Time in type?! Arg.
 

It seems like every job out there past the entry level phase, to which I am trying to move past, requires a ridiculous amount of time in type. I saw a posting for a Citation Bravo FO and it said they wanted 5 years experience as a pilot on type. Im sure others have seem similar.

My question is... Is this a ploy to weed out the untyped individuals and try to find someone who is? Or are these ridiculous requirements put in place knowingly that they arn't going to find someone and just want fewer resumes pouring in?

I can't imagine finding enough time in type individuals to fill all the places needed.

If you were rich enough to own a private jet that would potentially carry you and your family would you want someone that had never flown or had very little experience in that type of airplane? I wouldn't and if I had the dough I'd shell out for that experience.

Stuff like that is primarily used as a resume screening tool...especially if you're talking a light jet like a Bravo. Straight-wing Citations are NOT hard to fly, especially if you've been flying any type of turbine aircraft previously.

Most GOOD bizav jobs (regardless of aircraft) hire the person, not their type ratings.

Agree with "BoilerUP" on this one. I have also found that knowing someone within the flight department will take the "time in type" and nullify it. It's all in who you know. Good luck! And keep on putting your name out there! What's the worst they can do, say no?

They're trying to discourage unqualified individuals from applying and jamming things up...

If Procter & Gamble puts out an ad for a pilot, requirements "G-V type-rating, 500 hours in type, int'l experience"... Do you think that is going to stop the 15,000 regional-airline pilots who are trying desperately to get out from applying? NO

then you've got the thousands of other corporate pilots who are trying to move up in the corporate world.

Lots of pilots who don't meet the minimuns throwing "hail mary passes" if you know what I mean... I'm not bashing by the way, I was there once

Not for Fortune 50 companies. Actually, I can name two Fortune 15 companies that I know first hand this is not the case. If you know the director of aviation AND have the type and time in type things might go your way. Otherwise, there are presently too many "qualified" applicants to get your "unqualified" buddy in. The days of a hand shake and a wink are over in the present environment.

Boiler there's a lot of good people out there who also have the time in type. Unfortunately a lot of good people won't get the chance to get looked at because of the lack of time in type. Which is unfortunate. Kind of like making it to the NHL. There's a lot of NHL caliber hockey players that will never get the nod because they don't have the pedigree.

Without a doubt!

If you can get what you're looking for AND have them already trained or even current, then there's no reason not to do that.

However, limiting your candidate pool to only those that have time in type will cause you miss out on lots of good people...that might just be a better fit for the department and the company.

As somebody in a position to hire (albeit for a VERY small operator), having a type rating for the plane we fly is exceedingly low on my list of desired candidate traits; IMO, its more of a bonus than a requirement.

Thanks folks. I appreciate all the input.

It may also have something to do with insurance requirements. Some companies or individuals my carry a lot of liability insurance. ($50Million) While an insurance carrier my write a policy for a pilot with low time in type they wont write them for high liability amounts. They might require thousands of hours in make and model regardless of how difficult it is to fly the aircraft.