No.

I paid for college and flight training myself, and am 100% debt free now with a job at a major airline (for now anyway!). It can be done, but it does involve a lot of work and sacrifice.

 

Its the amount of "work and sacrifice" involved that is the issue. There are easier ways for poor people to achieve a good life.

 

The cartels are usually looking for motivated people to operate independent franchises.

 

No seniority system, no bidding, tough schedule, retirement plan is usually “horizontal”. Beats being furloughed.

 

Just my opinion but I'm pretty sure it can be done for less via a part 61 route, especially if one goes in on a 172 or PA28 with like minded partners. It still won't be cheap, but it can be done for less.

 

So what is someone to do in the meantime to prepare to get on hired on when the economy turns around so I can be hired at the start of the next hiring wave whenever it comes?

I am employed and working in a steady local government job 10 days a month, aside from the increased risk of getting sick while at work (which is now covered by employer), the complete loss of my wife's income, and two kids at home all day, nothing has really changed for me with this pandemic. Also now I know I won't be giving up my current stable career for the aviation field until I am well above 50% on the seniority list with enough liquid savings to last for 3 years.

I am done with my second bachelor's degree and qualify for the R-ATP at 1000 hours.
Currently CFI/CFII with 900tt. Got my own plane and have money to fly it, and my students have essentially quit training at this point.

I am not willing to move out of Vegas for any job right now.

I had class dates with three regionals for later this year- Compass is definitely gone. The other CJOs will be rescinded in the coming weeks/months is my prediction.

I don't think any of the 135s or 91s will be hiring- nor will I be competitive enough without any turbine time especially with 1000s of pilots on the street looking for jobs. The casino planes definitely are not flying, and not much else is either.

Should I hit my minimums and just fly once a month to stay current? Is there anything else to do to make sure I can get hired when and if things get going again?

 

Keep your day job. Don't instruct until this pandemic is over. In the meantime, go and fly your plane every once in a while to stay proficient. No one knows when the regionals will start hiring again. IMHO there's going to much more competition for flying jobs if/when the airlines start hiring again.

 

How close are you to some form of retirement on your gov job? I'd do that, then go play pilot. That's me. Don't shoot the messenger. As to currency, doesn't matter at this point. You have a personal airplane at your disposal, go fly it and have fun with it.

 

Well sure, if you buy into the pilot mills spiel hook line and sinker.

On the other hand when I did this it cost me about 35k all in (MEL CPL) which I took out as a loan thru AOPA and paid off in a few years. Rental prices seem just a few bucks higher these days (125/hr for a 172 when I was paying $110) - so that cost is very realistic even today, especially if you split time. So really it's up to the individual. If you want the 100-200k of debt, ERAU will gladly fulfill are your wildest dreams.

 

What do you think of the future of rotor transition programs? Thats got to be the first to be cut as they triage ways to cut expenses.