Question for the Legacy Pilots out there...
 

Anyone here been hired by, or know anyone hired by, a Legacy carrier that never went to a regional or had military experience? Just curious, I have no 121 time (all 135) and no military experience, and wonder what my odds of getting hired by a Legacy without it.

If I remember correctly, back in the day the majority of the commuters were Part 135. So, most of the civillian pilots hired by the "majors" before the invention of the RJ were all Part 135 guys/gals.

We were all just trying to build turbine time; Part 135 or Part 121, it didn't matter. I wouldn't worry about it. An airplane is an airplane.

Good luck!!!

Assuming that you don't have a family member on the inside...

Possible, but to have a reasonable shot you may need turbojet PIC on something larger and faster than a citation, I would think.

I know SWA and CAL have recently hired folks with turboprop-only experience.

I'm pretty sure you're asking about the hiring situation in the USA, about which I know little, but it was, and still is, very common in many other parts of the world.

I was hired by a European Legacy carrier, with 250 hrs total time, most of it at their training school, into the right hand seat of a three engined jet. Far from being an exception, this was the norm for this airline, with the majority of their new pilots entering this way, with no prior jet experience.

30+ years later, we still take a lot of low time pilots in, along with experienced ex-military pilots. All both groups have to do is pass the selection tests.

For what it's worth, my personal impression is that in Europe/Mid/Far East, selection tests are given more weight, and flying hours and licences less weight, than seems to be the case in the USA.

If relocating abroad, and/or obtaining a JAA licence are things you might consider, why not at least take a look at trying for a foreign airline.

Best of luck in whatever you attempt,

Bellerophon

I had people in my classes at UPS and NWA that were 91 or 135 corporate only.
Jet time is Jet time.....

I know several people at AA hired w/out a HS diploma. AThey are CA's now. But they were working on their GED's when hired.

Not a Joke

Yes. Me. I had interviews and offers with two carriers in '89, Alaska and UPS. Corporate and 135 background. BS in Engineering. 4,000TT, 1,500 PIC jet, zero inside recommendations and didn't know a single person that worked for either company. I took Alaska over UPS because at the time a UPS captain maxed out at $60,000 per year (who would have known. Would have gone to UPS had I known then what I do now, but that 's another topic for a different thread).

The point is, yes it is possible today to get hired by a major/legacy/global with only your flight time and experience doing the talking. But today, more often then not, it seems a relative or recommendation from the inside is needed who will do the talking for you to get that interview.