do apply, but the if 1% chance is worth an hour of your life, go online, fill out an app and hit submit!!! Doesn't cost a dime to play!!! Good luck…

AA has non pilot (seniority list pilot) sim instructors. You would be competitive for that. Use that as a way to get an interview as a pilot.

I've actually trained and checked 2 senior AA Captains over the last year who both offered recommendations. I'm just trying to guage the hiring landscape, I'm sure there's a lot of regional captains applying.

Flow thru guys are taking about half of the new hire slots. Military guys are taking up most of the other half. Very few slots available for non flow thru regionals, fractionals, cargo, 135, etc.

It's funny you say you won't go to a regional to get current, and that's what 99% of the people on here would tell you to do.

At what they pay? No chance. I spent 10 years going into debt while working for regionals and I reached a financial breaking point while waiting for upgrade. FSI offered me more than 3x my salary and I jumped. Into my 3rd year at FSI and I'm making what the average RJ Captain does.

I spent 9 years in the right seat at Republic, I more than paid my dues. I can take a contract corporate gig if necessary to get recent flight time, but I will never see a regional again. That being said, I never looked at FSI as a career choice. I would still love to fly for a major but I can't sacrifice the financial security of my wife and two kids to do that.

If you hate regionals so much, have you really researched the work rules and pay at AA?

I hate to say it, but I think you should have gutted out the regionals a little longer to pick up that much needed PIC time. The guys you are competing with for the remaining AA slots after the flows get theirs are regional Captains and military pilots with 1000s of hours of PIC time. Plus, you don't have actual flying recency of experience. Despite your good record, I don't see you as competitive.

If you don't care for the regionals, I would consider the corporate route to get recency of experience and pick up at least 500 PIC to make you competitive.

Apply! AA needs pilots like you to instruct the next generation of pilots.

I assume your not counting your sim instruction time in your total time so be sure you time spent in simulators as a distinct experience not listed as part of your total time.

Attend the job fairs and stay positive. :D