I specifically used 2 years in my post to describe the guy who basically just graduated for SUPT and has been in the squadron just long enough to have the bare minimums for a major.
It is still the major's decision whether to interview/hire this mythical pilot - but he is not the same as the guy with the minimum 10 years experience.
I DID NOT SAY that a guy who has been flying for 10 years in the ANG/Reserves wouldn't be on the same footing.

 

Guys in my old AFRC squadron, graduated SUPT 8 years now have 3,000+ heavy jet with half that PIC time. I think they ate competitive for the majors.

GF

 

I can attest that you don't need internal recs to get hired at Dynamic.

 

I've been left on the outside at Dynamic WITH internal recs!

 

Whoever said anything about a guarantee in this thread? I don't think anyone is that naive. I think your perception may be a bit skewed for some reason.

 

There seems to be the assumption that one is always able to go directly to a legacy after doing (insert whatever here).

Reference my point earlier about the early 90's when some guys separated and it was worse, way worse than now.

Maybe you're perception is skewed, or you haven't been around long too see the multiple hiring cycles go on.

There seems to be some "butt hurt" because one believes they shouldn't "have to" possibly do certain things to possibly make themselves more competitive in the this job market. Lobeaux, and others are extremely aware of that fact. Others, not so much.

 

Been around the industry plenty. 23+ years and still going. Keenly aware of the ups and downs over the years. Irrelavant to the point I'm trying to make.

It may be an assumption that one can go directly into a legacy, but for a mil guy it's based on historical fact as long as he meets the mins and as long as the majors are in a hiring phase. There's no arrogance there, just knowing one's qualifications and worth to a company in the market place. Many regional guys can say the same.

And no one in this thread has expressed an unwillingness to work at a regional or something they think is "beneath" them. If the majors aren't hiring, I would gladly work at a regional until the time is right as I believe th OP expressed. But it's certainly not my first choice and as soon as a major is willing to look at me, I'm gone! Not many regional guys would say any different.

Again, I haven't read anything on this thread expressing a sense of entitlement, an expected guarantee or any type of hand out. I see a lot of people expressing a sense that they think someone cut in front of them at the lunch counter.

Like I said before, there are multiple paths leading to a job with a major airline. Just because someone would like to avoid making a lateral to another path if at all possible doesn't make them arrogant. What ever path one takes, the airline will decide if a person is qualified or not and if they are ready. If not then they get to hold for a little while longer. In the case of a mil guy he can either stay in the military or get out and look for other work - say at a regional. That doesn't put them at the back of the line and they don't always have to work at a regional before going to a major. Not better, not worse, just different.

 

With very rare exception it is all who you know - and that is not exclusive to aviation alone. In the course of my flying career thus far, I have had the opportunity to fly with many talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds - commuter, military, previous legacy, etc. - and all have been and continue to be a pleasure to fly with. Most, if not all come on the recommendation of other pilots.

Regardless of one's background nobody is entitled to anything. All because you may have 20 years at Brand X does mean you got screwed when someone with much less or different experience was awarded the job that you think you should have received. Whether or not one has previous 121 experience is a moot point. Whether or not one can fly and play nice with others is what really matters.

 

I NEVER said the paths weren't different, show me where I did?Youre not reading all the posts. I'm one of the LAST people you need to lecture on different paths.

But the FACT is the path (whichever one it is) can deviate from the original planned one. It can contain detours, twists, turns, or flat out stops.

It's how one deals with these that will determine if they ever get to the original planned destination. This career, just like the rest of life is full of change and unplanned events. Either deal with it or find another way. Suck it the eff up and go do it like many others have or sit around and pout wondering why you can't get a call.

And as I've found out over the years, the unplanned areas contain more networking opportunities. Something the OP says he doesn't have. How that happens after a military career seems to be a bit a mystery. But the FACT is, for the foreseeable future it doesn't matter if one has thousands of hours of RJ PIC or flew the F-teen/C-one super heavy, they won't get ANYWHERE without some networking and contacts.

 

Shouldn't a labor shortage negate the need for popularity as a pre-requisite for employment?

/stirpot