Yes it's worth your time and some money. There are guys in the past who had their app in for several years before a call. That could happen, so be mentally prepared for that, but whether you get the call in a few months or a few years, it'll have been worth your initial efforts in the present. With how young you are, you probably are at DAL before your 30s, barring any incredible black swan events. But that definitely won't happen if you sit on your hands waiting to submit an app and keep it updated.

I received a CJO from Delta back during the hiring boom of 2022. I went with a different major at the time, but have decided to geopgraphically change locations, and am looking to get on with Delta as to live in Domicile where I will be moving to. I emailed Delta HR, and was told that I am still eligible for re-hire, despite having turned down a CJO before (Can anyone else confirm this?) but I was wondering If anyone any any idea how long things are taking from application, to assessment?
I applied four months ago, have 2 internal recs, met with a recruiter at a job fair again, and far exceed the miniumums, but am wondering if anyone has any other advice as to how to bolster my resume to get my resume reviewed quicker, short of continuing to gain hours? Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Apply, keep your app current.

Many of us had apps in EVERY airline for YEARS, keeping it updated. Stay engaged and go to job fairs at least 1 a year (that will trigger DAL looking at your app). You never know when the email will arrived.

I got hired before 30yrs old, without a DAL LOR and first pilot in my family. While you’re young is easier to keep your logbooks and app up to date. If you get comfortable and stop working on your logbook/apps, then it will be harder to keep everything up to date and mistakes will be made.

I used to check my app at least once a month. Update the things that expired, added hours, checked my wording, etc etc.

Also to be honest, we are hiring pilots now for Q2 2025. I assume that your chances are for late 2025 after the summer break. But you never know, strange things can happen.

Thank you all for the guidance and words of encouragement! Some positivity on here is a breath of fresh air sometimes. Time to finish up my app and get it in.

Im more of a realist so let me say “I personally would not have an active application in” and I’ll tell you why. 1.) you’re under-qualified currently and do not meet their hiring requirements. 2.) after your first free year, airlineapps requires you to pay a fee every year to renew your application and not have to renter the information. You could be paying that fee for 2-5 years, throwing away money. 3.) no amount of begging at a job fair or conference is going to get you a CJO if you don’t meet the minimums. When you have the minimums or darn close to it, then start doing all of the above. Don’t forget, conferences are kinda expensive to constantly go to. 4.) remember when you see the new-hire “hours” breakdown online, what you’re seeing is, on average TT ivo 3500-4000 hours. This is how that works, they hired several 1500-1800hr F-22/15/18/16 guys with 12 years in the military. That’s not you, and that’s not any civilian. The other end of the spectrum is the occasional 10-12k hour Regional CA who’s in their mid-50s looking for a change. Also not you. The rest is one of 2 groups, 3500-5000 hour young Regional CAs, or retiring military XX pilots with 2500-6000 hours. So these groups make the 3500 hour average look “not so bad.” The reality is every one of those “types” spent maybe 4 years (if you’re lucky) to 12-20 years getting where they’re at. What I’m saying is have realistic expectations and keep plugging away. Everyone of us was in your shoes at some time. Good luck regardless.

We hired pilots with less than 2,500 total. It can be done, regionals pay a lot more now than before.

Those willing to play the game, will get rewarded. If I would’ve hear a advise like yours, I wouldn’t got hired here when I got hired.

Going to job fairs is not begging. In the contrary is making yourself be seen and put a face with the app. Btw I got hired with 0 TPIC when we still had a 2 day interview process.

Airline apps $90 a year…that’s not blowing of money.

Again, optimist vs realist. Zero in my class did not have 1000 TPIC. You have to know that low-time zero TPIC applicants are absolutely not the norm.

While once true, I’m not sure that’s been the case in a least a year? It was a short term/temporary thing in the immediate aftermath of Covid. Much like WB B going to NH’s for a short time due to some unique circumstances, but has normalized back to historical seniority.

Not saying it’s impossible today, but I think it would be the exception.

True, but the person says he’s short of the 1,000 turbine minimum. We don’t know how many TT it has. If it comes from part 61 training, he will have at least 2500hr when he reaches 1,000 Turbine or possibly more.

I say that if it has a degree, volunteer experience and good record, it’s possible to be hired around 3,000hrs total.

I definitley think that with the experience I have I would be a long shot to be hired. I have friends a few years ahead of me than me that were lucky to ride that wave. Unfortunately even if I had the hours a few years ago I would have been inelgible for an ATP for reasons out of my control. I think the only thing I have running for thats differfent than the general public is that my age might turn a head of someone flipping through applications.


I'm currently pushing up on 2500 of total time. I do have a college degree, with a modest amount of volunteer experience at a few different places. Am I am missing the 1,000 turbine minimum? I do see a preferred of 1000 turbine(at least 500 in non powered lift) on there but all else, I meet the listed minimums on the site.

I am wrapping my reccomendations up this week. While I was under the impression that I don't have any DL connections for a LOR, I do actually have a long term DL Inflight family member who is willing to write me a reccomendation. I hoping to push an app in a few weeks once I can tidy all of my loose ends and have it looked at.
I'm glad I asked, everyones thoughts and opinions have been invaluable insight. Thanks.