Getting back into professional aviaition
 

I have over 12000 ours of combined part 121 hours and military hours with approximately 2600 heavy jet PIC time, over 350 Atlantic crossings, DC-9, B-767 and B757 expired type ratings, plus a CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings. I retired from DAL 7 years ago and have been running the family business while doing a little instruction in a sim and in some light twins. I have submitted apps to most second tier passenger carriers and many of the cargo and charter companies. I only received one offer which was really sub par when it came to hotel time virus flying. Do I have a prayer of getting anything descent, or should I hang it up? Thanks

man, I wish I had those times...

What would you define as decent? If we knew what you were offered and why that was sub-par to you that might help.
How old are you now, so that folks know how long you have to make up for costs incurred with achieving your goal?
Where do you live, and are you willing to relocate...again, those factors are huge in trying to give you an answer.

You may just have to accept a "sub-par" job now to be competetive for the job you have set as your goal. I have seen some of the "second tier" pax airlines require as many as 200 hours multi within the last 12 months.

Lots of experiennced guys out there as a result of the failure of so many airlines in the last few years. Best of luck in your search, hope you find something that fits your search criteria.

But you probably don't want to be that old...

Thanks for the reply. I am 57, gray hair, but not in bad shape.(Still jogging, although slower each year) The sub par offer was 20 days per month for around 35 hours per month and less than 60k per year. I don't want to relocate from New Hampshire, but I am willing to commute. For the right company, I could fund my own requal or type. I am aware of the 200 hour requirement. After this many hours, and I still log some light twin time, and spend time instructing in the sim and aircraft, you'd think that might be judged on an individual basis.

I agree, and in a perfect world it would be. I listened to the head of pilot recruiting recently say that lack of currency wasn't so much of an issue with high time pilots, but his airline has an online application that has a prerequisite number of hours in the last 6 months. I think he will never see an application from a pilot such as you (the software filters everone out who doesn't meet all the criteria) unless you hand him your resume in person, perhaps at a "job fair".

Anyone else have some other options?

EricS

To add to it, you are pretty much a FAR 121 career guy. That makes it real hard to either return to any type of seniority-based aviation, that is, any airline (seniority is a killer) or go into other forms of aviation, corporate especially (lack of credibility or specific experience). Do you know any ex-Delta pilots who managed the transition? I do know one DL guy who did it through luck, mostly, ran into a guy who needed a pilot for a LJ, thought highly of airline guys, hired.

PM me, if I could help. Check your PM

GF