atpcliff

Lots of regionals will hire you, ASAP. If you want, you can do nothing to prepare, and just do your normal AF studying and training will be no problem. Today's regionals are used to VERY low experienced pilots, who need lots more training than even two years ago.

If you want to prepare ahead, I recommend getting a PC sim, and flying that at home and/or doing sim training at your local FBO with an instructor...that probably helped me the most when I came back. They have REALLY GREAT software now for PC sim training...

Note: Recently read about a guy out of flying for 20 years...came back with no prep and had no problems...

AFTrainerGuy

It doesn’t really matter except just to save you a typo on your app and maybe a uncomfortable question in a interview, but the other type rating we got with the B-707 (I was former KC135 too) was a B-720, not a 727. The 727 and the KC135 are completely different. The 727 was a 3 engine jet, T-tail, with all engines mounted in the back. You obviously know the 135. If it’s on your license, most likely a FSDO screw up, but so you know.

Again... not trying to be that guy

Sliceback

AFTrainer - trying to tell an airline guy that the 727 type is the same as the 707 might be a good way to not get hired. If it's just an accidental typo here's it's no big deal.

If it's on a license it should be fixed.

To the OP - you have your CFI? Military conversion? You can fly on the side and currency would be a non-issue. If anything it could show a dedicated effort to stay flying. I know a guy, non military current, who went from the Pentagon in a non flying slot and had interview offers from DL, UA, and SW. How? Being a MEL CFI in his time off might have paid HUGE dividends. Instead of maybe having to spend 6-12 months at a regional he retired on Friday(?) and went to new hire training on Monday. That additional 6-12 months at the end of his career will be worth $250-500K+ (direct salary plus retirement principal growth minus regional FO pay). So is flying as a CFI in you limited time off worth $75/hr? Maybe, maybe not. If it gets you hired 6-12 months sooner at a major? For $250-500K? Most guys would put the effort in for that much money.

BeatNavy

My $.02...if you PC/PF, get current in a tanker again and are hired into a TR/TG job, the AF will pay for your currency/recency, and your commitment to blue will not be that much longer than it is now, and, the biggest thing, it will be in a part time capacity if you want it to be. It gives you flexibility and options. I couldn’t wait to be completely out of the army and go to the airlines. Out of the IRR and everything. After a few years out, here I am in big blue. If I had mil leave and TRS while at a regional my life would have been a lot better. And as a tanker dude you’re likely in high guard/res demand. I will also say that your perspective of blue may be different as a part timer, and depending on how things shake out it may accelerate your timeline to a major. But if you could do it quickly, get back in the jet fairly quickly, even if you give it just a small trial period (until your guard adsc is up or whatever it is for requalling (full TX?)) it will help a lot imo with flexibility over waiting 1.5 years then punching. I would hands down do 3 part time guard years with an airline job over 1.5 AD years. Just my perspective. You know you and your situation best. I know the feeling of wanting to leave it all behind, forever (and the worse feeling of getting back in after enjoying straight airlines for several years). Good luck whatever you decide.

pangolin

You won’t have trouble getting hired. The advice given here is all to help you do well in the training.

AFTrainerGuy

Slice... that’s what I was saying. A 727 has no relation to a 707, although we did get a b-720 type (I don’t even know what it is). My warning to him was if it’s a typo, no big deal, but if it came up in a interview and he answered it the way he did here (they were the same), it might give a lot of looks around the room. Maybe I wrote my j it UAL response wrong, but what you said is what I was trying to say.... those two airplanes have really nothing in common at all (727 vs 707)

FlyGuy17

Hey guys, sorry I meant B-720, and that is what’s on my license, so all is good there. Just a typo.

I recently purchased two popular books to study up and refresh. They are “Everything Explained” and “Turbine Pilots Flight Manual”

Based on everyone’s input, it seems like it will be easy to get hired, but I still plan to show up prepared and refreshed. I’ll be taking a refresher course and doing some flying club stuff, I’m also going to reconsider the Guard based on the input so far.

Guess the next question is which regional to focus on. I suppose a lot can change in 2 years though.

Prettywhacked1

If you have the same type from your FSDO that most tanker folks get, then you have a 720 one along with your 707, not a 727.
The 720 was a hit with a few foreign carriers but not really seen in the US. Has been issued with the 707 as a common type for eons.

IMHO, of course.

tomgoodman

The B720 was given that model number for marketing reasons, so it would appear to be a brand new design, although being just a lighter short-range version of the original 707-120. Boeing later replaced it with the 727.

Hrkdrivr

I think you’re right that airlines don’t care about RPA time, necessarily (not sure), but if you can get IP-qualified in RPAs without extending your ADSC it would be worthwhile. Anything that shows progression and initiative in whatever you’re doing will help separate you from others.