resume airline pilot career after 5 yrs off.
#1
resume airline pilot career after 5 yrs off.
Hey all, I have a buddy who is a former 767/737/A320 captain at an airline that went under. She hasn’t flown a plane in 5 years and life has presented an opportunity to resume her flying career. She has 13 year until retirement age.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
#2
My buddy just did this. Go to a regional, get current, then the big boys will call in accordance with her previous experience. Look at their web pages for specific requirements, they have evolved over recent years (mainly to give senior mil officers credit for flight time prior to their final 2-3 year staff tour).
My friend did absolutely nothing to get current/proficient before he showed up for regional class, they told him not to bother. I'd assume majors want you to have whatever they specify in recent turbine experience, they are not that desperate yet.
If she doesn't want to deal with regional BS, 135/91 (turbine) would do the trick too if she can find a convenient gig. Would normally take longer to get current than regionals, but many of the regionals are backed up and have long training delays right now.
She could also do DEC if she wants more $, but that's a scramble and has QOL ramifications being stuck at the bottom of the list in base for a while. That's what my buddy did... he needed the money, but got more than he bargained for when they doubled the pay rates lol. He also needed the PIC time since he had never upgraded in his previous 121 life.
Most regionals grant you longevity credit for pay (and vacay, 401k?) for previous 121 experience, up to 10 years. So if you had 15 years at the previous 121 gig, you would start at year 10 pay. My buddy had a decent white-collar gig, but the longevity credit and recent regional pay raises has him making more than he did at the office job... he was expecting a pay cut, but market forces worked in his favor.
Some regionals are prioritizing CA over FO for training slots, IOE, etc so that might another reason to do DEC.
My friend did absolutely nothing to get current/proficient before he showed up for regional class, they told him not to bother. I'd assume majors want you to have whatever they specify in recent turbine experience, they are not that desperate yet.
If she doesn't want to deal with regional BS, 135/91 (turbine) would do the trick too if she can find a convenient gig. Would normally take longer to get current than regionals, but many of the regionals are backed up and have long training delays right now.
She could also do DEC if she wants more $, but that's a scramble and has QOL ramifications being stuck at the bottom of the list in base for a while. That's what my buddy did... he needed the money, but got more than he bargained for when they doubled the pay rates lol. He also needed the PIC time since he had never upgraded in his previous 121 life.
Most regionals grant you longevity credit for pay (and vacay, 401k?) for previous 121 experience, up to 10 years. So if you had 15 years at the previous 121 gig, you would start at year 10 pay. My buddy had a decent white-collar gig, but the longevity credit and recent regional pay raises has him making more than he did at the office job... he was expecting a pay cut, but market forces worked in his favor.
Some regionals are prioritizing CA over FO for training slots, IOE, etc so that might another reason to do DEC.
#3
Hey all, I have a buddy who is a former 767/737/A320 captain at an airline that went under. She hasn’t flown a plane in 5 years and life has presented an opportunity to resume her flying career. She has 13 year until retirement age.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: Gear slinger
Posts: 2,885
Hey all, I have a buddy who is a former 767/737/A320 captain at an airline that went under. She hasn’t flown a plane in 5 years and life has presented an opportunity to resume her flying career. She has 13 year until retirement age.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
#5
My buddy just did this. Go to a regional, get current, then the big boys will call in accordance with her previous experience. Look at their web pages for specific requirements, they have evolved over recent years (mainly to give senior mil officers credit for flight time prior to their final 2-3 year staff tour).
My friend did absolutely nothing to get current/proficient before he showed up for regional class, they told him not to bother. I'd assume majors want you to have whatever they specify in recent turbine experience, they are not that desperate yet.
If she doesn't want to deal with regional BS, 135/91 (turbine) would do the trick too if she can find a convenient gig. Would normally take longer to get current than regionals, but many of the regionals are backed up and have long training delays right now.
She could also do DEC if she wants more $, but that's a scramble and has QOL ramifications being stuck at the bottom of the list in base for a while. That's what my buddy did... he needed the money, but got more than he bargained for when they doubled the pay rates lol. He also needed the PIC time since he had never upgraded in his previous 121 life.
Most regionals grant you longevity credit for pay (and vacay, 401k?) for previous 121 experience, up to 10 years. So if you had 15 years at the previous 121 gig, you would start at year 10 pay. My buddy had a decent white-collar gig, but the longevity credit and recent regional pay raises has him making more than he did at the office job... he was expecting a pay cut, but market forces worked in his favor.
Some regionals are prioritizing CA over FO for training slots, IOE, etc so that might another reason to do DEC.
My friend did absolutely nothing to get current/proficient before he showed up for regional class, they told him not to bother. I'd assume majors want you to have whatever they specify in recent turbine experience, they are not that desperate yet.
If she doesn't want to deal with regional BS, 135/91 (turbine) would do the trick too if she can find a convenient gig. Would normally take longer to get current than regionals, but many of the regionals are backed up and have long training delays right now.
She could also do DEC if she wants more $, but that's a scramble and has QOL ramifications being stuck at the bottom of the list in base for a while. That's what my buddy did... he needed the money, but got more than he bargained for when they doubled the pay rates lol. He also needed the PIC time since he had never upgraded in his previous 121 life.
Most regionals grant you longevity credit for pay (and vacay, 401k?) for previous 121 experience, up to 10 years. So if you had 15 years at the previous 121 gig, you would start at year 10 pay. My buddy had a decent white-collar gig, but the longevity credit and recent regional pay raises has him making more than he did at the office job... he was expecting a pay cut, but market forces worked in his favor.
Some regionals are prioritizing CA over FO for training slots, IOE, etc so that might another reason to do DEC.
#6
#8
Hey all, I have a buddy who is a former 767/737/A320 captain at an airline that went under. She hasn’t flown a plane in 5 years and life has presented an opportunity to resume her flying career. She has 13 year until retirement age.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
How does somebody go about doing this? Most airlines want us to have around 200 hours in the previous 12 months (I think). Any insight from someone who has does this would be appreciated. Or if anyone just happens to know what the deal is; I don’t know what airlines want for recent experience to be looked at seriously. Thanks gang.
months including new hire training and got a new type rating. I’m an A320 CA now at an ULCC and might move on for my last 10 years . I’m single / divorced with no kids. So it is a lot easier in that aspect. I’ll make close to 300 K this year including DC .
#9
On Reserve
Joined APC: Aug 2022
Posts: 14
What about 10 years plus?
My buddy just did this. Go to a regional, get current, then the big boys will call in accordance with her previous experience. Look at their web pages for specific requirements, they have evolved over recent years (mainly to give senior mil officers credit for flight time prior to their final 2-3 year staff tour).
My friend did absolutely nothing to get current/proficient before he showed up for regional class, they told him not to bother. I'd assume majors want you to have whatever they specify in recent turbine experience, they are not that desperate yet.
If she doesn't want to deal with regional BS, 135/91 (turbine) would do the trick too if she can find a convenient gig. Would normally take longer to get current than regionals, but many of the regionals are backed up and have long training delays right now.
She could also do DEC if she wants more $, but that's a scramble and has QOL ramifications being stuck at the bottom of the list in base for a while. That's what my buddy did... he needed the money, but got more than he bargained for when they doubled the pay rates lol. He also needed the PIC time since he had never upgraded in his previous 121 life.
Most regionals grant you longevity credit for pay (and vacay, 401k?) for previous 121 experience, up to 10 years. So if you had 15 years at the previous 121 gig, you would start at year 10 pay. My buddy had a decent white-collar gig, but the longevity credit and recent regional pay raises has him making more than he did at the office job... he was expecting a pay cut, but market forces worked in his favor.
Some regionals are prioritizing CA over FO for training slots, IOE, etc so that might another reason to do DEC.
My friend did absolutely nothing to get current/proficient before he showed up for regional class, they told him not to bother. I'd assume majors want you to have whatever they specify in recent turbine experience, they are not that desperate yet.
If she doesn't want to deal with regional BS, 135/91 (turbine) would do the trick too if she can find a convenient gig. Would normally take longer to get current than regionals, but many of the regionals are backed up and have long training delays right now.
She could also do DEC if she wants more $, but that's a scramble and has QOL ramifications being stuck at the bottom of the list in base for a while. That's what my buddy did... he needed the money, but got more than he bargained for when they doubled the pay rates lol. He also needed the PIC time since he had never upgraded in his previous 121 life.
Most regionals grant you longevity credit for pay (and vacay, 401k?) for previous 121 experience, up to 10 years. So if you had 15 years at the previous 121 gig, you would start at year 10 pay. My buddy had a decent white-collar gig, but the longevity credit and recent regional pay raises has him making more than he did at the office job... he was expecting a pay cut, but market forces worked in his favor.
Some regionals are prioritizing CA over FO for training slots, IOE, etc so that might another reason to do DEC.
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: Gear slinger
Posts: 2,885
I’m in the same boat, but when I retire from the AF in 2024 it’ll be 11 years since I last flew in 2013. I’ve got ~3000 hours (C-17) and plan to get back up to speed with a civilian flight instructor in the next few months. My plan is to try to do an internship with somebody like NetJets or WheelsUp in the last six months of active duty, to get ATP and some hours, but haven’t contacted them yet to see if they’re interested. Would that be an ok way to get recency? Any hope of getting picked up by a legacy carrier right away after retirement? I’m having a heck of a time determining how much the pilot shortage balances out my ten years out of the cockpit.
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