Crucero

You forgot to add, "And you don't have time to think, if you think , you're dead!!"

I think this quoted post needs the Top Gun anthem played in the background!

webecheck

You don't hire someone for a 30yr career because he may be a little bit slower that first month or two. And let's face it, Regionals fly into ORD with their new hires so having done that prior gets you no extra points obviously. Legacy airlines hire someone for potential to always exhibit excellence, consistently perform at the highest level, and have a track record of success under the most extreme of conditions. That's what the military resume offers, and certainly the fighter track.

Doesn't mean a civilian guy in unqualified, but sometimes people don't understand the rationale behind hiring someone you want to represent your brand for 30 years.

1500 hrs in a single engine Cessna will never compare to 1500 F-16 hrs on a resume, at your class reunion, in a discussion with a non flying corporate hiring manager, etc.

at6d

The comparison will matter only after you pass the computer and make it to an interview.

...and 1500 "single engine Cessna" is an apples to oranges comparison.

Most civilian applicants now have volumes of experience in many aspects of aviation, which are also on their resumes. It would be better to compare the value of 1500 hours of F-teen time with a multi-year regional applicant (the average in my newhire class).

In the mean time, one must pass the proverbial computer.

duckman

Thank you everyone for all the responses! I hope to see you all one day 👍👍

Broncofan

Yes flying a fighter means more than a caravan I think everyone SHOULD be able to agree on that. However I think you are putting yourself on a pedestal a bit. Talking with training center instructors I ask them is there a common denominator of people that need more training? 99% of the time they will say single pilot fighter guys. They don't come in with the necessary CRM skills and try to fly the plane like a fighter. Now could I take my 121 skills and think I could fly a fighter well, no but my point is I would say your more "highly trainable" than anyone else.

EMBskillz

Actually that's incorrect, bruddah.
The F16 guys may be AAholes and therefore the person next to them may ignore them or dismiss anything they have to say because they don't like them. This is the the essence of being a good crewmember. Compatibility. Anyone can do this job. Its tolerating the dope next to you that seperates worst from the best of the best. If SE airliners existed then, absolutely, I would prefer SE pilots from F16's and C208's, respectively. I just don't prefer either of you because the job requires 2 people and neither of you are used to working with co-pilots in the same airframe. Ask any SWA pilot based in PHX, who isn't prior SE fighter.

Sliceback

A/c background doesn't not predict personality type. Fungis are fungis.

450knotOffice

While most of what you've said (typed) is correct, I can tell you as a former IOE captain that most certainly NOT EVERYONE can do this job. Most who made it to IOE eventually figured it out and did a good job going forward, but there were a few who were completely baffled by the whole experience, and showed no signs of eventually "getting it". I've seen the worst, and they have NO business in any complex cockpit.

Otherwise, the gist of what you said stands true. By the time one shows up for an airline interview, they certainly know how to fly a jet of any kind. Therefore, what interviewers look for (at least those who are pilots; HR may have a different agenda) is the ability to fit in with the majority of their fellow crewmembers, to be able to basically get along with the others for an extended period of time in the close confines of a cockpit without them wanting to open the door and throw that person out mid-flight.

Sudo

EMBskillz,
I am a center controller, not a pilot. Have not rode up front since before 9/11. I don't believe anyone can do your job. No way. The public takes for granted what you all do. That is wrong.
Much respect.

Adlerdriver

First, I get a bit tired of these wives tale stereotypes folks like to perpetuate. No CRM skills and tries to fly the plane like a fighter. Uh... yeah. I'm sure that happens all the time. If a guy shows up like that, well congrats, you just met one of the 5% that every group of folks in every line of work has. All you're doing is showing your ignorance by parroting that stuff and showing us all you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Typical - most fighters are single seat, therefore the pilots have no CRM skills....right? CRM is about teamwork, resources use, time management and communication to name a few. That all happens day after day in a fighter 4-ship both on the ground and in the air - it just gets executed a bit differently than in an airliner. The 95%ers know that and show up read to flex into that environment and are just fine at CRM, teamwork, etc.

Second, I have to laugh at the reference to "high density airports". Lets not try to make this job out to be more difficult than it really is. We take off, eventually put the autopilot on, fly from A to B and land. Sometimes there are a bunch of airplanes on freq, some weather, you get jacked around and eventually you land one behind the other. New airport? Taxi instructions might require you to get your pen out and write them down before reading back.

Nothing about this job is as difficult as some of you want to make everyone think it is. Maybe you use the same script trying to impress your neighbors or the flight attendants. Or maybe it was hard for you - that doesn't mean it overwhelmed the rest of us.

My class at UAL was about an even split mil/civ and NO ONE needed extra training. Same thing at Fedex. F-18 sim partner at UAL for new hire training was awesome. Made initial a pleasure. Civilian partner at Fedex was the same. Not a huge surprise in either case since most airlines have figured out how to screen and hire the right folks.

I could start spouting off the civilian sterotypes we all know exist but I have too much respect for all the sharp guys I work with every trip. The ones that fall short get lumped in with the 5% from the military who somehow expected to fly a 737 like a fighter or don't get the simple concept of teamwork. They get forgotten once the trip is over and then I move on without painting everyone from a particular background with a broad brush because of a few problem children.