It's true that Delta hires pilots that did not come from part 121 or military backgrounds.

Word to the wise, when it comes to pic time, what is permitted in part 91 and 135 world is not permitted here. Their pic time is strictly that time you were the person most responsible for the airplane even if you were the acting captain.

 

AA requirements in the last hiring cycle -

3500 civilian or
2000 military heavy or
1000 fighters

all had to have

1000 hrs turbine
500 hrs turbine PIC

helo time did not count towards any minimums.

Where the numbers absolutely cast in stone? No, there were random excepts. Guys said the typical candidate more likely had 5,000 hrs.

As far as AA hiring off the street? It's a crap shoot. Different guys will give you different answers. Absent the recent mediation award that allowed additional AE guys to flow to AA it might have already started based on historical furloughee recall acceptance rates. IMO if the economy stays stable, oil moderates, AA stays out of BK and recall acceptance rates follow the previous model, AA might be hiring off the street next year.

That's free advice, you can take it to the bank and cash it.

 

I'd like to ask a different version of the original post....

Presently employed by a 121 regional, however the lifestyle is wrecking my marriage and family. I am actively pursuing two different Part 91 positions, either will provide better QOL and income than my current employer.

Now, let's say I have the opportunity to leave the regional 121 world in the near future in order to take better care of my family. Down the road in several years when kids are older and life is a little more stable, if I apply to either DAL or SWA (either would be great), how difficult of a sell will that be to an interview board?

btw...TPIC not an issue in my case

 

forgot to bid did exactly that which you speak of. You'll need to work on your photoshopping skills to make his caliber.

 

Thanks.

I've had folks say 'hold on for a few more years until retirements happen' and others say 'make the change'. No offense to you folks nearing retirement or anyone else for that matter, but I've got to have a better strategy for taking care of my family than waiting for mainline pilots to retire.

Best of luck to all of us.

 

Jayhaw
k, i believe the interviewers are human, and if you need to make a sideways move for your family, they would expect nothing less. Why they look for people that do not jump from job to job is to make sure the new hire would be loyal. Now they may question you if you are able to take the pay hit for the first few years.

The way it was explained to me many years ago, they have a certain template that they like to follow. you know, 4 year degree, Captain TPIC multi-crew, stand up guy. You always have to meet the mins. After that, If you lack in one department, you need to make up in another. so you have little TPIC, better have a good recommend(s), with a 4 year. No 4 year just 2 year, better have lots of TPIC etc. As far as how competitive the market will be in the future is anyone's guess. As many have said don not under estimate the power(POWER) of networking, from church, on layovers etc. I have found that most people would love to help a decent guy out.

Good Luck guys!!! hope AA hires a bunch off the street soon.

 

Jayhawk,

My advice... What's best for your family should always be your first consideration. Good luck. Hope to see you at Delta one of these days! (If you don't get to SWA first)

 

Thanks for this info - I couldn't find the hiring requirements anywhere else.

 

I did. I got to fly an awesome jet.



Sounds very familiar. Back in 2005, when I was at Coex, Delta was going into or in chapter 11 and the situation was bleak. I'd go jumpseat to EWR and the guys would try to talk me out of being an airline pilot. I'd then go to work in EWR and we all talked about getting out. AirTran was a mess at that time as well. I was commuting a lot and all non-cass to make no money as a E145 A for a company that hated its employees. I was done with 121 and needed to do something because even if DAL one day hired, like in years, they'd have such a backlog of people with an inside track before they'd find the average joe's like me.

That said, be careful with 91/135 operations when it comes to QOL. If it's a 91/135 job in town it'll beat commuting to an RJ job, however, most 91/135 jobs I've seen will not be as good as living in base under part 121 and especially major 121 in terms of schedule, pay, benefits and time off. For instance, I was on call 24/7 and it was a 6 day a week office job (tried to work from home Saturdays) with a hefty side of Chief Pilot/Captain duties in a 2 man operation. Sadly, the best part 91 job I ever saw in ATL was Bellsouth and they're gone now after the AT&T merger.

But corporate is a great experience as you learn to wear multiple hats and you build a resume. But the jobs remind me more of the dead end jobs of a radio station DJ. You can be great and liked but if a job ends (average 3 years btw) there might not be a job in town and the next one requires moving and who knows if the next will be as good as the first and so on.

You do what's best for your family, but I will say I could have been where I am now by staying at Coex as I did leaving. I might have even been at Delta sooner. Who knows. I'd still bid down to 88 reserve regardless.