135 pilot to 121
 

Hey everyone. I just had a question that I really couldn’t find the answer to on this thread. I’ve always wanted to work for AA. The only issue is that I never could afford to live on a regional pilots salary (had a couple of kids way to young). I have just over 5500TT now, but only 75 hours or so is ME jet. I am working on that currently as I fly a phenom 100. The other issue is most all of my flying is 135 single pilot. What are the chances of getting an interview in with AA with all the regional guys out there looking at the same job? What steps should I take to better my chances of getting an interview? Thanks in advance for any advice. If this this thread needs to be moved please do so. If this has been answered before please point me in the direction. Thanks.

Honest answer.... probably very close to 0% (never say never). Multiple threads have discussed the percentages of new hires who are non-military, non flow through. The percentage of classes made up outside these two demographics is very low. Combine that with your very low ME experience and I just don’t see it

Who knows what future holds, but I’d say your best thing you can do is get hired at the WO if you really want a job at AA. I believe the pay has really come up in the last few years and with bonuses, you might be able to afford it now. I really don’t know, but I’m willing to bet there are multiple threads under Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont that discuss current pay expectations and QOL so you can think about it.

Good luck

Yeah, what he said. You need ME crew jet PIC, preferably 121, and lots of it to be on their radar. Buddy of mine just got hired, non-flow, with probably 5K TT, maybe 2K 121 TPIC, but he had friends at AA who mentored and recommended him.

For clarity, the ONLY competitive SE turbine time for top-tier majors is in a military tactical jet.

Presumably there's enough demand in 91/135 that you could get into something bigger? >50K MGTOW would be good too, at least some airlines apps are also scored for aircraft size, ie bigger = better.

I’ve got three buds from PlaneSense who went to SWA in the past year after a year or less in a jet. I would say the old formula is still valid, but it is a rapidly changing hiring environment.



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What type jets? The Phenom 100 is a 10,500 lbs single pilot jet. Other than really small jet it doesn't check many resume boxes.

If you want to build multi-crew time and not be at a regional, large-cabin corporates (Challenger 350 and up) have jobs going begging. I just heard of two Globals in BOS area that can’t be crewed at 225k+ salaries.

GF

Probably because they want people that are typed...

Unless you are saying that they are willing to type people in a Global, then pay them $225k+ and still can't find people.

I believe they were C750, BE400, and C525. So sure all two pilot mid-size business jet. The anecdotal evidence is still a data point to recognize. As the hiring environment changes, you don’t need as many check boxes on the resume or time in seat required to get a great job.


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I think they’d be willing to type them, but certainly prefer type and time in type. They can’t get it.

GF

Thanks for the honest answers guys. My multi time isn’t that low. That’s just my multi jet PIC. The issue is that I flew a lot of turbo props and really never got on a jet until now. My multi time is around 3000 hours with 1000 or so of that being ME TPIC. I can’t take the pay cut on moving back to a regional from what I’m flying now. I’ll still get the app in to AA. It’s been the dream. Just getting down the right path has been difficult. I’ll take what you all said into consideration.

Was any of the turboprop scheduled service(135)? If yes that would check another box.

The reality of dreaming of AA right now is only about 10% of the hiring is pure civilian outside of the flow or non prior military.

Good luck.

SWA does tend to be more accommodating of varied flight experiences. They still hire turboprop pilots.

I didn’t realize the other majors didn’t hire turboprop pilots. They should really put that in their stated minimums.


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I know people who went from Cape to JetBlue, so even Piston->Major is possible.

The common thing between the people I know who went from prop->major is, that they had/got their ATP. Majors don't like to pay for that (they don't have to).

That’s because Cape Air has a gateway program with JetBlue. One guy was in my class. He is doing just peachy.


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Your odds are very poor for the top tier as a turbo prop pilot, unless you were military, then it's doesn't matter. Again, SWA is a notable exception.

I havn’t heard that before. Where are you getting the intel that turboprop pilots have worse odds?

I'm guessing the lack of pilots in large numbers going from Ameriflight etc to majors. That just isn't happening.

Observation and talking to people who are familiar with hiring practices. Even got told I needed some jet PIC once, by a well placed buddy at DAL who checked on my app, despite having jet SIC and plenty of it to go with my turbo prop PIC.

Also, most prop pilots today are 135/91 vice 121, so that's probably a factor too.

Been thinking about this myself, getting back into 121 but bypassing the Regionals, been there back in 2007 with Eagle.

3200 TT, 1000 ME, 750 of that in Crewed Jets (ERJ, Hawkers, and Lears), only 60 of that is PIC though.

No DUIs, no checkride failures, Masters Degree, limited 121 time (around 150 hours)

Currently flying 91/135 in a Lear 40. What are my realistic options in looking into going 121?

Spirit or Frontier. Maybe Allegiant.

If you're interested in top tier, or even middle tier, you probably need 5K TT, and 2K TPIC in an RJ. Probably higher numbers for 91/135 Jet. And that's just to be on the radar, no guarantees of getting called with those numbers (8K TT, 4K Jet PIC should get you a call from somebody).

A possible strategy today is wait for the competitive mins to come to you, but you might well get hired at the majors after the kid whose starting flight school next week, assuming he goes the regional track.

Yeah, issue is, unlike the kid from flight school, I can't afford to go back to a Regional salary without having to sell my home.

Single? Sell the house. Married? Time to have a heart to heart talk. Kids? You’re on your own with that decision.

At 1000 hrs 121 some regionals are forcing upgrades. You’re 2-5 years from having the typical resume of a new hire at the majors if you go to a regional.

Good luck.

Move to a large cabin bizjet—better pay and better resume.

GF

I wouldn't go to a regional, personally. I never did. I couldn't afford to fly for one, and had plenty of other things going. There is no shortage of work out there and plenty of opportunity. Corporate, cargo, whatever you want to do. Go fly ACMI. Pick your poison. Ample to go around.

When you said that you never went to a regional and couldn't afford to when was that and what was regional FO pay and expected time to upgrade to Captain?

2007, pay was 19,800 a year, CA upgrate was 10+ years

That is a plan, getting hours and making contacts in the light/mid stuff, I'd love to do some international corporate stuff for a few years, but they key there is getting a foot in the door.