My advice is focused on the idea of resume building and keeping options open. Heading to the VTs would get the IP and maybe the NATOPS boxes checked on the apps while allowing them to stay flight current.

A regional with a quick upgrade would allow for greater resume building opportunities and lessen the financial blow of leaving Active Duty in case they weren't hired on by a major within the first year (which has happened before...Even for jet pilots) after leaving active duty.

Regardless of background, I wouldn't propose that anyone go to a regional where folks are stuck on reserve for years, or FOs for a long period of time when there are regionals out there making line holding CAs in 12-18 months.

As folks are so fond of saying, anything can change in the industry... if suddenly getting hired at the majors becomes exceptionally difficult again, what's going to look better on someone's applications and resume? Being a part 121 regional FO, or a part 121 regional CA?

 

Correct. I've seen numerous helo guys with FW IP time do an approx 18 month touch and go at the regionals and get called. Generally no upgrade required.

 

With a FW IP tour and 18 months at a regional their FW TT is? 1800? 2000? 2000+? That's where they're getting hired off of their FW resume.

 

Same in T-6 land. FITU Xs get priority on planes. IPs are generally the limiting factor, so making new ones is the Wing's priority.

T-45s won't be broken forever. To the guy asking, going there will guarantee you'll be flying 2-3Xs a day and as many weekends as you want as they dig out. Just no funded CCXs since CNATRAs broke.

 

Thank you for all the replies and helpful information.

Would a major airline look at T-45 instructor time much differently than T-6 instructor time, or is that splitting hairs?

 

Don't think they much care. I have a buddy who was a harrier pilot who got hired on at a legacy with 400 harrier hours and the rest Student and T-6 IP time (minus the min multi time) at about 1650TT.

 

Depends on the airline. Some may not care but others definitely seem to have a preference for jet time. UPS's application doesn't have a place for T-6 time, for example. Given the option, I'd take T-45's. Especially if it's Corpus T-6's.

 

Whichever position you are offered/accept - be sure to try and get some positions in an evaluator/standardization role and/or some safety positions won't look bad on the resume too.

 

Thank you. This type of thing rarely comes as an option, but if it ever does this information is helpful. I appreciate the resource.