Several part 91/135 guys have been hired recently. A couple of them post on PPW if you’re a member there.

 

I was hired slightly over a year ago. I had about five years of 121 experience as SIC, but the meat of my resume was based on 91/135, which was also where ALL of my TPIC time came from. Here are a few things to consider, at least from my perspective.

You're probably not at the top of the stack, but not out of the race either. 121 time is valuable, but we hire a LOT of military guys with zero 121 experience (or any civilian flight experience at all). The biggest drawback to that is you'll have to build 1000 hours of 121 experience as an SIC before you're eligible to upgrade. At FedEx, that will be about three years. We have some guys who have been awarded captain positions but can't train for them yet because they're short on their 121 time (IOW, ex-military). There are a lot of boxes that could be checked on that application, but only because it's intended to be exhaustive for all types of applicants. Very few applicants can check more than a few, especially considering the age of most of our new hires. Don't sweat it if you don't have the space shuttle time.

First of all, being a Safety Officer isn't a position recognized by Part 119, and therefore doesn't mean much. It checks another box, but not such a big box that it should weigh very heavily in your decision-making.

As far as the other job is concerned, you didn't mention what kind of operation that single airplane department is. If you would be a chief pilot on a Part 135 certificate, that's a position regulated by Part 119. Definitely a good thing. But, if that department is Part 91, the chief pilot title might mean a lot, or it might mean nothing. Anyone who owns and/or pilots an airplane under Part 91 could call themselves a chief pilot. That could encompass huge responsibilities if they were a CP for a large corporate department (McDonald's, Wal-Mart, etc.). Or it might mean next to nothing if you're a single airplane, single pilot operation just flying someone around in a Baron under Part 91.

On the flip side, a Part 119 chief pilot is more likely managing/hiring/firing employees, doing all the SIDA stuff, ensuring Part 135 compliance, aircraft conformities, contracting maintenance, managing OpSpecs, dealing with the FAA much more intimately, undergoing inspections, managing the mandatory drug and alcohol screening program, writing manuals, tracking Part 135 pilot currencies and training requirements, overseeing a will-carry hazmat program, managing a SMS program, maintaining an ARGUS certification, the list goes on and on. I know, because I did all that crap as a Part 135 Chief Pilot. While not directly applicable to a job at FedEx, that's all very valuable experience and is valued by the pilot recruitment people.

Then don't do it. Working at FedEx is a great goal, but you have to do what's best for you and your family in the short run too. Keep your ear to the ground and keep looking for a better opportunity that would satisfy your short term needs and long term goals. The pilot shortage is hitting all segments of the aviation industry. Keep looking.

I wouldn't say your current job or experience level is in any way disqualifying. I had a similar background when I was hired, with the exception of having 121 experience, and a Part 119 Chief Pilot position listed on my resume (and a few other non-Part 119 Director level positions). Getting the interview is the hardest part, but I wouldn't suggest that you sacrifice everything else in your life in the hopes that it would earn you the interview. There are so many opportunities right now, there is no reason for your to take a step backwards and make sacrifices without any guaranteed benefit.

It sounds like you're rated in a pretty good size bizjet. If your current job allows for it, you might consider putting yourself out there as a contract pilot to make connections with other companies. Just investigate and understand your insurance requirements and liabilities first when flying as a contractor first.

 

So are you saying you only have about 560 hours PIC 135 in an AC that has a MTOGW greater then 12.5k?

Simply stated you must have 1,000 hours PIC operated under 135 in an AC with a GTOW 12.5k or greater.

 

Where are you getting that from? It doesn't matter what part it was operated under.

From PilotCredentials.com: "A minimum of 1000 hours total fixed-wing pilot-in-command in multi-engine turbo prop A/C or jet A/C or combination thereof (GTOW 12,500 or greater) is preferred."

It doesn't say anything about being logged under a certain Part. It's all the same regardless of whether it's under Part 91, 121, 125, or 135.

 

I was wondering the same thing. Where does it say anything about which regulation one was logging PIC time ??

 

while "Safety Officer" of a unit may not be recognized by Part 119 or any other FARS/Parts but it is still a leadership role and similar to "Director of Safety" in civilian world.

EDIT: poster is in a non-mil flight department, disregard.

 

My apologies. I miss quoted the hiring mins. I was trying to say I dont know of anyone that was hired without the 1,000 PIC either military, 121 or 135. The reason part 91 isnt looked at with high regards is because as another poster pointed out it can be manipulated easily without any track-ability. If you got hired without the PIC in either military, 121 or 135 please post. Back to the question of what the postets chances are. I would say based off the folks I work with at FedEx you need the PIC in 121, military or 135 to be competitive. A lot of guys from the civilian world are coming in with 2k plus PIC 121/135 and many have heavy time at places such as Atlas.

 

I was hired all part 91. Several guys hired around my time are in the same boat.

 

Take a look at new hire classes over the last 12-18 months. More 135/91 than in the past, and less military. NOT saying any demographic is getting left by the curb...but definitely less 100% mil backgrounds than in the past.

Points to take from this...

If you ain't military--YES...you still have a good chance of getting hired here...

If you ARE military...it may take a bit longer to get the call. I'd apply other places too. You can always leave SWA, AA, etc if this is really where you want to be. Several of my friends had FedEx number 1, went somewhere else while waiting, but decided to stay there once they got in. FWIW...right now AA seems to be the first major to call many military guys...

 

Thanks for all the insights guys and gals. You have confirmed what I had hoped; I've got a shot, I just need to keep where I am and keep improving my app.