FredFox37

Sorry if this is already outlined elsewhere, but can anybody outline the current minimum qualifications for the major carriers? And I get that each airline outlines min quals on their respective website, but what are the REAL mins to expect an interview?

For example, the UAL site says that the flight time requirement is a minimum of 1,000 hours of fixed-wing turbine time. However, I've heard ~2,500 is closer to the 'magic' number.

Also, normal gouge is that applicants need 100 hours in the last 12 months. But I'm hearing that UAL has hired people with significantly less than that and that Jet Blue has waived the requirement all together.

In short, is there a real standard, or is it just a crap-shoot?

Thanks!

full of luv

I think you'd get the best data by contacting one of the interview prep companies.... centerline prep.... emerald coast... et al..... I have never used any, but many do.

They would know what their clients have and who got a call. The mins are low so that when a relative or highly regarded recruit comes along, they don't have to break their stated mins to hire said individual. Like you have noticed though, the mins are the MINS and getting the interview invite in the first place is the tough part as they won't invite someone that they, at least on paper, wouldn't hire.
Many times other things other than hours may put you over the top, ie military, LCA experience, instructor, intern, and/or nude photos.

gringo

As a rough gouge, 2500 hours will probably land you an interview if you're coming straight out of the military.

For a non-flow, non-military pure civilian pilot, closer to 5000-8000 hours, with the occasional lower-time oddball gracing the "who's been hired" thread.

fishforfun

PLEASE, for the sanity of all, you must look not just at flight times. LCA, CPs, Director of Safety, multiple type ratings, bachelor and master degrees, GPAs at said degrees, legacy or not and any other available box to check within the app provide points to get "called" for an interview.

At WAI they stressed how little the flight hours are taken into consideration and the whole person concept is what they are looking for. It's all about a stupid algorithm to the right amount of points. With a large enough sampling I think you could come up with an "average" interviewee not looking at flight times because those would vary wildly. Or you could group your interviewees into different groups like regional/LCC LCA or corporate CPs or people that have/had a family member in the company and I bet you would again see a trend. All the boxes are the same for everyone. It's obvious some are weighed more than others so just do what you can to check as many as possible. I feel the frustration but I bet if I showed you my resume you would say I'm not qualified but that's because you may not look past the top 10% of my page. The meat is in the bottom 90%.

fishforfun

With a fighter background. Average is slightly higher for heavy drivers.

FredFox37

Thanks all for your inputs.

I'm a military heavy driver with just under 4500 hours in C-5s, Gulfstreams, and Lear 35s. I have my ATP, Commercial multi/single, and I'll have my CFI multi done here in the next few months. I also have military leadership positions (but no safety stink unfortunately) and a couple master's degrees with good GPAs. I'm current right now, but unfortunately I'm only flying once or twice a month...and it looks like I may not get to fly at all during my last 10 months in the AF. So obviously, I'm a bit concerned about recency and I'd like to avoid the regional drill if I can.

fishforfun

You are highly qualified barring a large number of Q3s and your TPIC. Your recency/currency may be an issue but you can put your apps in and let them see what comes for about the last six months prior to your availability date. Have a cutoff date of when it's time to pull the regional trigger. Nothing wrong with it, you will learn a ton about the 121 world and gain some currency. The time from app submission to being in a class for a regional will more than likely be much shorter so keep that in mind. May only need 6 weeks or less from submission to class date. Good luck, you won't wait long if you do at all.

gringo

I wouldn't worry so much about the regional drill. With your quals, you'd be there maybe under a year before getting a shot at one of the Legacies.

Certainly best to avoid it if possible, but if not, a good way to get current while dipping your toes into the 121 world.

Otterbox

Hiring brief by a prep company was saying 1850 PIC for heavy mil guys, 1450 PIC for fighters, something like 5000PIC for regionals and 3000 PIC for corporate (I don't remember exactly but it was higher).

Competitive hours are trending down (from 3500 last year to 1850 this past week for example). You're in the ballpark hours wise, when you're applying to the majors apply to L3 et al if you want to get currency quick and get paid well to do it.

flyguy2015

Contemplating 2 career paths that would result in numbers similar to those listed below in about the same amount of time:
Path 1: 3200TT, 1100 TurboJet, 2600 Turbine, 1000 TPIC (single turboprop), 1000-- 121, 1500---135

Path 2: 2500 TT, 1800 Turbojet, 1900 Turbine, 180 TPIC (business jet), 1000---121, 800---135

Both paths candidate has excellent academics, with degree above masters level and 2 type ratings.

Which path would a Legacy carrier score the highest?
Would either path be likely to score an interview?