Hello,

This is the first time I post to this forum and I am looking for a little advice. I am currently at a crossroad with my career. I am 35 years old and married with 2 kids. I have about 3000 hours of total flight time. Most of which are from ag flying in southwest Louisiana in Air Tractor 502 and 602 models with turbines. Unfortunately, the industry in my area took a downturn. I began to travel more and earn less. After being laid off, I made the decision in 2018 to fall onto my backup plan as a project manager in the construction industry to provide for my family. I currently have a Commercial Pilot: Airplane Single Engine Land; Rotorcraft-Helicopter; Instrument Airplane and Helicopter. Unfortunately, I do not have a multi-engine rating or much cross country and actual IMC time. Although I earn a good living with my current career, I still feel the need to re-enter the aviation industry. I was hoping to get a little input as to the realities of someone in my position considering age and experience of being able to obtain a seat at a regional and then move to a major all while providing for my family. I have a 4 year college degree, willing to re-locate and a very supportive wife. I have read many articles pertaining to the pilot shortage and how this is the time to enter the industry, but I was hoping to obtain further knowledge on the subject. Thanks in advance for any information.

 

There has not been a better time to pursue your flying career. Go get your CAMEL and apply to all the regionals!

 

Regionals are probably the way to go for you. With your credentials you'll be hired at any regional with about about 25 ME hours and CPL-AMEL. You would have a longer road in ME corporate aviation flying. You ultimate goal obviously needs to be the majors, and they want ME turbine time (unless you flew a SE fighter).

Do some research on AA owned regionals with flow. Upside and downside to that.

Other than that shoot for a regional with domicile geography which works for you and the family, either live in base or short/easy commute. In this climate avoid any stagnant regionals (there may be one or two right now), this is not a time to spend years slinging gear waiting to upgrade.

 

Would he really be able to be hired that easy?

I thought airlines were looking for 500 PIC cross country, 100 night and 75 instrument on top of the 25 multi.

It sounds like the original poster may be lacking in all of those categories

 

That's a good point, usually somebody with 3K would have hit all of that but in this case he'll need to check.

 

Thanks for the input. Looks like I would need to get my CPL-AMEL and find a way to gain more hours. Flying ag unfortunately does not build time towards these areas of flight. I currently have about 180 PIC cross-country, 60 night, 12 actual instrument and 70 hood instrument hours. I plan on doing more research and start working towards these goals. Thanks again.

 

You are close to qualifying for the 1500hr R-ATP. I’d spend every minute of the remaining hours flying instruments in the system. Hold yourself to a high standard and challenge yourself with many, many, instrument approaches. Also, double check what counts at ATP XC time.

 

Good luck. Many have made the move with less.

 

ATP XC time does not require a landing but does require you log 50nm.
So that means a waypoint or airway intersection or lat/long.

Example:
As CFII you take an instrument student to practice an approach at an airport which is 40nm away bit the IAF is 50nm away, yoo can log this as XC for the ATP

For the Civil Air Patrol you participate in a SAR for a missing boater.
Log the lat/long of your furthest grid point.

And so on.

Find a training buddy and fly everything under the hood.
Go just far enough that it qualifies as XC and practice approaches approaches and approaches till you can fly them with zero deflection.

 

I agree. I believe the challenge will be getting the 50 hours of multi-engine time. I am also weighing the option of getting my CFI, CFII and MEI ratings to build time and knowledge. I need to do further research, it may not be the most efficient method to get on with a regional when considering time and money. I have also thought about looking into aerial firefighting to build further time.