QOLfirst

Hello,

I was hoping for some additional advice for this scenario/plan... (Thanks in advance for your suggestions).

I intend to leave the USAF in 17 months. Unfortunately, I have been flying MQ-9s since 2014, and I have zero-recency in manned aircraft since that time. That said, I am working on some personal goals while also prepping for an airline career before I leave the USAF. This plan includes a CFI, CFII, & MEI as I have always wanted to learn more about General Aviation. (ATP is complete).

Despite my personal aviation goals, I'm pretty certain my lack of recency won't afford me an interview at a Legacy when I am allowed to leave Active Duty (though I will certainly apply and cross my fingers). My plan is to apply/fly for a Regional (or a LCC--if they will take me) while being based in the PHL or NYC area. I just want to be a sponge and learn as much 121 stuff as I can...

All of that said, is there anything I could do/engage in over the next 12-17 months to increase the (very small) chance that I could leave AD and be a candidate for a Legacy airline? Again, I believe my path is to a Regional...but I would like to give myself a chance if there is one.

My background includes a Total of 3,000+ hours (ME turbine), BE-400, CE-650 types, 1,000+ ME Turbine PIC, and about 100 Instructor hours. (I left KC-135s and went to MQ-9s soon after that qual).

Thank you for your time and responses.

Hacker15e

Honestly, you're better served taking all the $$ you're prepared to spend on that GA flying and put it in savings as a financial pillow for the times when you're at a regional. Especially since, you're right, there's only a small chance you'll get hired right out of the AF non-current. Even if you're doing GA flying in the time between now and separation (retirement?), the airlines are generally looking for recency in professional flying in some kind of turbine aircraft.

Yes, there are outliers that get hired non-recent or with 100+ hours of GA flying, but those are outliers. Since you're going to take a financial pinch working for the regionals, the safe bet is to bank the money, not put your wager down on winning an outlier.

You can get your CFII and MEI based on your military instructor qual, and that only costs however much the written test and test prep costs. If you so desire to get your CFI-A, it will be easy to do once you're on the line at your second career airline and at major airline income levels.

QOLfirst

Hacker15e,

Thank you for the response. The info is very helpful.

For clarification: I'll be Separating.
(I'm blessed to have served,...but I don't think I can take three more years of staff meetings; etc)!

Cheers!

Hacker15e

I know a lot of mil dudes really want to avoid the regionals -- I know, I was recently one of 'em. Guys go to great lengths, both professional and financial, to try and avoid going there. Yes, it is true that there is a temporary financial and quality of life hit to fly at the regional airlines for a year or so. Depending on your financial and family situation, it make take a couple years at your career airline to recover from the financial hole.

But, there's a lot to gain out a spin through the regional airlines, especially for someone who gets out non-current/recent. The up-side, IMHO, is substantially larger than the down side.

- You'll learn the 121 trade in an environment where all your peer newhires are learning it, too. There are no stupid questions, and the training program is designed to teach the 121 world to someone who has never seen it before (which is not necessarily the case at the major airlines). 121 flying isn't hard, but it is different than what you've been doing in the AF. Since you spend your first year at the airlines on probation, it isn't the "oopsie! I had a learning moment!" that we kind of have in the AF as a new guy. Do you want to take that risk at a regional, or at the airline you're hoping to spend the rest of your professional flying days with?

- A new type rating and a freshly-completed 121 training cycle look very good on a major airline application for a military-background guy. The airlines seem to really like applicants who have done both things.

- You will enter training and spend your probationary period at your "career airline" as someone who already understands how the airlines work. You'll just be learning how to do it in a new airplane and at a new company. Your straight-from-the-military peers will be learning all of it new for the first time.

- The intangible experience regarding commuting, schedules, bidding, union issues, contracts, etc, is immensely helpful as a new guy at your career destination.

- I found that being the 40-something new guy flying with a bunch of 20/30-somethings (most of whom I had substantially more aviation experience than they did) was a whole lot of fun; more fun than I have with the folks I fly with at my career airline.

None of this means you shouldn't TRY to get hired by a major airline right out of the AF. By all means, take the shot, you might get hired. It just means there's nothing to fear and a lot to gain if you end up going to the regionals.

Prettywhacked1

QOL, retired fellow tanker toad here....as I’d rather avoid being pilloried for offering my .02, if you’d like it, PM me, please.....

Hacker15e

C'mon, dude, if you have a counter-proposition (and you do, based on your past posts on similar subjects), post it. Having differing opinions and debating competing options isn't getting "pilloried": it is the entire purpose of a discussion forum.

The point is to have a discussion and get the information out there so everyone can read it.

Skylarking

Hi QOL,

I'm in a similar situation. Retired MIL , 4000 hrs E-2C and C-40A, but out of the cockpit for several years. I too want to wind up at a legacy and have apps in everywhere. Having said that I'm 99.9% positive I'll flow through a regional first and to tell you the truth I'm totally fine with that. As Hacker said, I'll get to go through the interview and hire process in a "lower threat" environment, and I get a back in the saddle period. I will take a massive pay cut but it's an investment, and I've been planning for this for some time.

Your expectation about the regional requirement is spot on with some very good and candid advice I've received from several legacy captains. My philosophy is that I've been flying a desk for about 9 years and I have a March interview with a regional that is offering an airplane. I'll gladly take it and move forward when I can. Just wanted to share my experience with you. I Hope you stick with your plan. I believe it will be worth it for you in the end.

Best of luck to you.

Clue32

Skip the regionals and come contract OCONUS. You'll get 200 hours +/- during your first two month trip, and during those two months you'll earn more than any regional will pay you in a year (considering that all those attractive bonus payments have time commitments attached). We've hired folks with lots of RPA or Desk Time. If you have the PIC minimums, drop an app. Deploy for a short time and move on to the Majors, LCCs, or ACMI.

rickair7777

Curious as to how much rapid success you guys get with the big six? I've heard mixed reviews on that.

For comparison, right now mil guys with no serious blackmarks are getting picked by the big six after 18 months at a regional. Pretty much like clockwork from my observations (including USN helo types).

Hacker15e

...and I have acquaintances who left the AF about the same time as I did in '15, who went to the ISR contractors, and are *still* waiting for the call to interview at the majors.

Meanwhile, i did a year-ish at the regionals, and am well on at my career destination.