moshbull

Huh? I have to ask,"What hiring?' I have been out of the saddle for 2+yrs because of a layoff at a 135. I've been working two other non-related gigs to get by. For the last 6 months I have been as aggressive as I know how to be getting my foot back in the hangar door. I recently was selected for an interview at a fractional. I thought it went very well, but I guess I thought wrong. TBNT letter came very soon after. Undaunted, I continue to send out resumes, network, and apply online just about everywhere I can think of. I hear nothing back from anybody.

I hate to say it but I cant help but wonder if the age thing isn't biting me. I'm 59. I have the TT and jet time to meet all the mins just about anywhere. I'm not scared of work, I'm single, and get along with others on the road fine. Could it be my age,or could it be my currency issue? 2yrs isn't THAT long as far as employers look at it is it? I just shake my head reading threads from folks complaining about work schedules.. When I first started, I was on the road 330 days/yr. Why won't employers look at someone who would really rather be working than sitting around all the time?

What the heck is going on out there?

rickair7777

Two years is a long, long time from a currency perspective. As a guy who takes regular military breaks from 121 flying I can attest to that.

You need at least a part-time flying gig, CFI if nothing else.

As far as age...most airlines don't care anymore, although I know at one time AA had a policy that you had to be young enough to upgrade before mandatory retirement. I doubt that still applies.

91/135 operators tend to driven by individual personalities, so you might encounter age discrimination, although I'd guess an equal number would prefer someone with life experience to a kid when it comes to flying their expensive equipment.

This doesn't address any other issues such as skeletons or resume/interview skills...may want to look hard at that stuff too. I'd do that before wasting any time worrying about the age thing.

There's always regionals if you want to fly bad enough, or just need the currency. TSA is hiring DECs...

galaxy flyer

If you have slathers of corporate jet experience, you should find a job. I know lots of guys your age, plus of minus,going into business jets. While the airlines don't officially care, I suspect older applicants have "baggage" that disqualifies them at the interview.

GF

jetn67

It's an HR thing.They like to see current
flying..It doesn't matter how much you did
in the past ..What have you done for me
lately?

moshbull

Thanks guys. Good points. Still scratching my head on why I blew the last interview..will probably never know though.

I feel as though HR has become quite an obstacle for both the candidate and the employed these days. I've wondered in the past just what does the color of your tie or possible improper placement of the hands while seated during an interview have to do with flying an IAP down to mins in ice with an engine out. How can they know the dynamics of good CRM? How can they judge someone's people skills on the road? They sit in an office and go by a "template" all day. It would be different if more HR personnel consisted of "been there" pilots. The HR vote on a prospect carries a lot more clout than it should get IMHO.

Pirot

Hey Moshbull, I am also 59 so I can relate. I went through a tough couple of years starting in 2009, first getting laid off from a charter company and then an air ambulance company. I recovered from that by flying a Cessna 182 fire watch plane. That job ended at the end of the wildfire season 2010. I spent ten months unemployed and not flying. No one would talk to me. I saw an add for a big flight school looking for instructors. I have been keeping my CFI cert alive through American Flyers. Two weeks on the job and Empire Airlines, a FedEx feeder called me for an interview and hired me. I'm ready to get back into business jets and anticipate it being easier since I am flying a turbo prop three days a week. I am getting tired of flying to the same airport every day so If a jet job doesn't turn up I'll go back to flying low and slow in a small plane looking for fires. The money was good and the flying was fun and it gave me Winters off to ski.

Cubdriver

"All the hiring" means increased hiring at the regionals mainly, and that's about length and breadth of it. The gradual economic recovery has trickled down to the 91/135 level somewhat at this point but it is still pretty slow for the more desirable jobs. Just keep applying to lots of positions, you'll get very sharp at interviewing, and get current somehow. Lack of currency is a deal breaker as silly as it seems for high time pilots. Buy the time, flight instruct, fly skydivers, do anything to get back in flying.

Thedude

Huh?
The majors are finally hiring again.....!!!!
Maybe not at the breakneck speed we saw in the 99-00 time frame but at a steady pace.