Navy guy needs advice from cargo pilots
08-27-2008, 01:48 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: ANC-Based MD-11 FO
Posts: 328
A type rating with no flight hours in that plane looks unusual and is a waste of time (except for SWA, as I understand). It doesn't matter if you show up on day one with a 757 type rating, the company will not assign you to a 757 based upon that nor with you get preferential treatment in training. My training partner in the 727 FE seat was a 727 LCA from another airline and he went through the entire training program like I did. Granted, he was bored and I was just a source of his amusement as he watched me flail around on the panel in training, but they didn't put him in the 727 just because he has the rating.
A 737 type rating might cast doubt upon your intentions when you interview with either FedEx or UPS (I presume) since neither company operates the 737. You might get around that in the interview by saying something like, "...I want to leave my options open..." But if you have a 737 type rating without flying one operationally, you're leaving yourself open for the interviewer to doubt your true intentions.
The two most important things for you, have been mentioned by other posters:
1. Fly, and have recent flying experience when you interview.
2. Have people in the company you want to interview with who have flown with you and will recommend you.
This far out (and with three years remaining, yes, you are a ways out--as a previous poster noted, a lot can happen in three years in this industry), monitor the industry, track the companies you want to work for, and keep talking to your like-minded squadron-mates to discuss issues and keep up to date with what's going on in the industry.
A personal recommendation from a current pilot employee, recent flying experience and meeting the company's requirements should be your focus. Don't waste money getting a type rating you don't need and which might actually work against you in certain circumstances. If you really have that kind of money to burn, take you wife to Paris for a long weekend--that will pay bigger dividends down the road.
Best wishes.
A 737 type rating might cast doubt upon your intentions when you interview with either FedEx or UPS (I presume) since neither company operates the 737. You might get around that in the interview by saying something like, "...I want to leave my options open..." But if you have a 737 type rating without flying one operationally, you're leaving yourself open for the interviewer to doubt your true intentions.
The two most important things for you, have been mentioned by other posters:
1. Fly, and have recent flying experience when you interview.
2. Have people in the company you want to interview with who have flown with you and will recommend you.
This far out (and with three years remaining, yes, you are a ways out--as a previous poster noted, a lot can happen in three years in this industry), monitor the industry, track the companies you want to work for, and keep talking to your like-minded squadron-mates to discuss issues and keep up to date with what's going on in the industry.
A personal recommendation from a current pilot employee, recent flying experience and meeting the company's requirements should be your focus. Don't waste money getting a type rating you don't need and which might actually work against you in certain circumstances. If you really have that kind of money to burn, take you wife to Paris for a long weekend--that will pay bigger dividends down the road.
Best wishes.
08-27-2008, 01:54 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: ANC-Based MD-11 FO
Posts: 328
One more thing...
I don't have a backup career to flying, my professional education is in a career field that requires passing a physical exam similar to a pilot physical exam. I'm healthy as a horse, but I still worry that if I fail a physical some time down the road, I have no backup to this job.
Don't be like me. Use your educational benefits to get training in a non-flying career that you can do without passing a physical exam.
I don't have a backup career to flying, my professional education is in a career field that requires passing a physical exam similar to a pilot physical exam. I'm healthy as a horse, but I still worry that if I fail a physical some time down the road, I have no backup to this job.
Don't be like me. Use your educational benefits to get training in a non-flying career that you can do without passing a physical exam.
08-27-2008, 02:06 PM
#23
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: VVIP 767
Posts: 55
All great advice. I am single engine VT's right now, but left my last tour with 800 hrs PIC multi. Next (last) tour will likely be multi also, so should be fine. I'm gonna look into the dentist gig. I heard anesthesiologist is even better
Most of our reservists are continental, with a few SWA guys. They say the same thing as my old man (retired USAir), "Do something else"... We'll see. Thanks again, as ya'll have been very helpful.
Most of our reservists are continental, with a few SWA guys. They say the same thing as my old man (retired USAir), "Do something else"... We'll see. Thanks again, as ya'll have been very helpful.
08-27-2008, 02:06 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,409
Originally Posted by PastV1
Having been around for awhile and seeing buds of mine at home that have other careers I've concluded Dental school is the way to go! Your not on call, make more money than the airlines do and don't get furloughed (or company file BK).
And almost everyone goes to a dentist for routine work, so there is no shortage of work.
Past...
And almost everyone goes to a dentist for routine work, so there is no shortage of work.
Past...
08-27-2008, 04:15 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Flying for an airline is the BEST job in the world when things go right, but gut wrenching when it does not...
Our crew took a FDX van downtown OMA this morning on a 0530 unsuccessful quest for breakfast. With my superb driving skills (not!) I managed to cut off the ONE other dude on the downtown streets that morning and he was P1SSED! Beeped, glared, yelled, and gestured as I swerved back into my lane. We decided he must be on his way to an office job he hated and was mad at the world. (It wasn't like I was about to hit him...I just slowed him down a tad...) An hour an a half later, we as a crew were doing the CRM thing as we looked at our radar at the storms rolling in and making a go/wait decision. We decided to press, blasted off into the rain, and then vectored 150 degrees away from the storm dodging the worst of the build ups. We broke out on top around 10,000 between some towering cu and got our first good look at the morning sun. I couldnt' resist asking how our irate driver was feeling at that moment--but even though it was waaay early and we were dodging storms we were having fun. It is truely a Gift from God to like your work. I'm a lucky dude...
My advice is follow your heart, but let your head offer you a back up plan. Get some training in a plan B job you enjoy...medical, business, whatever...but don't be afraid to chase your dreams. I'd rather swing and miss than spend the next 20 years driving to an office going "what was I so afraid of....."
My two cents...worth even less than you paid for it....
Our crew took a FDX van downtown OMA this morning on a 0530 unsuccessful quest for breakfast. With my superb driving skills (not!) I managed to cut off the ONE other dude on the downtown streets that morning and he was P1SSED! Beeped, glared, yelled, and gestured as I swerved back into my lane. We decided he must be on his way to an office job he hated and was mad at the world. (It wasn't like I was about to hit him...I just slowed him down a tad...) An hour an a half later, we as a crew were doing the CRM thing as we looked at our radar at the storms rolling in and making a go/wait decision. We decided to press, blasted off into the rain, and then vectored 150 degrees away from the storm dodging the worst of the build ups. We broke out on top around 10,000 between some towering cu and got our first good look at the morning sun. I couldnt' resist asking how our irate driver was feeling at that moment--but even though it was waaay early and we were dodging storms we were having fun. It is truely a Gift from God to like your work. I'm a lucky dude...
My advice is follow your heart, but let your head offer you a back up plan. Get some training in a plan B job you enjoy...medical, business, whatever...but don't be afraid to chase your dreams. I'd rather swing and miss than spend the next 20 years driving to an office going "what was I so afraid of....."
My two cents...worth even less than you paid for it....
08-27-2008, 04:19 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 357
Guy's I had the 737 type when I interviewed at FedEx. No one even mentioned it. I don't think they really cared. However, here's why I did it. First, the GI Bill was paying for it and I could get my ATP at the same time. With the GI Bill it cost about $2,500 extra out of pocket to get the 737 type in addition to the ATP. Second, I had no civilian time and very little time flying with the kind of auto-pilot these civilian airplanes use. I figured a little time flying the civilian way couldn't hurt. And I'm glad I did, I had no idea civilian and military flying were so drastically different.
08-27-2008, 04:44 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
Originally Posted by MD10PLT
Guy's I had the 737 type when I interviewed at FedEx. No one even mentioned it. I don't think they really cared. However, here's why I did it. First, the GI Bill was paying for it and I could get my ATP at the same time. With the GI Bill it cost about $2,500 extra out of pocket to get the 737 type in addition to the ATP. Second, I had no civilian time and very little time flying with the kind of auto-pilot these civilian airplanes use. I figured a little time flying the civilian way couldn't hurt. And I'm glad I did, I had no idea civilian and military flying were so drastically different.
08-27-2008, 05:32 PM
#29
Slainge Var'
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Zeppelin Tail Gunner
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by FR8Hauler
My dad and brother are both dentists and I would not trade places with them for anything. Looking in a bunch of stinking mouths of people who are scared to death all day long. You can have that. Just roll the dice and don't worry about it like me!
08-27-2008, 05:36 PM
#30
Bored
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: Grumman Torture Device (weekends only)
Posts: 445
One option on the 7-3 type, and that is to get it in conjunction with your ATP. In addition, the 737 type rating schoolhouses (like Higher Power) have all the gouge and do most of the work for getting the GI bill to cover 60% of the cost, which knocks the price down to what you'd pay at ATP or somewhere else to get the it done without the type.
HTH
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HTH
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