DoUEvenLoopBro

Hello everyone. Here's my situation. I'm an AD member of the military with about 2500 hours of single-engine military jet time, however, will be in a non-flying staff job for 3 years when I retire in 2019. I have every instructor qualification that you can obtain within my community and even did a three year tour as an IP at our fleet replacement squadron.

My question is one of currency and how the majors view using General Aviation to regain currency prior to retirement. I have my ATP and CF-II but only have the opportunity to fly dual engine GA aircraft over the next two years. If I can fly 100-150 hours over the next 24 months, is that enough to get the attention of the majors? I'm definitely not above going the regional route, I'm just trying to manage expectations for my family. Any advice or insight would be much appreciated.

rickair7777

They view you as a great candidate. You have all the good tickets punched, all the military discipline and team spirit, you're a grownup, and unlike mid-career mil people you're probably not going to join the guard/reserve and drop 90 days of mil leave each year (they really like that last part).

They also understand military career progression and know that not everyone can retire out of the cockpit. Unlike a civilian who took a voluntary break from aviation, they will not hold that against you as a sign of weak commitment to flying. Even though some people do it, no airline expects mil pilots to walk away from the retirement at 16-17 years just because they detail you out of the cockpit.

Caveat: Currency is an issue. They know from experience that it's a key factor in training success. People have in the past met the bare minimum via GA and gotten hired but the sense I get today is that they greatly prefer turbine recency in a professional (vice re recreational) environment.

A little GA time would be good to prep for that regional or ISR gig, but I probably would not recommend hanging your hat on that. The good news is that you could try if you wanted to, and if the majors call, great. If not you'll be current for whatever else.

The regionals will require only bare minimum legal currency, so that could be cheaper than 100+ hours (also only need ASEL for that). But if you go minimalist, focus on instruments...regionals will not teach you how to fly instruments again. A checkride bust in some regional's half-arsed training program will complicate your progression to the majors.

Hopefully others will chime in.

Otterbox

Today you would Probably have to plan on doing some time at the regionals, especially if your GA flying isn't an employed position.

Three years from now- who knows. There's been talk of some of the majors looking to make their currency requirements for transitioning military less stringent than they currently are but who knows if that will actually happen.

Sounds like worse case scenario for you is a regional in 2019. I'd have all of my apps in next year and plan on a regional in 2019.

jimf15e

See my post (and a lot of other great info on this topic) in the "Staff Guy to Regionals" thread in this section. I was hired by United 1.5 years into an AGR staff job at the Pentagon after 17+ years flying on AD and 2 years flying as an ART. I started basic indoc having not flown an airplane for 2 years, 1 month. I didn't retire (still a reservist), but I was in the typical 18+ year, "have to do a staff job at some point" position, hoping I'd get picked up by a legacy but ready for a regional if needed.

FlewNavy

Keep flying as much as you can. Hope for a major. Hope is not a plan so expect regionals. Financially plan for 24 months of regional flying after separation and be super happy if you only have to spend 6.

The above is exactly what I am doing. I have been on desk duty since 2013 and retiring in 2018.

DoUEvenLoopBro

Ok, thank you everyone for the responses. Like I said, I'm just trying to manage expectations right now so every little bit of advice helps.

Hacker15e

Just a couple other times this has been discussed recently:

Getting Back into the Game
Staff guy to regionals

ugleeual

apply to the majors for sure... but at the same time apply to any of the regionals that don't have a training contract. Apply, get hired, fly 3-4 months, update your resume, and you'll more than likely get an interview at a major.

DoUEvenLoopBro

Thanks for mentioning the training contract because that's not something that I had though of!!

TheRoboFighter

Very well said. I think you hit all the big points.