Looking for advice...

I am about to start the process of moving from the 135 world, which I have been apart of the past 3 years, to the 121 world. And in doing so, I am looking for advice on what path would get me to the majors the quickest.

ERAU grad B.S. Aeronautical Science, Airline Pilot Specific (DAB 09')
ATP
1730+ TT (1500 in the past 3 years)
1500+ ME
1100+ PIC
1350+ Turbine
875+ TPIC
FA-10 Type (140TT)
Flown mostly King Air 90/200/350 with 140+ in the Falcon 10...All with in past 3 years.

From what I can see on all the majors websites, I meet all of the minimum requirements. However, I do not see myself as competitive, due my time being on the lower side, as well as the majority of my time coming from the 135 world.

My questions are:

1 - Does it hurt me throwing my application into the ring for all of the majors, even though I know I'm on the low side of the minimum requirements?

2 - Would you recommend applying to the regionals, in order to gain 121 experience and build time faster than I currently am in my 135 position now, or stay at where I am until the majors call?

- My only concern with going to the regionals now is getting stuck in there for years.

3 - Do the majors limit the amount of people they pull from the regionals on a non-flow through program?

4 - Could I expect to be considered by the majors soon after I start building 121 time and becoming a little better competitive?

I saw someone on this thread get hired by a major after only a few months of being at the regionals. I think they only had 140 hours or so at the regionals before they got hired. Granted, he was Military which I understand is a big plus, but is this a possibility for me after 500-1,000 121 hours? And if so, I guess my biggest concern/question that is the reason for this post, is if it is a possibility, why aren't more people from the regionals moving up to the majors fast through non flow through programs after they have accumulated a couple thousand hours??? The last thing I want to do is get stuck at a regional.

I know its a long post, but I appreciate any and all advice/input.

Thanks in advance everybody!!!

 

Where will you be able to check another box such as check airman, safety officer, management role quicker? Having Part 121 time won't set you apart from the thousands of other applicants with thousands of hours at a regional.

Other than that, try to attend a job fair. That's my 2 cents!

 

How does applying for a job where one meets the minimums EVER HURT? I've never understood that concept.

Nope, not at all. Haven't seen anything recently, but at one time about 25% of newhires at UAL came from a SINGLE UAX carrier. Of the civ/RJ background, it was about a 30% total, from that ONE carrier.

Look at the hiring numbers, combined with the sheer amount of regional pilots fighting for the positions. There's thousands of regional pilots trying to get out.

I don't think UAL has hired quite 3000 yet, easily half from the regionals. DAL same/similar. AA, well, that's a whole different deal. I can't remember if it was 2015 or 2016, but they only hired around 250-300, and less than 80 were civilian.

 

Delta CJO

5800 TT
5300 Turbine SIC
0 Turbine PIC
All experience civilian/121
RJ FO for 9 years, currently FO flying int'l heavy cargo/pax
Volunteer with Habitat, WIA, ALPA (non-political position), various safety related jobs at previous regional, etc.
WIA, NGPA job fairs
3 interals recs (1 was the email sent to HR to score app)
15 recs from pilots at my regional (CPs, Director of Training, LCAs, etc.) and from friends at UAL and AAL
State university with aviation program, 3.9 GPA
App updated weekly from early 2013 onwards

I flew with lots of CAs at my regional who I considered to be great pilots and more qualified than me who hadn't heard anything from any airlines. BUT, they didn't do any of the 'extra' stuff like job fairs, volunteering, or even networking. They just submitted their app and didn't even update it that often (every few months). For comparison I interviewed at 5 different airlines (not bragging, just saying that it seems like job fairs and networking work).

I looked at the guys around me who were getting hired and they were 80% FOs or very recent upgrades who did a ton of the 'extra' stuff. It may not be right, but that's what I saw. I think I got the interview because I was able to have my app scored in combination with having a reasonably good resume.

 

Slick - $.02 -

1. Apply. You don't exist if you don't apply.
2. Yes. 121 experience is valued. Other flying might be less valued.
3. No limit.
4. Realistically? Probably not but maybe. They don't tell us what the answer is.

The median guy, often with a lot of 121 time, is in the 5,000 to 7,500 TT range and 3,000 to 4,000 hrs PIC. You're about five years from that.

You don't want to get 'stuck' at a regional? If your current job is worth getting stuck at why apply to the majors?

DAB '09 grad? Are you 30 yrs old? The average new hire is about 36 yrs old. You're low on experience and age. Work to make yourself better in the years ahead so that at 32, 34, 36, 38, etc, etc you become more and more competitive.

 

What did you do from '09 to '14?

Apply. Why not?

Gut check:

You have only been in the field for three years. You aren't competitive yet.

Flying 500 hours at a regional is only about a year's time.

"Stay where I am until the majors call." There is no guarantee they ever will.

A 1900 hour military pilot may have spent 15+ years in a career to get those hours (and is likely still military).

Go with the mindset that there is no quick and easy way to the majors.

Do what you have to do and do a good job. Increase your experience. Network. Go to job fairs. Volunteer in the community.

The guaranteed way not to get hired is by not applying.

Sorry if this post sounds short tempered, but we need to live in reality.

 

That's excellent, congrats!! You're not old because I'm not old and I'm 46.....

You give me hope though at:
almost 6k TT
2300 121 PIC
3 types including 767/757 and A319/20
international experience in multiple theaters.
Waiting for that call...

 

No apologies, thanks.

I graduated in the recession with all licenses except CFI with 201 hours and the airlines/regional were not hiring. Frankly I was out of money to get my CFI and didnt see a viable way of paying a loan back working as a CFI and eventually with the regionals given the extremely low pay back then. So I moved on to another career until the aviation bug got the best of me and I didnt care anymore about money, but wanted to do what I loved. Thats the honest truth.

The regionals will be in my immediate future, as I work to improve my competitiveness with the majors through the next few years.

Thanks for everyones input!

 

That's pretty funny, I graduated DAB in '09 and have the exact same story. I got back into it in 2011, but reading your stats and story is almost identical to mine. Good luck!

 

May I suggest to those who are seeking advice to start another thread? This thread is getting derailed.
I don't want to sound rude, but I enjoy seeing the experience of those getting selected at their respective airlines. Now it seems like you have to search for that.