Hiring
 

I have a question about the hiring for the majors.

Would the major airlines prefer an applicant from a regional airline, or do they only care about the total hours. I'm trying to decide if I should continue with my flight instructor and build up total hours (including multi) and apply when I get to the required hours?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Im sooooooooooooooooooooooo confused:p

last time I checked flying a regional was part of "total time"

It definitely looks a lot better coming from a regional or other 121 carrier when you apply at a major. I'd be really surprised if a major even offered you an interview with 1000 hours of Seneca time or the like. You need to get PIC turbine time in something over 12,500 lbs to be competitive. Almost all the regionals are hiring right now so it would be fairly easy to make the jump from instructing to regional flying (and the upgrade to captain would come fairly quickly as well at most places). I work for a regional and we've been hiring people with less than 400 hours TT and sometimes only 15 or so multi hours. I would recommend getting on with a regional if you plan to make it to a major someday.

I'm sorry..I'm a little sleep deprived today...let me try again...

Would it be better for me to build my hours by flying for a regional airline, or to continue as a flight instructor.

My career goal is to fly for the majors, but I wasn't sure if that meant that I had to fly regional airlines or not. I wasn't sure if the airlines only look at total hours (continuing as a flight instructor) or if they wanted pilots that came from a regional airline that are more familiar with the operations of a major airline?

Clear as mud???

The fact that you dont know that majors (most) want to see some PIC turbine is confusing to me. How could you be in this profession and not know that?
Not trying to bash you but that's a bit weird.
With that said, I would be in complete amazement if a major looked at you with only "Flight Instructor" time.

if you want to ever work for a major, do not stay flight instructing. You will never get hired by a major by only flight instructing. Wont Happen. Get a job at a regional for your best shot at a major. Good luck

Multi-engine Turnbine PIC...that is what counts the most...

However, it does seem like some Legacy carriers are taking pilots with zero PIC turbine but with 2000+ SIC turbojet in a 121 enviornment. I would go the regional route if your dream is to fly for the airlines...

The reason why Major airlines do not hire flight instructors is simply because you will be hired to fly paying passengers, not hired to flight instruct. So I think that working in a part 121 multi-crew experience is part of past experience that major airlines are looking for.

Good luck in your career.

...
 

Think about it. If you were on the hiring panel for United Airlines and there were two applicants in front of you.

Applicant one has 3000 hours of duchess time, mostly MEI.

Applicant two has a type rating, already demonstrated his ability to make it through ground school at an airline, very familiar with how the airlines operate, multi crew trained, uses Jeppesen already. Oh yea, he has 3000 hours too.

Who would you hire. It's really not even a question is it?

Clear as mud?

Thank you all. That was the confirmation I was wanting. I appreciate everyones opinion, and hopefully can get on a good regional airline soon.