Osiras

I took a 15 year hiatus from flying to be a stay at home dad. MY son is grown and I am looking to continue my career in aviation. I am 45 years old commercial SEL/MEL and have 1700 hours, 500 multi, 25 turbine, and 1500 PIC. I recently took my flight review and IPC as well as flying regularly to gain some recency. I acquired my time both instructing and flying single pilot 135 in a Baron. I don't have my ATP yet, and financially it would be best if my new job could help me obtain it. The industry is unrecognizable from when I left in regards to pay and time required for jobs and because of this I am looking for some direction for my career. In the past I feel as if the Regionals were the obvious next step but with the shortage we have with pilots, I am curious if I could bypass this step. I'm older and would like to get a seniority number ASAP. I understand I am lacking in Turbine PIC. Have any of you seen pilots with my time get hired directly into the Majors including FedEx/UPS? I spoke with someone at Atlas and they said they have hired people with less time but 'recommended' getting my ATP before I apply. Is this going to be a common issue? Please recommend Airlines (pax and cargo) that would look at me as well as if you have seen pilots with my qualifications get hired into your workplace. Possible corporate jobs too! Thanks for your time and help! I missed flying!!

AJ

TiredSoul

I’d say you have to go to the Regionals in order to build some ‘121’ recency on your resume.
Pick the one that is most convenient to you as far as commute etc etc and get a successful 121 training event under your belt then as soon as you’re out of OE start the application process up again.
You already mentioned it but you are low time everything and 121 is a totally different universe.
Hate to say it but HELL NO ​​​​​​​back of the line buddy.

Peabody17

I don’t believe the majors are hiring without the ATP, but the regionals certainly are.

Web265

Just a couple thoughts as someone who did what your referring to here...
A) I agree with the crowd, you're shooting a little high here...
B) if you do go the 121 regional route, let them pay for your ATP (I'm pretty sure they all have CTP/ATP programs) If you go any higher than regional though, yes you'll need to get it on your own.
C) I think any regional would hire you (although I think they've all slowed a little as they are short on the CA side, you'd likely be looking at late spring early summer class dates)
D) You'd certainly be able to get on with a 91/135, in NJ / SE PA they are hurting for pilots.
D) Good Luck to you!

Brickfire

Now is the time to get back in.

1) Fedex/UPS - nope. Forget that for now. Industry hasn't changed that much
2) Do you live near any airline hubs? How do you feel about moving?
3) Is your priority money? stability? QOL?

rickair7777

For the majors, you need some recency and probably 1000 turbine, ideally 121 but 135/91 might do the trick in the right aircraft.

If you do a 18-24 months at a regional you should be able to get hired by LCC/second tier such as Spirit, Jetblue, Alaska, etc maybe even SWA. Or you could stay, upgrade, and get some TPIC and shoot for the top-tier which includes FDX/UPS. Worth applying to any top-tier you'd be willing to work at as soon as you meet their mins, but you're probably going to need 1000 TPIC to get called.

With some turbine time, you'll have some options (unlike in the past). So you should start educating yourself about the various airlines, domiciles, contract/pay, culture, fleet, etc. All else equal, always pick airbus over 737.

OscarRomeo

Go to a regional and the night after your check ride submit your apps to Frontier, Spirit and JetBlue. You may not even finish OE at the regional.

TiredSoul

Don’t go 135 if your target is 121, it will work in the long run but 12-18 months at a Regional will have you at a LCC quicker then 12-18 months at a 135.
You’ve got a learning curve ahead of you.
Operations into airports like JFK, ATL, ORD are something else if you’re not used to it.

JohnBurke

Get current. Get flying something. Dont' apply to a regional and go fail a simulator check right out of the gate. Get flying, get current, then start applying. The talk about possibly going to a regional before you go to a major is idiotic . You're not going to a major. If you go with airlines, it's going to be a regional. AT 1,700 hours and no experience in years...your goal, if airlines at all, is to get current and get yourself up to speed, then go to a regional.

Remove the rust, first.

Osiras

Wow! Thanks for all the replies! It seems everybody's opinion is essentially the same. I do worry about recency as I recall it being an issue while flying 135 as far as insurance goes.

The CA at Atlas did encourage me to apply there and has seen people with less time than me get hired, minus the ATP. Maybe they are the exception? Seems they have quite the attrition rate right now. Maybe that has something to do with it? Either way, seems getting my ATP before applying would give me the best shot?

2) I live in Traverse City, Michigan and Detroit would be a preferred base for me as my son lives down there. I'm thinking I would move down there for maybe a year as I cycle thru reserve, then hopefully commute out of Traverse City. Sound reasonable?

3) Being 45 years old with children I would say all three are important, but if I had to put them in order... money, QOL, stability. I only put stability last thinking the shortage would provide me other opportunities should I be forced to look elsewhere, but I would like to settle in somewhere for the duration.

Another question for all would be, considering my time, would the regionals be the FASTEST way to build Turbine PIC? What would be the second best way? Third? Seems to be my biggest hurdle right now.

Thanks for all the replies! You guys rock!