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Debating becoming a regional lifer.

Old 05-25-2017, 09:12 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Varsity View Post
You're young man. I don't understand what you're discouraged about. Guys in their 40's 50's and as evidenced by this thread; 60's are getting the call.


Get involved and make yourself known. Complacency kills people and careers.
For me the most discouraging aspect of this hiring wave up to now is that they have seemed to favor young and less experienced over the late 30-early 40's who have been anxiously waiting for the lost decade to end and hiring to start. Seriously, through every setback over the last 17 years I and others have kept striving to move our career forward. Job fairs, consulting, prep, etc. Only to see thousands of people in their 20's get on the list ahead of us. It is what made me decide to stay where I am. They could have had me in 2014 or 2015, but now I just don't see the point. The best seniority numbers have already been claimed.
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Old 05-25-2017, 11:36 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Autothrust View Post
For me the most discouraging aspect of this hiring wave up to now is that they have seemed to favor young and less experienced over the late 30-early 40's who have been anxiously waiting for the lost decade to end and hiring to start. Seriously, through every setback over the last 17 years I and others have kept striving to move our career forward. Job fairs, consulting, prep, etc. Only to see thousands of people in their 20's get on the list ahead of us. It is what made me decide to stay where I am. They could have had me in 2014 or 2015, but now I just don't see the point. The best seniority numbers have already been claimed.
Yeah, totally. You should also stay at your regional. Since those "best seniority numbers" have been claimed there is absolutely no point.
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Old 05-25-2017, 11:46 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by PotatoChip View Post
Yeah, totally. You should also stay at your regional. Since those "best seniority numbers" have been claimed there is absolutely no point.

I'm a senior Captain at an LCC. But the sentiment is the same. I was really trying for the Legacies for a while. How many has Delta hired since 2013? How many of those were under 40?
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Old 05-25-2017, 02:38 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Autothrust View Post
I'm a senior Captain at an LCC. But the sentiment is the same. I was really trying for the Legacies for a while. How many has Delta hired since 2013? How many of those were under 40?
Why are you so worried about everyone else? 20-25 years at any legacy would be a nice QOL and money maker.

25 years is a long career man, for all we know mandatory retirement could be 75 by then.
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Old 05-25-2017, 03:09 PM
  #25  
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Remember this...Not to decide is to decide.
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Old 05-25-2017, 03:51 PM
  #26  
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All right, I am in a time crunch, but I do feel that I want to contribute to this thread. I want to help the OP. Sorry for grammar and spelling in advance--I'm crunched for time doing something else. Here are some ideas which I am pursuing to make myself more attractive to a legacy. It's not easy, but the reality is that we all have to make ourselves stand out; only hard work can get us where we wish to end up.

1. Obtain another type rating. Transition over to a different airframe if your airline's fleet possesses multiple types. If you're at Republic, this is impossible. Look for part 91 contract work. These gigs are out there, and they will type you if you seem to bear potential for their operation. Sign up for part time sim instructor work at CAE Simuflite or Flight Safety International--it will look good on your resume and they will also type you in whatever it is that you teach. Another option: go to Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Atlas or whoever else will type you in a bigger turbojet/fan aircraft. More long-term potential for earnings, 401k and Delta for example's sake has an obsession with pilots showing initiative to advance their careers.

2. Enroll in an online program to get a master's degree. I am doing one right now from FIT for $18k. They are time consuming, and some are aviation related, and will open the door for you with the FAA, NTSB as well as safety departments at your airline, giving you a headstart for a position with them which will likely make you very attractive to a legacy carrier.

3. Volunteer--do this as much as you can! It doesn't have to be every day, just do it two hours every two weeks if you must. Become involved with multiple programs. Seek out WAI, OBAP, NGPA for volunteer opportunities. Look for volunteer opportunities with ALPA. I just found out last week that UAL ALPA's headquarters are located five minutes away from where I live, and constantly seeking volunteers. Good opportunitity to volunteer, network and make the resume shine. I have been living where I am now for a year and feel stupid for not researching this earlier. EAA, AOPA and aviation universities are other ways for you to get involved with aviation groups in your community. You would be surprised how many EAA chapters are near you!

4. Keep checking off as many of those boxes as you can on airlineapps/pilot credentials. Get a seaplane rating, glider rating, CFI certificate and don't stop there. Check off every damn box to show them that you are not a stagnate pilot!

5. Acquire an official position with your company doing just about anything. Professional standards, union representative, safety department, hotel committee--it doesn't matter. Just do it!

6. Network! Go out where mainline pilots gather, talk to them, make connections, offer to become involved with whatever presents itself and have them refer you.
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Old 05-25-2017, 04:21 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by Autothrust View Post
I'm a senior Captain at an LCC. But the sentiment is the same. I was really trying for the Legacies for a while. How many has Delta hired since 2013? How many of those were under 40?
I have two friends in their late 30's hired at Delta in the last two years. One is now an MD-88 Captain, and the other is a 767 FO in his preferred domicile (west coast). Both couldn't be happier.

Choose your own adventure. Stay your LCC if you are happy there.
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Old 05-25-2017, 06:03 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Duesenflieger View Post
All right, I am in a time crunch, but I do feel that I want to contribute to this thread. I want to help the OP. Sorry for grammar and spelling in advance--I'm crunched for time doing something else. Here are some ideas which I am pursuing to make myself more attractive to a legacy. It's not easy, but the reality is that we all have to make ourselves stand out; only hard work can get us where we wish to end up.

1. Obtain another type rating. Transition over to a different airframe if your airline's fleet possesses multiple types. If you're at Republic, this is impossible. Look for part 91 contract work. These gigs are out there, and they will type you if you seem to bear potential for their operation. Sign up for part time sim instructor work at CAE Simuflite or Flight Safety International--it will look good on your resume and they will also type you in whatever it is that you teach. Another option: go to Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Atlas or whoever else will type you in a bigger turbojet/fan aircraft. More long-term potential for earnings, 401k and Delta for example's sake has an obsession with pilots showing initiative to advance their careers.

2. Enroll in an online program to get a master's degree. I am doing one right now from FIT for $18k. They are time consuming, and some are aviation related, and will open the door for you with the FAA, NTSB as well as safety departments at your airline, giving you a headstart for a position with them which will likely make you very attractive to a legacy carrier.

3. Volunteer--do this as much as you can! It doesn't have to be every day, just do it two hours every two weeks if you must. Become involved with multiple programs. Seek out WAI, OBAP, NGPA for volunteer opportunities. Look for volunteer opportunities with ALPA. I just found out last week that UAL ALPA's headquarters are located five minutes away from where I live, and constantly seeking volunteers. Good opportunitity to volunteer, network and make the resume shine. I have been living where I am now for a year and feel stupid for not researching this earlier. EAA, AOPA and aviation universities are other ways for you to get involved with aviation groups in your community. You would be surprised how many EAA chapters are near you!

4. Keep checking off as many of those boxes as you can on airlineapps/pilot credentials. Get a seaplane rating, glider rating, CFI certificate and don't stop there. Check off every damn box to show them that you are not a stagnate pilot!

5. Acquire an official position with your company doing just about anything. Professional standards, union representative, safety department, hotel committee--it doesn't matter. Just do it!

6. Network! Go out where mainline pilots gather, talk to them, make connections, offer to become involved with whatever presents itself and have them refer you.
Even get a CFI?

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
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Old 05-28-2017, 04:15 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Duesenflieger View Post
All right, I am in a time crunch, but I do feel that I want to contribute to this thread. I want to help the OP. Sorry for grammar and spelling in advance--I'm crunched for time doing something else. Here are some ideas which I am pursuing to make myself more attractive to a legacy. It's not easy, but the reality is that we all have to make ourselves stand out; only hard work can get us where we wish to end up.

1. Obtain another type rating. Transition over to a different airframe if your airline's fleet possesses multiple types. If you're at Republic, this is impossible. Look for part 91 contract work. These gigs are out there, and they will type you if you seem to bear potential for their operation. Sign up for part time sim instructor work at CAE Simuflite or Flight Safety International--it will look good on your resume and they will also type you in whatever it is that you teach. Another option: go to Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Atlas or whoever else will type you in a bigger turbojet/fan aircraft. More long-term potential for earnings, 401k and Delta for example's sake has an obsession with pilots showing initiative to advance their careers.

2. Enroll in an online program to get a master's degree. I am doing one right now from FIT for $18k. They are time consuming, and some are aviation related, and will open the door for you with the FAA, NTSB as well as safety departments at your airline, giving you a headstart for a position with them which will likely make you very attractive to a legacy carrier.

3. Volunteer--do this as much as you can! It doesn't have to be every day, just do it two hours every two weeks if you must. Become involved with multiple programs. Seek out WAI, OBAP, NGPA for volunteer opportunities. Look for volunteer opportunities with ALPA. I just found out last week that UAL ALPA's headquarters are located five minutes away from where I live, and constantly seeking volunteers. Good opportunitity to volunteer, network and make the resume shine. I have been living where I am now for a year and feel stupid for not researching this earlier. EAA, AOPA and aviation universities are other ways for you to get involved with aviation groups in your community. You would be surprised how many EAA chapters are near you!

4. Keep checking off as many of those boxes as you can on airlineapps/pilot credentials. Get a seaplane rating, glider rating, CFI certificate and don't stop there. Check off every damn box to show them that you are not a stagnate pilot!

5. Acquire an official position with your company doing just about anything. Professional standards, union representative, safety department, hotel committee--it doesn't matter. Just do it!

6. Network! Go out where mainline pilots gather, talk to them, make connections, offer to become involved with whatever presents itself and have them refer you.
1. No, I'm not spending my days off flying or sim instructing because A) I have a family, and spending time with them ALWAYS comes first before anything work-related. B) The company does not allow it. LCCs...I refuse to give up my seniority and/or commute for anything but a legacy, so that's out.

2. I have an MBA in airline mgmt...hasn't helped thus far.

3. Working on that...

4. I've put enough money into this career, and refuse to spend more. I have 7K hours of flying 4 or 5 legs a day into and out of the busiest airports in the country, for the very legacies I'm applying to. If that's not enough experience for them, well, I don't know what to tell them.

5. Working on it...

6. I have several internal recs at every legacy. Nothing has come from it. Sadly, it seems HR controls the process now...if you dont "score" well enough, you never get a call...it doesnt matter how well fellow pilots think of you. I despise this, but that's the way it is.

Sorry to be a bit fatalist...I do appreciate the advice. I think, sadly, the key is going to these job fairs. As much as I hate the game, it looks like playing it is the only way in.
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Old 05-28-2017, 05:00 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by sargeanb View Post
Sadly, it seems HR controls the process now...if you dont "score" well enough, you never get a call...it doesnt matter how well fellow pilots think of you. I despise this, but that's the way it is.

Sorry to be a bit fatalist...I do appreciate the advice. I think, sadly, the key is going to these job fairs. As much as I hate the game, it looks like playing it is the only way in.
Unfortunately you may be right- the only way to get to where you desire to be is to play the game, whether you like it or not.

Perhaps your 10 years at a regional with little else added to the resume since has created the impression that you're complacent with your career (due to stagnation) to the HR matrix that pick and choose who gets called for interviews etc.

I have several friends who bit the bullet and went to U/LCCs and were called to legacies within 24 months of their arrival there. If you're absolutely hell bent on a legacy someday, theres always the AA WO regionals with flow agreements, but starting over the at bottom of a regional is probably less appealing than starting over at the bottom of a LCC.

You've got 29 years left before you retire... however with the pilot shortage your regional may not exist for anywhere near that long. You have to decide when its worth it to start at a company that is a career destination vs a contract carrier, and where you'll finish better financially if the legacy call never comes (and unfortunately there will be folks it never comes for). Going to a LCC that isn't your dream location is a gamble, however staying put at your regional maybe an even bigger gamble.
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