Coming back after years of not flying
07-02-2018, 07:12 PM
#11
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 49
FWIW: My last flight was in 2002. Former F-16 pilot with around 1000 total time. I'm in training at ExpressJet right now; they asked me to interview just by looking at my experience and offered me the job right after the interview. So if you are looking to change to flying as a career, yes, now is the time. Also, we've got an older guy in the class who has quite a bit of flying experience but hasn't flow in nearly a decade; he was pretty much hired on the spot like I was.
07-04-2018, 06:46 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: Retired NJA & AA
Posts: 1,920
The son of a friend of mine was closing in on his 1500 hours a few years ago. He went to a job fair with 10 regional airlines. He talked to six of them. All six offered him a job on the spot. I think the way it is now if you've got the min quals and a pulse you'll get hired.
07-04-2018, 07:41 PM
#13
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,293
Originally Posted by AirBear
The son of a friend of mine was closing in on his 1500 hours a few years ago. He went to a job fair with 10 regional airlines. He talked to six of them. All six offered him a job on the spot. I think the way it is now if you've got the min quals and a pulse you'll get hired.
07-05-2018, 05:43 AM
#14
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2017
Position: Airbus Driver
Posts: 61
Originally Posted by flybub
I haven't flown since 2002 after my Commercial checkride. I thought the flying would be easy and the studies would be a bit tougher. Just the opposite.
Studying and getting my knowledge back was pretty easy, the flying has been a complete disaster. Holding altitude in steep turns, doing checklists in a timely fashion, getting back to entry point of lazy 8 at altitude and speed. I have flown 6 hours and my instructor said things are pretty bad (which they are).
Granted, I can only fly once a week, but I'm really starting to second guess my decision. If my VFR maneuvers are this bad, trying to shoot an approach would be an epic disaster. 38 yrs old, awesome wife who supports me and 3 kids.
If it is what you want though, it is certainly attainable with today's movement in the industry.
Studying and getting my knowledge back was pretty easy, the flying has been a complete disaster. Holding altitude in steep turns, doing checklists in a timely fashion, getting back to entry point of lazy 8 at altitude and speed. I have flown 6 hours and my instructor said things are pretty bad (which they are).
Granted, I can only fly once a week, but I'm really starting to second guess my decision. If my VFR maneuvers are this bad, trying to shoot an approach would be an epic disaster. 38 yrs old, awesome wife who supports me and 3 kids.
If it is what you want though, it is certainly attainable with today's movement in the industry.
It's been such a challenge. The theory which I thought would be harder was easy, but just getting back to it after so long straight into IR has proven to be more of a challenge than I expected coupled with hard scheduling issues and some poor instructing. I wish I lived in a better area for flight instructing but Northern NJ isn't the best for it and schools can be pretty expensive. I decided to fly with 2 schools recently because I am not too happy with my current and this other school is closer to me, a bit more expensive but hopefully better, we'll see.
Make sure you get a CFI who you click with. You don't want someone who just shakes his head and praises you all the time, you want someone that will correct you and can be also tough on you when needed. But there is a difference between being tough and condescending so for me at least, this has been sort of a challenge to stay motivated. My scheduling is only nights and weekends so finding CFIs to fly with has been the biggest challenge.
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