oo7kerpow

Hello fellow aviators,

First post here. I am separating from the military in March and have a confirmed class date for a CTP/ATP in March as well. My spouse is currently still in the service and should find out in March/April 18 what her staff assignment will be (and it will be staff). I don't think my resume is necessarily competitive to go straight to a major unless I am missing something. Rough #s--

2000 total (if you include pilot training) C130 E/H/J time
500-800 PIC depending on what method you use for counting your primary time when flying with other aircraft commanders
Not an instructor
1 negative indicator 7 years ago (not a crime, just mil paperwork)
Recency yes at the time of the post

My question is whether dropping the $$$ now to get the CTP/ATP now makes sense or if I should wait 2-3 years assuming my wife gets Germany or Japan as a next assignment. If my wife gets an overseas assignment, i'll lose recency (even though I'll do my best to get CFII hours or maintain some form of recency at an on base flight club) and I know that will basically take me out of the running for majors until I do some regional time first. If I assume that my resume as it stands isn't competitive for the majors even if I tried to stay CONUS and go right now, should I just try to get my ATP through a regional (and save $$$) later or will not getting my ATP/CTP hurt my chances at a regional as well?

I'm willing to go either route and am prepared to pay for the class. Just trying to make a decision that makes the most financial sense before potentially going single income for a bit, given the right to work laws at the countries I expect to be in the running for an assignment.

Appreciate any help and thanks for reading!

B

Sliceback

UPT solo time is TPIC.

Delaying getting hired costs you roughly $400K, or more, as
you lose the best years at the end of your career. You also
lose pay, monthly bidding, holiday and vacation bidding, for your entire career.

Your resume is probably on the low end of the mil MEL competitive
curve. A regional airline will hire you in a heartbeat, if not even faster. You might be competitive amongst the smaller national airlines.

If you want an airline career delaying gets costly and expensive. Get out and get a 121 job, as painful and difficult the short term may be.

If you’re DOS’ing in March you need to apply yesterday. The
quickest ‘apply to class date’ I’ve seen was about 4 months. That’s very unusually quick. Top notch candidate.

Sliceback

UPT solo time is TPIC.

Delaying getting hired costs you roughly $400K, or more, as
you lose the best years at the end of your career. You also
lose pay, monthly bidding, holiday and vacation bidding, for your entire career.

Your resume is probably on the low end of the mil MEL competitive
curve. A regional airline will hire you in a heartbeat, if not even faster. You might be competitive amongst the smaller national airlines.

If you want an airline career delaying gets costly and expensive. Get out and get a 121 job, as painful and difficult the short term may be.

If you’re DOS’ing in March you need to apply yesterday. The
quickest ‘apply to class date’ I’ve seen was about 4 months. That’s very unusually quick. Top notch candidate.

Otterbox

If you're flight current now, do the DAL ATP-CTP course out of pocket so you can get your app scored.

Start applying to all of the 121 Majors. IF and only if your spouse gets picked up for an OCONUS staff job, look at a place like Kalitta or ISR to do a few years while you build your resume for the part 121 majors. If she doesn't get an overseas job, go to a regional and keep updating your resume.

oo7kerpow

Thanks for your replies! We decided to take OCONUS off the table to make my transition easier (thankfully she had that flexibility) and going to do the ATP/CTP in March.