Lefturns

I'm about to start with a regional and I keep hearing that a major airline will hire military guys quickly. I keep hearing that I won't stay at a regional more than a year, but I find it hard to believe. Are there any military helo pilots that made it to a major recently? How long were you at a regional?

Hacker15e

Keep in mind that it hasn't really even been two years yet since the regionals really started being interested in military helo guys. It is still very, very early on with these rotary wing transition programs at the airlines. I don't imagine many -- if any -- participants have enough fixed wing PIC time yet to have moved on to the big leagues. Many are probably still working their way through getting enough pre-airline flight time to get their R-ATPs.

The "you won't be here more than a year" gouge is valid for most fixed-wing military guys at the regionals to get re-current/recent or get 121 time on their resumes. I'm not sure that same timeline applies to rotary wing transition guys who have a lot more fixed wing experience to build before they're really competitive for the majors.

Otterbox

According to the interview prep companies briefing the RTP folks you’ll be treated as a regional airline pilot when they look at your hours etc, but you’ll get some bonus points for having a military background.

Its probably reasonable to expect 3-5 years at a regional, depending on how hard you worked to get hired at a major and how well you build your resume over that period of time.

BeatNavy

I was a pure mil helo guy and started 3.5 years ago at a bottom feeder regional (had a smattering of FW bug smasher hours but did my own “RTP” before that was a thing getting additional FW ratings with my GI bill as I was getting out). I spent 1.5 years there before moving to jetblue. Could have been a little less but I had to defer a couple classes.

With 2 months of training, some reserve months initially, building time didn’t really start until about 6-8 months after I started at said regional. A year after I started at my regional, I had about 600 jet hours, and that’s when I applied to JetBlue, the only major that really counts helo time. By the time I interviewed, deferred a couple classes, then started class, I had just hit 1k 121 SIC hours and could upgrade at my regional. I had to decide whether to upgrade and get 121 PIC or go to a lower tier major. I chose the latter. I’d have been at 1k TPIC about 3 years after starting the whole thing, and I don’t think I could have started at a legacy much quicker than that.

Ymmv. I have many helo turned regional friends who can’t get a call here or anywhere else with 2k+ regional hours. Another helo friend spent around 18 months before jetblue hired him, but no legacy would. The hiring wave is in its early stages and the regional and mil ranks have thinned considerably, so hopefully regional time drops for you and others. But based on current stats, anecdotally from my observations, count on 1-2 years minimum for JetBlue, and 3-5 years for a legacy. Good luck.

rickair7777

I would expect the situation to improve as hiring ramps up. Fundamentally, you're still a rated military aviator and a known quantity. They'll almost have to hire you before they reach too deep into the regional/135/91 barrel.

Privateer

I was a SkyWest captain (AUG2007 hire) and still currently flying for the ARNG. Graduated FT Rucker in 2010 and currently have approx 1100 hours of helo time. Hired by UAL on JUN15 (I was the only helo guy in the class). Note also the aviation industry was way different then as it is right now so take that into consideration.

To answer your question, helo guys do get hired.

rickair7777

You were more of a FW jet pilot with military helo time. Your regional time was the foundation of your package, the mil RW was icing on the cake.

Lefturns

I'm excited about the career change. I've got a lot of RW time, and I'm looking forward to learning a new aircraft and the 121 industry. Thank for all of the replies.

Coolbrz

Hey all,

Wanted to give this thread a bump. As the first group of early RTP adopters hit the regional line in earnest I’m interested in the marketability of all (most) military helo guys/gals.

I’m an Army guy so that’s most relevant for me personally but there’s likely similarities between the Navy/Marines/AF as well.

I’d imagine details matter, ie. Commissioned vs warrant officer, assignments, duties, etc.

Ultimately looking for any personal accounts or reliable anecdotes of when, and with what background, primarily helo guys can reasonably expect to be in the realistic hiring window for a major. Not withstanding flow programs.

Anyone have/heard/in the know of anything?

Otterbox

I recently had a buddy who spent 15 years flying helicopters gained some fixed wing multi experience for his last tour on AD and went on to fly some multi engine stuff overseas , it took about 4 years for him to gain significant fixed wing hours/ quails to be picked up by Delta.

Based on that and another buddy who was a 4 year RJ FO with no PIC getting on at Delta two classes behind my helo transition buddy, a fair guess is 3-5 years of fixed wing multi engine flying depending on how hard you network.