MooseAg03

Gents,

I have a feeling there will soon be quite a few guys in my same boat, so I wanted to pose this question to those who have recently made the jump to the airlines. With the Air Force now requiring ADSCs for any re-qualification or formal upgrade training, I will be separating next year without attaining IP in the C-17 (previous RPA IP).

How competitive would someone be for any of the legacy, Fed Ex, or SWA with only about 2,000 hrs total time with 1,700 of that being C-17 and somewhere between 800-1,000 C-17 PIC? Already have ATP complete. No SAFSO, DO, or any of that experience, just the standard flt/cc and shop chief jobs.

I'm thinking I may have to do a touch and go at a regional to get some 121 time to make myself more competitive, but I do recall seeing a spreadsheet with United airlines hiring data from a few years ago and one of their new hires was a mil guy who had barely over 1,500 hours.

Any info would be appreciated for myself and several bros who will be in the same situation.

BeatNavy

Most of the 1500 hour guys going straight to majors seem to be fighter bro’s, but apply everywhere. I have heard of 2-3k heavy guys getting called. Hiring has just started picking up, retirements are just starting, and the pool of qualified mil guys has been draining, so over the next year you may be ok with those times depending on the rest of the resume/app/recency. FWIW, JetBlue has historically advertised competitive mins as 2k for fighter guys, 3-4K for mil transport guys, and 5-6k for civilian guys...can’t vouch for other airlines. Apply everywhere, line up a regional (or LCC or cargo) backup job that hopefully you don’t have to take. Even if you do, it isn’t that bad. First year pay at a regional with the bonuses they are giving out isn’t that far behind first year pay at majors. It’s not good, but it’s way better than it was a few years ago. And a 121 job/type will help with application points, and it’s good experience anyway.

I suggest guard/reserve as well, for the medical, retirement, and safety net, but that’s a personal call that may not be worth it to you and your family. Medical bills can add up though depending on your family size and medical issues, as most airlines’ medical plans aren’t that great, and the trend seems to be getting worse.

tunes

If you want to get picked up quicker, a quick stint at a regional would be my recommendation.

Beech Dude

As stated above, apply to all you're interested in. Thanks for the heads up though. I wasn't tracking this AFI re-write at all. If big blue thinks this will help, they're dead wrong; as your decision points out. More guys are going to say no thanks and start the next chapter in their careers.

F15andMD11

Yes, I know one of them. Very low time. BUT...he was a Chief of Safety (COS). That position adds a lot of points to the computer score (at least for UA it does).
Every qual you have adds a certain amount of points. Certainly 1000 PIC adds points, which is the minimum you will need for FedEx. Got a buddy doing to exact same as you, he will soon have the magical 1k PIC. No IP time also so I too will be curious to see what happens.
I do not think you need to go to a regional! Someone will call you, if not your first choice then take the offer and switch companies later.

Otterbox

You’re probably a bit on the lower side hours wise for the big three and Fedex/UPS.

You could use the GI bill for the 737NG type rating before it goes away and you’d probably be in the ballpark to get an interview with SWA.

An ACMI would probably take you immediately, and some of the LCCs would also. I’d go to any one of them before going to a regional, Unless Fedex/UPS are your #1 choice then I’d go to a regional and do the 500hr upgrade to Captain for a bit to get more competitive PIC time and try to go the LCA route or hop over to an ACMI for the 74/76 type and experience if they don’t hire you directly from an RJ.

ipdanno

When has Big Blue NOT required ADSCs for any requalification or formal upgrade training? Mind you, I'm ten years retired, but did AF soften up and allow formal training courses without an ADSC? Heresy!

As to your competiveness, you're competitive to get hired somewhere as long as you apply. Somebody will offer you a job, if you don't blow the interview. If that offer isn't your dream job, you can pass-not recommended-or take the job while working on making yourself that much more competitive.
Good luck, Barney Driver.

crewdawg

Yes but there used to be a note in the AFI that didn't allow requals to extend someones UPT (10 year) commitment. In a recent update that note was removed... I guess that's one way to try to solve the pilot shortage. Me thinks it will backfire on the AF. Since that release I've had more than a few buddies ping me about ANG/Airlines...many who I never thought would leave the AF.

rickair7777

That's what bottom feeder regionals used to do... slap a training contract on every type training event.

MooseAg03

Re-quals or Advanced Flying Training like IP upgrade used to not extend beyond the 10 year UPT ADSC, now they do. I would rather take that year to get my kids settled where we want to live while making my own decisions instead of planning my life around Big Blue’s whims.

Home for us is SE Texas, so IAH would be the ideal domicile. Hobby (SWA) is a close second. It seems to me the LCCs have higher mins than United, Frontier wants 2,500 min and Spirit wants 2,000 min while all United requires is an un-restricted ATP and 1,000 turbine hours. Would commuting to a Frontier, JetBlue or Spirit base be better than flying for a regional living in base? I’m willing to apply and interview anywhere and everywhere.


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