Come back?
 

Many of my pilot friends have been encouraging me for the last year or so to get back in. (Previous 121 and 91/135 from 2000-2009) I've been on the fence for a few years. I have to admit, all of this "shortage" and massive upcoming retirements talk is getting tougher to ignore and the bug is starting to bite. (I know the "shortage" is not necessarily in the supply of available pilots, but in the actual, qualified and willing applicants for regional airlines.) All I see now is retention bonuses at the regional level and "As long as you have ATP minimums and pulse, you're hired."

My only concerns are recency and not currently holding a flying job. I am far from the 75-100 hours in the last 100 days ... Ha, well not even in the last year! I am just shy of 7000TT, lots of turbine SIC, few hundred turbine PIC and have 2 type ratings. I been flying only for recreation. I'm not about to quit my current job to go back to flight instructing, traffic watch, etc for financial reasons, obviously. I'd be willing to go out, get instrument current and get proficient in a twin... IF that would suffice to prospective employers. So the million dollar question is, where do I go from here? (I know I don't stand a competitive chance at the majors/legacies.) So while I have total time and type ratings, employers will probably balk at my lack of recency. Thoughts?

The Regionals are so hard up, I doubt that the lack of recent time is a big deal.

TSA seems to be hiring CQFOs again. They have bases in IAD, STL, ORD and DEN. I understand RDU is a possibility, maybe before the end of this year.

PSA is to begin training F/Os again. They have a rapid upgrade and bases in CLT, DAY and TYS. With your background, you would likely be an attractive candidate. CVG is rumored to be the next crew base with an announcement expected before the end of this year. CVG was announced as a new maintenance base and they are hiring maintenance personnel for CVG.

Go somewhere that is hiring, get a type rating, get through consolidation plus 100 hours, then quit. The majors want trainability and 100-200 hours in the previous 12 months, esp. if you have any PIC.

Give it a go, and see what happens...

I'm in the same boat, but haven't flown commercially since Independence went under in '06. 2 type ratings, roughly 4500 TT. Thinking about getting back in. I'll be following your progress. Good luck!

Since my initial post, I completed my BFR, IPC and logged some multiengine. Resumes/apps have gone out and so far I've got an interview lined with a local cargo feeder. (There is hope!) I'm waiting to hear back from a fractional that a friend walked in my resume and another local cargo feeder flying twin cessnas.

At the moment, I'm not applying to the regionals as the paycut would be too severe (I've got too many mouths to feed). I know there will be a paycut so I'm just trying to limit the damage. If these 135 opportunities don't work out, I will seek the 121 regional route. In the meantime, I plan to stay 'current' by flying once or twice per month to show some sort of recency.

Nicely done!!! Keep at it - let me know if you'd like to go to St. Louis, MO...currently the Kandahar of the midwest, but if you avoid drug dealing and general hoodlum behavior it's ALMOST survivable. :)

Saabtrash,

So how's the progress coming along? I am in the same boat. I am considering coming back to flying.
My times are 7000TT with 121 pic turbine, 135/91. Since leaving in 2008 I have only flown about 10 hrs a year.
I believe I will catch on pretty fast get my ICC done, brush up on theory for interviews etc and see how I go.

If you have 1000 hours of 121 time why wouldn't you go to a regional hiring DECs?

I believe because he is not current and will probably be behind the ball for the first 6 months of return to flying. I am in the same boat.