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Becoming a Regional Airline Pilot at 54

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Becoming a Regional Airline Pilot at 54

Old 02-12-2017, 02:05 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Willard View Post
Thank you for your input.

I have my own airplane. I think it would be more satisfying to fly with a purpose. I also think it would be extremely satisfying and challenging at my age to do something completely different for a change. I believe I can walk away from an airlone job at anytime with no adverse consequences. I realize not many can. I might like it, I might not. Nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say.
I say go for it. You only live once. I would try and get on with SkyWest in your situation. Some of the airlines have some programs now where they will help you get the hours. It can be a great job if you are not chasing the dollar because you can fly a reduced schedule.
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Old 02-12-2017, 02:23 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by NCR757dxr View Post
Nothing untrue in what I said...... they have one of the highest wash rates in the industry and you just made my point about HR not stepping in the screen them out. They hire off the verbatim recital of the gouge (91.175, Electrical System, Turbine, etc). Once in, you are on your own.

I also wound't say one of the "best" either. If by "best quality" you mean you can show up looking like a door-to-door Mormon Bible talker who can memorize a gouge for the interview, then yes the "best quality" out there. Are they good? Yes! But so is most every other reputable regional's program.

Again I don't want to clog up this topic with SKW gripe but you and me are essentially saying the same thing. Their training is hard (we both said that) and their wash out rate is high (we both said that as well). How we came to those conclusions is different however.

Also just for the record my "personal reasons" are not because I've washed out at Skywest. Just in case anyone is thinking that's my bone to pick.
So much inaccuracy in this it's ridiculous to the point it's probably a troll.
SkyWest was out rate is usually 1 person a month out of 60-80 candidates....that's very low and lower than most carriers. People that wash out have a paper trail of not even trying, they think it's a given you'll pass and that's not the case, at the end of training you need to be a safe pilot more than Skywest needs you to be a warm body in a seat.

As for the interview that's incorrect as well. The interview has changed completely in the last 6 months. Whilst categories are similar the questions asked depends greatly on who's your interviewer. Oh there's a gauge?? There's one for every airline. Furthermore the person that now has final say is one of the most respected people at this company that doesn't just let anyone through.

Would love to know what your experience is with SkyWest is that you gained this insight? Did you interview here, go through training and work here? Probably not.
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Old 02-12-2017, 02:25 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Willard View Post
I'm a university graduate in engineering and have former military experience. I'm financially secure. I live near Phoenix and would only likely consider a job that does not involve a commute.

Comments anyone?
Don't let any of the knucklehead comments dissuade you.

If you can make the logistics work, then go for it. Carpe diem.

I retired as a USAF fighter pilot and went to go work at a regional to regain currency in hopes of a career job at a major airline. I describe my time there as, "I loved every day except payday." It was fun, and the biggest suck was the low pay. Of course, part of my enjoyment of the job was knowing it was a short-term stop enroute to a bigger/better job, but I still enjoyed the flying and the being a 40-something FO working with 20/30-something crews I flew with (who had a good time flying and on layovers).

If you're in the position to be able to minimize/eliminate the commute pain, and you're sound financially in life, I say go for it.
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Old 02-12-2017, 02:37 PM
  #24  
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Willard,

You're in your peak earning years, assuming you are using your degree in a reasonably remunerative job, which it sounds like. Why leave those years behind for a financially risky career? You would, at most, have 10 years of, mostly, lowish pay, probably far below what you are earning now for most of those years. Now, is when you be saving for retirement.

OTOH, if you have a couple of million saved, disregard.

GF
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Old 02-12-2017, 02:48 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by Squallrider View Post
Would love to know what your experience is with SkyWest is that you gained this insight? Did you interview here, go through training and work here? Probably not.
So we are going to do this aren't we.... well here it goes.

Yes in fact I did interview there. I was already an employee at SKW Inc and already flew the aircraft I wanted to get at Skywest.

To begin with, I was only applying at Skywest due to bases. I didn't have any other motivation, besides that the fact that the airline I was currently employed with at the time was getting gutted by Inc. I digress.

The first strike against the entire process was during the intro, one of the team members flat out said to the group that if you fly for any other airline right now and aren't offered a job with us, maybe you shouldn't go back to your job or be in a cockpit. No joke on this one.

Fast forward to the 91.175 and turbine engine drawling (really you want us to draw pictures during an interview but whatever) everyone had basically the EXACT same picture of a generic turbine and everyone wrote the same three-four paragraphs about 91.175. I then asked a few in the group while we were waiting for face-to-face interviews and they all indicated that there was a gouge everyone in the group followed.

So instead of accepting a working knowledge of the CRJ engine as it applies to systems, etc I was grilled over other stuff about turbine engines and was flat out told that since I didn't exactly know the stages of the VG vanes that I "could use some practice" on CRJ systems. Pompous much? Strike 2.

Strike 3 came after I was asked why I only had the requirements to continue an approach to 100' HAT. When I said, well I don't have time to write a paragraph when I hear the minimums call and that this is a praticalized interpretation of the reg, I was greeted with well what about the vis in the ATIS and if the approach is part 97 or not. I gave a deer in the headlights look and said again, that all should be a given.

Sealing the deal came about a week and a half later, after I had to call a few times on the status of my application. The Pilot Recruiter was nice enough but to go from being told about class dates I'd probably get to a TBNT email after requesting my status sealed the deal for me and in the end I was very thankful to have not been hired by such an airline.

In retrospect I probably did not have an A+ performance in the interview because I didn't use the gouge that is on WillFly or one of those sites but whatever, it really is OK since I was turned off by the general attitude of "we are better than you" displayed during the interview. In the end it was a wasted day off between 4 days and a waste of $60 bucks on a hotel.

As far as the washout rate goes, I know of at least one class back in December where about 5 people were washed out over the CRJ systems test. Again I wasn't there but I've heard other similar stories. So I wouldn't be saying only 1 out of 60-80 wash out when the average washout from 121 is around 12%.

As far as your gouge comment.... that is fine that some people live and die by them. I personally have never really used one and I don't plan on changing it up. If I can't cut it with my skills/knowledge coming in or they don't want someone who can't think for themselves, then I guess its not to be. It has to be an inside joke to see the same answer verbatim multiple times a day. Being original and relying on your skills should speak more for not only your probable outcome of training but the decision making you'll show once you get the extra stripe.

Happy where I am at now and since my main point was lost on "oh no, he must be a troll because he doesn't like SKW" I'm going to refrain from anymore talk of the subject.

Last edited by NCR757dxr; 02-12-2017 at 03:31 PM.
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Old 02-12-2017, 03:33 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by tom11011 View Post
This is pure bull$h1t. This fellow is not doing any of that. If you are a regional FO, you have money woes. It's likely that since he was an attorney, he probably will continue to have money woes as a Captain as well.

He's not living a dream and neither will you. I'm sure this post is just flame bait and not real, but if by chance you are for real and having some kind of breakdown, you should know that it is only cool for a few months, then you are back to reality.
This was so unnecessary.
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Old 02-12-2017, 03:34 PM
  #27  
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You mentioned "living the dream." We say that to each other sarcastically a lot. "Hey, how's it going?" "Living the dream!" Any glamor this job once had gets sucked out pretty fast.

To be brutally honest, the more this supposed pilot shortage develops, the better off professional pilots are. Some pilot groups need it to develop a little more for their companies to run into a serious enough staffing shortage that management will improve pay rates - a few regional groups are still at food stamp wages. Fortunately most pilot groups have improved beyond that, but what I'm getting at is this: the last thing we need are older second career types coming in to "play" airline pilot and check it off their bucket lists. There's actually a developing stigma for that sort of pilot.

So, it's one thing if you seriously want to dedicate the last decade of your career to doing this job and advancing the profession, but if you just want the bragging rights and to "live the dream" while subsisting off your savings as regional management stalls on pay increases because you're happy to do the job for peanuts, well... that's why there's some backlash to your post.
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Old 02-12-2017, 03:39 PM
  #28  
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The pass rate for the 50+ year old career changers is really low. Not just at SkyWest, but industry wide. Most don't realize that they are not as fast at learning things anymore, or that they forgot most of what they learned 10+ years ago as a private pilot.

The majority that fail out do so because they didn't realize how hard they would have to work to get through training and be a good pilot. They think that since it is "just" a RJ and it is "just" a regional airline, that they will not have to work as much as is required. They simply give up.

Deltajuliet is right. There is a stigma about the 50+ year old career changers that is developing.
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Old 02-12-2017, 03:43 PM
  #29  
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Tom, it may be BS by the lifestyle YOU have, but it's not BS for everyone. Some people fly for a regional airline and put every cent they make there in the bank because they are self-sufficient already.

If only they allowed us to smoke a bong and fly; you sound like you need a good hit or three!

ETA: Just got past your post and read GearSwinger's reply to you. More in line with what I wanted to say, but I was trying to keep ir professional. BLUF: your financial situation is what you have caused it to be thus far in your life. Doesn't mean your mold applies to everyone else.

Originally Posted by tom11011 View Post
This is pure bull$h1t. This fellow is not doing any of that. If you are a regional FO, you have money woes. It's likely that since he was an attorney, he probably will continue to have money woes as a Captain as well.

He's not living a dream and neither will you. I'm sure this post is just flame bait and not real, but if by chance you are for real and having some kind of breakdown, you should know that it is only cool for a few months, then you are back to reality.
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Old 02-12-2017, 04:19 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Willard View Post
Not sure why you have to be an a**hole. It would have been just as well for you not to respond.

He is/was an estate planning attorney, his wife is an attorney, their kids are grown. He's got plenty of money. If you're an AOPA member, you can read about his experience there.

I'm not having a breakdown. If it is only cool for a short time, so be it. I walk away.
Dream chasers are the hardest let down. At 54 changing over, would involve some adjustment. Just because you get to your dream domicile, doesn't mean its forever. If you aren't prepared for uncertainty this might not be your cup-o-tea. A contract burp or change might mean you won't get your dream and being stuck in MSP or ORD for your domicile might be your reality. Being on reserve means 5 days on the meathook, if you have a 2 leg commute, you might not get home for weeks at a time. The most important person/s are your wife and kids. If your wife isn't an independent type this job could/will cause problems.
BTW, if your instrument skills aren't CFII strong, you will flounder and your chances of getting a pink slip increase exponentially. My transition class had one non CFII, and he washed out after 2 121 failed checkrides. The training department is the new interview process and they aren't thrilled with that position.
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