wrxpilot

Most airlines? I highly doubt that. There might be the occasional TDY as a reserve where you sit in a hotel, but unless you're a commuter (which is by choice), you are going to be home WAY more than seven days/month.

Rotor2prop

Since its been about 7 years since you have flown I would say you need to get a little actual air time. You will also need a BFR and IPC. I'm not sure if the upgrade at SimCom will include that. Maybe do 10 or so hours in a light twin then consider the Sim course.

JOKN

I think if I do the ATP checkride at the end of the sim course, that will satisfy both the BFR and IPC requirements. Now, whether or not I can get up to ATP standards in just 16 hours is the question. I guess the smarter way to go about it would be to get the BFR and IPC done in piston single, and then just fly around for a few hours, and then go for the sim. I'm just trying to keep the costs at a minimum while making myself somewhat marketable.

SkyHigh

There are a bunch of Comair guys on the street right now and possibly soon some Pinnacle guys. Every time a company shuts down it causes a flood of qualified guys for a few months to a year. You might have to wait a bit before you see any opportunities.

Skyhigh

SewerPipeDvr

Good luck to you. After my "cardiac issues" I could no longer hold a medical but I know we would not hire someone with "issues" because so many clean slate apps to chose from. Bottom line was we hire someone with issue, they crash for any reason and kill self loading baggage the family sues anyway. We lose. Sometimes you just have to give it up. Hope for the best for you.

JOKN

I realize that it's an uphill battle, but nothing was ever gained by giving up. I'll give it a shot, and if things don't work out, I'll just stay at my current job.
After my diagnosis (a bicuspid aortic valve w/ regurgitation and a dilated ascending aorta, to be precise) I was convinced I could never hold a medical again, so I didn't even apply for one after the last one expired. I was surprised to find out just how much of my self image was built on being a pilot, and after losing that status, I went through a phase of not wanting anything to do with aviation. If I couldn't fly, I didn't want to watch others do it either. But the blood is poisoned, as it were, and after some time I figured what the hell, I'll do all the test the feds want and see this thing through. And whaddya know, in the mail one day there's a first class medical. So, unlikely as it may be, I'm going to play this hand to the end.

Grande52

I took 10 years off from flying after I left the Air Force. I decided to get back into flying last year. Had my first flight on November 19, 2011. Took an ATP MEL checkride on Dec 22, 2011. And then busted the ATP SEL check the next day, just made a stupid mistake and I have been asked why I took an ATP SEL check in the first place. Retook the check in January and passed. The plan was to fly with Civil Air Patrol in a 172 and build up some time and get some much needed instruction or supervision while I knocked the rust off, which I did. Fast forward to Oct 22, 2012 had an interview with American Eagle and I have a class date of Nov 12, 2012. So within a year after taking a 10 year break and a busted check, I have gotten hired and I am very excited. I didn't realize how much I missed flying. I can attest waiting around to fly is much better than doing inspections and audits and FMEA's in a manufacturing facility. I guess what I am saying is that your scenario is not uncommon and with a little planning and finding the right people you can get ready fairly quick. I used the civil air patrol resource, flying was a lot cheaper and you do not have to pay the instructors. We have an old timer who is a blast to fly with and loves to instruct and I think he was happier than I was when I got the offer to AE. So I say go for it. Going back and doing the ATP route was the right decision for me and it has already paid huge dividends. If you have any questions PM me. Oh yea when I started back flying I took a 25 hour ATP course in Mississippi and I went there with zero prop time except for about 10 hours of T-41 training in the USAF.