From my observations, the "majors" are not looking at me due to a period of un-employment. They have 10,000 apps to look at and this is an easy way to whittle them down. I have heard of a few of my unemployed colleagues still getting calls for some airlines, but they are few and far between.

My experience: I have been a professional pilot for 16 years. Seven years as a regional Captain, and four years ACMI heavy international experience. I am more than qualified to work for the top airlines. However, I lost my job 11 months ago. I have talked to every airline that is hiring (via job fairs) that is a match to my experience. They all politely told me the same thing. I need to get another job. I have defended my position that I have already done that and gained that experience, they need me now! No one has offered me an interview.

I have applied to every Legacy, Major, National, and over 30 Corporate departments without hearing a peep. I feel that I am forced to apply for a regional if I want to salvage my career.

The unfortunate truth of this industry for most pilots, is that if you get out of line, or are forced out, you go back to the end of the line and start over. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part this is reality. My advice to the OP, if you want to make it to the majors, take ANY turbine job now that you can quickly upgrade to PIC time. I'll be right behind you doing the same.

Rather than a regional, get a job near home flying some kind of turbo-prop. That should be enough recency to apply elsewhere.

I'd agree, but don't overlook the regionals. Don't look at it as a "step down", they're full up airlines, they just don't pay as much. It's not like they're a junior league of anything like that. I'll use American Eagle as an example, it really appears to me that they run an extremely professional outfit, and to the OP and some of the others, I highly suggest you apply.

All of us have to swallow some humble pie every once in a while. I'll give my own example. I had PCS'd to Laughlin AFB as an IP, a senior Captain, just about to meet my Major's board when I showed up in the training squadron. The flight I was placed in, I was the junior, junior IP. I was made Assistant ASEM, think assistant mini-evaluator within a student light. My supervisor? A Lieutenant who had just graduated UPT and IP school a few months before I did. I had flown in combat, had deployed to Iraq, the Middle East, made multiple oceanic crossings, yet I was subordinate to a guy who just a few months prior was sitting in those same students seats we were now responsible for training. A little humbling, yet I was a "sponge" and learned, learned about a plane I was new to, yet he had been flying for nearly a year. A great experience, I was apprehensive about going, but in the end, I'm extremely glad I did.

Not saying you or anyone else feels "entitled", although there's a lot of those accusations flying around on these boards. But, if you want to get back ino the game, and it sounds like you do, you need to play by the rules in place. I wouldn't worry, I'm sure you'd spend no more than six months at any job you'd get before moving on anyways. There's no replacement for experience, and it sounds like you've got it.

Whatever you do, don't give up! Keep fighting, keep going, and I'm sure someone will call. Really, it's only a matter of time.

Good luck!

If anyone has any leads near Boise, ID, I'm all ears. I had one call in the last year for a local job. During the phone screening she said, "we don't like airline guys, because they go running back to the airlines."
:confused::confused:
The next day, I got a "no thanks" email.
I truly feel this is why I'm not getting any calls. No one wants to spend time or money training an "over qualified" candidate, only to have them "get the call" from a major, six months after taking the job.

That is the reality, catch 22.

I can see your point, BUT I got an offer from American Eagle, and they just said "hey, if you decide to go elsewhere, just give us a heads up and let us know". The regionals know what's up, if you give them a year or two, I think some would be happy with that.

Nothing against regionals, I recommended a local job vice a regional because a regional will involve a lengthy training process followed by a likely commute to low seniority and poor schedule. If you're going to leave anyway I'd try to avoid all that time away from home.

Much easier said than done. Not EVERY local job is a good one. Especially if it involves a phone/pager leash with no hard days off, etc.

Often a good local job is hard to find, and rarely given to someone who really had no intentions of sticking around.

If take one over a regional, but again, just saying its not always that easy.

Wow, you are a real peach, JB. I bet your co-workers are just falling all over them selves to see 4 day pairings with your name on it. There are too many pilots who worked too damn hard to listen to the BS you spew on this forum about all your hard work and sterling work ethic, and how every body else who hasn't achieved you level of success is just lazy and whiners. Listen up, buddy you too will have a huge let down in your career at some point. It's a statistic certainty. My guess is that you just haven't been around long enough yet. When it does happen, I will be right here to call you out. Now go buy some hair gel.

What is being 'humble', and at what level of being unemployable after years of flying turbine aircraft does it kick in? I've got my ATP mins now after many years of trying and generate no interest to any turbine employers. Don't feel bad because the ladder appears to have stopped in the middle. They completely deconstructed the ladder for many new people. It's just not a fair world. I'm thankful to be in aviation, but if there are no jobs then I don't get to do it for a career.

On a funny note, a friend at Skywest told me AE didn't have a single qualified applicant on file. I know many people they aren't interested in that have ATP mins, myself included.

I'm in a similar position as the OP, but with fewer hours: 1400 TT (will get required letter from school), 850 Jet (Worked at Mesa back in 2007/8 but I left for personal reasons). Since then I have been working for an aviation navigation company, but getting tired of staring at a monitor all day. I'd like to go back to Skywest or another regional with a DEN base. I will have 2 LORs from Skywest employees, and plan on going into the interview sharp as a tack on systems, regs, etc. I am also currently flying as a CFI on the side.

Any thoughts?