Just how important is it to be current when applying to the major airlines. By current I don't mean just FAA currency, but having a current flying job (part 121/135/corporate). I starting to apply after taking my "sabatical" of about 1 year. I do a tiny bit of FI on the side, but I don't have a current flying job. I have 8000 total and 3500 turbine PIC (Regional) and I decided to be an engineer for a while--to see if I really wanted to continue the aviation thing and to increase other skill sets. Thanks for any insight!

 

I'm in the same boat...

 

Any luck? Interviews?

 

I think it's going to matter on a few things: previous experience, company rules, internal recs, and hiring needs.

I'm in the same boat. Was current 2yrs ago, with an offer from one company, then that offer died when they cancelled training classes and stopped hiring. I took a non-flying assignment but kept flying relatively regularly (goal ~100h/yr). However, all that time was SEL bugsmashers.

When the JB hiring started earlier this year, I had a very wonderful friend go to bat for me through the CPOs. I am very sure I wouldn't have gotten an interview without such action. The whole "networking is essential" thing rings true.

For all the pilot shortage talk, they're still getting lots of apps for every training slot.

BL: Network, network, network. Time to start going through the address book and finding friends that work at your target airlines.

 

Mart,

From my observations, your exact quote right there is what makes this situation perilous in an interview. Airlines want to hire those who had pictures of airplanes on their walls and who would fly red eyes in 737's even if the job paid nothing and you had to clean the jet. The last thing they want is a crew member who doesn't really know if this is what they want to do, or not.

So, if you want to fly airplanes, then finding some sort of a tie in to flying airplanes is a must.

As others have mentioned, supply and demand comes into play.

 

That only works at the "regional" level--I think.

 

First question asked at my interview......"what made you want to be a pilot".....

They definitely want to know why you want to fly a plane and I think unless you have something that makes flying worth it to you...odds of hire are low.

 

Currency is key. After being dumped by DHL, I interviewed at CPZ, PCL and Air Cargo Carriers. 8000 TT with a couple types. Lack currency came up in every job interview and proved to be costly. As others have said, network, network network.

 

"they want someone who wants to fly red-eyes and clean the jet afterwards"

This "paying dues" thing is funnier to me every year that I get between my last flying job and my current desk job (about 5 years). I'm still in aviation but not on the pilot side anymore. If I offered to clean the office, they would probably send me for a mental evaluation.

Good luck to everyone who can keep taking the beatings. You are better men and women than I am.

 

Pick a regional you like and go there--they are all hiring. Get beat up for a yr. or so, then bail. Or with that amt. of time, you could literally graduate from IOE and start applying for jobs in Asia, by the time all that came through, you'd have several months on an RJ. Get time on the E-170 series or E-190's then go to Asia. Please use and then leave the regionals like they want you to.