Recency of experience to get hired
 

I retired from the AF 4 years ago with 4800 hours. I'm now looking into the airlines and was wondering what the requirements are concerning recent flight experience. I'm in the process of getting my ATP and was planning on taking the course that gives you 10 hrs in the Piper. When I pass my ATP check ride, will that and the 10 hrs recent experience be enough to get hired with one of the majors?

I think you meant to title your thread "Experience," not "Expediance." :D

The majors want general currency within 90 days, but obviously turbine time would be better. That said, yes, what you are doing will be current, and having a recent checkride will help.

If your phone doesn't ring after 90 days, you may need to consider a regional as means of getting current. Without in-the-plane currency, United and jetBlue won't look at you. I'm not sure about the others.

No, unless you know someone directly in the hiring process. Go to a regional for 6-12 months and you will be competitive.

Thanks Centerline...can you proof my resume?? :-)

Think I might bite the bullet and get a 737 type rating...I would think that would firm things up for me.

So when you said, "with one of the majors" you mean specificly southwest... :)
Nobody else requires/highly prefers a 737 type. Gota do indoc and initial training anyway...
If that is your goal, and they do require it. Then yeah go for it. Otherwise, id try my hardest not spend the thousands of dollars needed for the type if I were you.

The type rating was more to show recent flight experience...with Southwest being an added bonus. Guess I could wait to see if I get a call after the ATP....then do type rating if no one shows interest.

I don't think the 73 type will be counted as recent experience, it's just sim time. Remember you're competing against ten thousand other applicants and most have 200 hrs minimum in the last year working as a professional pilot. Even if you just compare yourself to military guys, you're probably competing against a few thousand applicants with recent experience.

I think most airlines want 100 to 200 hours I the previous year. You just need a flying job to get those hours quickly. I'd look into retired reserves, Regional airlines, part 135 cargo, CFI, pipeline patrol, traffic watch, banner towing, etc (in that order).

Though I did get the type rating using the GI Bill, I think in your case you're better off getting those ten hours in the Seminole. You'll only need 90 to 190 more hours for recency.

The type rating will not show recency..... that want to see that you have been out in the trenches slogging it out..... after 4 years.. in THIS environment.... a regional is probably the only call you can expect... I know guys with many many thousands of hours of heavy jet international PIC time and are currently flying who are not getting called..... thats the reality.

Your forgetting aerial survey... Better starting pay than all the above mentioned aviation jobs.

Thanks all. Appreciate the input