TanktoEng

I went through initial training 15 years ago. I failed my IR, MEIR, and CFI Pt. 61. Three busts! Everything since is squeaky clean.

Here I am in 2020, 5 pt 121 initals, upgrade, and 4 type ratings later. I've amassed 7000 hours of trouble free 121 hours and have regional, wide body pax and cargo experience. No more failed rides since my early years. I've gotten a couple of fix it emails from DL but otherwise not a peep.

My question is this: Am I simply not marketable at the legacy/SWA/FDX level due to the pt. 61 failures? Should I change my aim to the LCC's and be at peace with my station in life?

Thank you!

rickair7777

I think the time will come with retirements when they can't afford to throw out a guy like you because of something which happened decades ago in part 61. You have a lot of types and professional training history.

They will have to satisfy themselves, so you'll need to be able to explain it at an interview (get some interview prep for that if you haven't already).

Some top tier may never call. I suspect somebody will call eventually.

But there's obvious uncertainty in your situation... how much seniority at a ULCC do you want to give up waiting for the bigs to call? You could of course keep your apps out while working at lower-tier major.

Oh, yeah, you have a degree right?

galaxy flyer

In my 45 years, I’ve seen plenty of pilots with sterling resumes never get called or only get called from airlines that were their third or fourth choice. Corporate aviation and military technician fields are filled with them.

Keep trying.

PotatoChip

I have very similar qualifications. 8000 hours, 1000tpic, several 121 initials, four types, and 2000 hours of wide body international experience. Add in good undergrad and a masters, and significant volunteer experience. Oh, and eight job fairs. And two check ride busts.
I've heard ZERO from the Big Three, or FedEx, UPS, SWA. Not even a fix-it.

I was recently selected to be a check airman at my regional, but declined and took a job at JetBlue. Maybe that would have clinched a legacy job, but it wasn't worth what I was leaving on the table. Like Rick said, is it worth how much seniority I might lose at a LCC to wait for a call that may never come? (As Galaxy pointed out).

In the meantime, from what I've seen DL has taken to hiring more and more 121 3000 hour wonders who have good GPA's and limited real world experience. AA has their flows and fighter pilots, and UA ramped up Aviate. I've ditched all my active apps but one and am quite content at JB.

Maybe you're marketable, maybe you're not. I've got a friend with a DUI at one place, one with 0 TPIC and no other redeeming resume quality already upgrading at another legacy. Another friend is at a legacy despite an arrest record in college. It's insanely frustrating and utterly confusing to know how they come up with what they do.
Keep making yourself look better. Get the LCA spot, union rep (especially safety etc), get in the training dept, volunteer and find leadership roles locally. And apply to other places. This seems to be a great year to get hired at JB fwiw.

TanktoEng

Thanks guys! Yes Rick I have a 4 year degree.

FTv3

Tankto,

I’m just another schmuck with an opinion but I’m not entirely sure those primary flight training busts are a show stopper. More so if you were at a mom and pop school and were young at the time. Did you end up getting your CFI A, I, MEI? Instruct and put students up for checkrides? If so, what was your student pass rate? If no, then what were the circumstances of these failures? What are you doing to prove to future employers that those reasons are no longer a cause for concern?

The bigger flag, for me at least, are your 5 x 121 initials. 2, 3....normal. 5 = not typical especially in a 15yr timeframe; there’s a good chance of something going on there. Not saying there is but it presents like that. What were those 5 121 shops - the types that hire anyone or the better names in that segment of the industry? Last, maybe it’s just not a good mix with your early training failures. Rem: your app is simply a specimen for data crunching and filtering.

What’s the rest of your profile look like? Decent GPA from decent school? Volunteer in the community? What do you do in your free time? Help on a committee at work? Any 121 instructor experience? Ever go for a masters? These things are important.
If you’re saying no to most of these questions then this is a more likely problem area.

The above notwithstanding, target the carriers most probable to hire you. Based only on the info you provided I’d say you are somewhat non traditional. Don’t bust you butt for delta or Fx-they tend to avoid non trads and Delta in particular likes the young and moldable types. UPS ain’t shy to interview non trad higher time peeps as long as you have a demonstrated hard work ethic. SWA takes a lot of guys with higher time too - not sure what else they like though. I see a lot of my higher time friends going to UAL and Alaska to a lesser extent. Got any good corporate contacts - there’s some sweet gigs out there. Just be realistic in your expectations. There are lots of good options out there beyond the big 5 or 6.

Are you going to job fairs? Networking with your buds? Doing meet and greets with Chief Pilots, attending industry conferences (safety standown for example?), and so on? Again, minimum required behavior to land one of the good gigs.

To answer your ultimate question: there’s really not enough information to answer, either way. It is a large smudge, but not necessarily a show stopper assuming you’ve made it a point to show the world along the way that you’re truly kick ahss in what you do. If you simply floated along and checked a few boxes, well, I guess you already have your answer.

Best of luck.

TanktoEng

Thanks a lot for taking the time!
Potatochip, you as well!

FTv3

Personally, I think you’re gunna be OK assuming you don’t have any other fingerprints on your record (eg. Speeding tickets or something like that). Keep working to improve your resume, networking and your call will come. I’d be on a check airman position like a fly be on.... and anything in training, standards if you can.

TanktoEng

Well shoot! I do have TWO within the last couple of years. Didn’t even think that would be out of the ordinary.

PotatoChip

I have had about seven total tickets. One was when I was 17 for exceeding 100mph. License was suspended for one month. It was a complete non-issue at JB. They asked me if I had anything I'd like to disclose, and although I had written them down, I reiterated that I had had them. When I brought them up, the CP asked, "Did you have like six in the last two years?" "No, more like six in my life." He laughed and said don't worry about.

Also, you're chasing PIC at the same umbrella... Are we talking TSA ---> GoJet??

Although considering some are out of business, I'm thinking more like Chataqua/Shuttle/Republic?