Hobbit64

No. Some of us just aren’t really vocal. Are you whining?
Some of us made the jump to the regionals Pre-RTAG and maintained Army RW flying in the Guard/Reserves.
While I did have Army FW time prior to making it to one of the ‘Big 6’, I also had 121 PIC at a regional on my resume that outshined the Army flight time. The army FW time was definitely not the majority of the FW time on my resume. I was asked to go the the Army’s version of FW training BECAUSE of my regional experience. Nothing disingenuous about the RTAG site. There are a few of us old ‘APTAP’ folks still milling about.
To clear up, or fine tune something you erroneously spoke to, our ‘FLIGHT’ time in Helicopters may not be counted in the Flight Time Grid by some folks in the hiring departments, but your leadership roles while acting as a military aviator *WILL* be counted. i.e. Stan Pilot, Safety Officer, etc. So, please do not discount your experiences.
You will be surprised at the looks and requests for more ‘war stories’ you get when someone finds out you flew RW in the sandbox or mountains. Do not underestimate the importance of being able to interact/tell stories/bond with your team mates in the 121 World! To the point, I love finding out that someone flew 130’s and then seeing their face when I thank them for feeding me. They look at me quizzically until I tell them about a horrible little dirt strip I flew -64’s off of that is tucked into a sh!tty corner of never-never land. When I say: “I always love meeting you folks! You guys kept me fed and watered. We really loved watching you come in and drop off beans, bullets and what not! Thanks!” With out exception, each one lights up and remembers a tough approach, landing and challenging takeoff. And here is some grunt saying ‘thanks!’ Simple. Brothers/Sisters in Arms. Nothing cosmic. It is all stuff you should have learned at the age of 4 in the sandbox.

The other guys here are way more qualified than I. Listen to what they have to say. They walked this path long before I did. Do Not cry in your wheaties or discount your flight time or experiences. Get after it. Grind away. Clock 3000 to 4000 hours of FW time with 1000 PIC and come on over! The Water is Warm! Enjoy your Brothers and Sisters in Arms while you’re in the service, but at some point, the focus becomes YOUR needs and not the Army’s.
To the folks that think the Army’s Needs always rule: “God Bless Ya!” I no longer do.

P.S. JetBlue is a fine company and offers a great product. While I don’t fly for them, they employ some great people. If B6 had offered me a job before I got the one I have, I would have been ecstatic.
Good Luck and realize that that the Army pushes you down IOT make you stay. The company I fly for is polar opposite. Heck!, even my little girl loves my employer. Find a place that values You, and doesn’t tell you that you might as well stay because you can’t make as much anywhere else... (yes, I received the propaganda the army pushes instead of actually fixing problems)
Take the Leap!

Blackhawk

Started with someone stating we would miss our time in the Army. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

rickair7777

I miss all kinds of crap I did in the mil... doesn't mean I'd want to do it again today

60av8tor

Exactly what I tell people. I miss it every day, but there is more I don’t miss. Overall, though, yes my life is WAY more boring and the job satisfaction is nowhere remotely close. However, as someone else said earlier, work is just work now, not my life. I now get my excitement from other places on my terms.

Blackhawk

Yeah. Combat flying is for the young. I was once a 40 something IP giving a young WO1 training in a combat AO. I hadn’t had a day off in 13 days. Needed the CE to help me out of the cockpit, help me out of my chicken plate and give me another 800 mg Motrin for my back. We were supposed to be off the next day and I was looking forward to sleeping in, watching some DVDs while sipping some “mouth wash”. While I’m debriefing the S-2 the WO-1 comes in from turning in our secure gear at ops. He’s all excited. We’re on the mission board for the next day. Flight lead. The CO and flight surgeon are behind him. I almost started crying. I knew what was coming. Some kind of song and dance from the CO and flight surgeon how they needed me to fly, flight surgeon would give me another extension, and I would do it.
Do I regret doing it? No. Was it a great experience? Yup. Would I sign up to do it again? Nope.

Taco280AI

At OBAP today. FedEx, UPS and Southwest clearly don't value rotor time, even military, because they don't count it at all. None. My impression is that American and United don't care about it much either, they seem to count it as any regular (aka civilian piston) time because their honest advice and suggestion is to get 3500-5500 total time with 1000-3000 121 TPIC. Not a complaint, I valued my Army rotor time. But don't fly helicopters in the military if your goal is mainline. And if you're there now, don't expect to get there any sooner because of it. Just be happily surprised if you do. In the meantime keep flying, building time, upgrade, get that TPIC, and enjoy the journey.

aeropain

About to retire from the Army with 20 yrs flying DUSTOFF with Korea, OIF, OEF, deployments under my belt. I know going in its going to be a tough row uphill, first with the regionals, and later (maybe) with the Legacy/Majors, but I think its worth it. I'll miss my time in the uniform, but not that much. Ready for the change.

60av8tor

Very good post. I used to talk to rotor guys fairly often, and would hint towards the above. More and more - especially since the start of the RTPs - my opinion (similar to the post above) was received as overly negative, etc. I had about 1k charter FW prior to a regional. Slugging it out now at a WO building TPIC, learning, and enjoying the journey - as much as possible at my regional Hope to beat the flow, but the closer I get to flowing, the more I think my 2k RW means 0. Not arguing that it should or shouldn’t - that’s another discussion. Just looking at the reality of things.

X58DeltaDriver

When I retired, I was a rotary and fixed wing IP/IE/CFI/CFII/EIEIO. I currently have over 5000 hours, over 2200 FW and over 1000 FWTPIC. I have applications in with all the majors, and haven't heard from any of them. I dropped an app with my preferred regional and they were calling me within 8 hours. If you are in the Army and can get any jet time at all, volunteer for it. It will make all the difference. I had a recruiting specialist tell me to quit my current job and go get jet time. She said she didn't care where, just anywhere, and said I would be at a major within a year. I have a plan, but am using "tactical patience."

It was 44 degrees C when I took off yesterday. With no A/C...

NxNW

I have the same feelings toward that RTAG group as well which is unfortunate. There was some good info on there for guys starting out, but the narrative they are selling for most people there is absolutely false. Haven’t followed or paid attention to the group since after it started so I couldn’t say how it is now.


To answer your question, yes. But I will tell you that I feel like an outlier. 5000+ total, 3600 RW, of which about 3000 was PIC. 2500 in UH-60, and another 500 or so in the EC-135 and other EMS aircraft after I got out. Had just over 1000 hours of 121 time in about 19 months as a regional FO when I got hired at UA. My total FW time at that point was just over 1300. Didn’t use any RTP, just did the time and ratings on my own over the years. But I also had a lot of other boxes checked that helped me. Former SP/IE, Masters degree, Part 135 Chief Pilot, I started a non-profit, etc.

My point is that it’s possible, but I am definitely not the norm and I understand that. Do everything you can outside of flying to check those other boxes.