Fishingpilot

Hey y'all long time lurker on the forum. I found some old threads with similar situations, but nothing too recent with the hiring environment. I'd like to get your take on the following:

Currently sitting at about 600TT, all turbine, and 500 of that is ME. The problem is that my next set of orders (which will be my last) is a desk job. The desk job will be about a 4 year gig and then I'm planning on a clean break with the military. I want to be able to set myself up for as much success as possible after I get out, understanding that my first goal will definitely be a regional. The good news is that this desk job is pretty laid back, and I could definitely get a lot of flying in on my own time to (hopefully) make 750 R-ATP mins.

The questions are the following:
- Does it seem reasonable to think that if I were to make it to 750 hours (by either paying to fly or finding a side gig) by the time I would be applying, a regional would offer me a CJO?
- Do y'all have any specific recommendations for ways to build time in my situation, or should I just check out the low-time/part 91 page? I just want to make sure I'm covering all my bases.
- I've had a hard time finding this spelled out plainly: if I make it to 750 total time, would most regionals (if they were to give a CJO) offer to pay for the R-ATP?

My end goal is to use my next 3-4 years as efficiently as possible, so that I can get hired by a regional quickly. That way I can start building hours and experience for a major -- but that's starting to think long term. Right now I'm focusing on the alligator closest to the boat, which is making sure I'm not sitting on my hands for the next 3-4 years.

Any advice or feedback is appreciated in advance. Thanks for all the info on this site -- y'all are great!

rickair7777

150 hours in four years should be reasonable. Make sure you're current and instrument comfortable at the end.

Yes. The dynamics are changing rapidly, right now FO hiring and training has slowed due to loss of CA's and check airmen to the majors. Who knows where things will be at in four years but you should be able to get a job, shortage isn't going away.

I'm also pretty sure you could get a LCC major job in this climate... I might do that because it will pay better, better schedules. The downside for an upwardly mobile civilian is that it will take longer to get TPIC, which may be needed to get a legacy call sooner. But I'm pretty sure the legacies will not care about that with a mil pilot, your mil PIC is good enough... 1000 hours at a regional or LCC should be enough so might as well do it at a major.

As you approach separation, keep tabs on hiring status, as I said it's dynamic.

In this climate private pilot day VFR time is plenty good enough. If you can get into a flexible part-time turbine gig that might get you in the ballpark for legacies. Depends on your day job and location of course.

Actually if you're a fighter guy, you might be able to get a legacy job with 750 hours, I think I've heard of that kind of thing. Maybe for other FW as well.

Yes, regionals send you to the required ATP CPT course. Your actual flight training, signoff, and checkride will be in the sim concurrent with your type training. It's essentially all the same training with perhaps a couple minor extra tasks for the ATP ride.

I don't think legacies do that (yet), you'd have to pay for your own CTP and ATP in order to apply. Not sure about all the LCCs, most do not provide it though.

Keep thinking ahead, things are moving fast. You've done all the hard work, from now until airline new-hire class it's just admin and maintaining SA.

firefighterplt

Don’t bank on going direct to a legacy at 750TT, fighters or not. I’ve heard of those VERY few who pulled it off…let’s just say they all checked very particular boxes that the companies really like to flaunt.

Brickfire

Beyond “stay current” (and a cessna is fine) it’s really hard to say anything.

would anyone in 2019 have thought 25 year old dudes with no degree & no tpic would be asking whether they should take their cjo at delta or the one at united.

Very high chance the hiring environment in 2027 is unrecognizable

Russell Case

The real question: what service are you in and what we’re you flying that you’ve only got 600 hrs TT, and you also accepted 48 month orders to a non-flying gig? I can understand not being a stellar performer your first tour and getting hosed, but usually those people recognize their future is set and go to the training command, crush the hours, and walk into a Major job and don’t look back.

rickair7777

Doesn't matter in this climate: Mil wings => hired.

The only variable is how much and what kind of flight time.

Fishingpilot

I appreciate all the replies. Just wanted to get some insight from the outside to see where I stand, so thanks to all that replied.

To answer your question about the low time: my operational tour was with a heavy AF squadron. Low time because of injuries I had during my time there and the recovery; nothing crazy, but torn ligaments took months to recover from and then two broken bones almost immediately after my ligament recovery. Playing club sports will do that to you I guess -- let's just say I don't play anymore. My command helped me out because I was in good standing with them, and when I was medically up they got me back flying again, but the clock kept ticking on my operational tour. As far as going to a training command, it would've been nice for the hours, but for personal and family prioritization reasons I decided to take a desk tour in Denver. Not great for future airline progression, but in my personal situation it was the right call for my family.

rickair7777

Top tier might ask about your low time, but your explanation should be sufficient. Do articulate the lesson learned about club sports... airlines don't want you out on disability either.