You can try reaching out to the folks at Skybridge Vets. They work to connect people with operators and would probably be a great resourse for you.

 

Making an attempt to revive this discussion. I am one year from military retirement and six months from being able to start a SkillBridge internship. While I have a CJO with a legacy, I am hoping to take advantage of SkillBridge to gain commercial aviation industry experience and build recency after a few years of non-flying assignments. I have contacted numerous companies about SkillBridge opportunities and have come up with none that are interested without a 1-2 year commitment after the internship. Any informed recommendations?

 

No recent flying? Get checked out in a SEL, get some instrument refresher, if you don't have your civilian MEL do that. Or at least get a couple hours of MEL time. There's companies bringing 737 simulators to malls. It's not cheap but it's worth looking into vs taking an internship that delays going to the major airline that you have a CJO with.

 

Skillbridge won't delay that, it happens while you are on active duty still.

There are some Part 135 operators that are approved for skillbridge, try one of those.

 

Compared to mil and airline flying, 91/135 is the Wild, Wild, West... especially for folks who don't know what they don't know.

From my informed perspective dipping your toes in that world sounds like a good way to get a checkride bust or an FAA violation and get your legacy CJO revoked. Unless you know someone at the company in question, it's a known quality operation, and you can get a Bro hookup.

Personally I wouldn't go there. If you want to get current, rent a small plane and a well regarded CFI from your local FBO or base aero club.

 

Dynomite wrote - I have contacted numerous companies about SkillBridge opportunities and have come up with none that are interested without a 1-2 year commitment after the internship.

 

The reality is that taking a “paying” (even Skillbridge) civilian flying job is only risking your future career without a lot of value added. That legacy has a pretty good idea of the training you will need after a layoff from flying and were confident enough in their ability to train you to make the CJO.

Caveat: it’s awesome you have a legacy CJO in your hip pocket already. I would focus your remaining time fleshing out a plan B in case that legacy decides to “pause” hiring for some period of time.

 

Thanks all for the replies; definitely some food for thought. My core is fairly resistent to shying away from opportunities because of the threat of check ride failures or FAA violations; but as some pointed out, I don't know what I don't know and there is definitely risk.

So as to be value added, for the military folks out there looking into an aviation-related SkillBridge internship, I would recommend looking into BreakTurn, a third-party provider that assists servicemembers in finding opportunities. They maintain relationships with an array of companies interested in hosting SkillBridge interns. At a minimum, they can assist with adding some detail to the current aviation industry outlook.

 

Some have expressed the "risks" of applying and working at civilian 135 type operation vs continuing on with your military flying and waiting for the airlines or whomever to judge you on that body of work alone, I will provide my perspective as someone who has witnessd first hand over the last 18 months the benefits of the SB program.

Background, my company, Baker Aviation - Citation X's, has employed 30+ SB pilots over the last 20 months.

I have interviewed personally approximately 40+ SB applicants (all pilots) over that same time frame.

We have had CG, USA, USAF, USN, USMC applicants.

Most have been helicopter pilots, with varing degrees of fixed wing time in light GA aircraft (50-200 hrs), fixed wing only pilots in King Airs or other similar size aircraft;

Total hrs with as little as 1000 hrs - usually 0-3/4's (helo and fixed time) with some having over 3000+ hrs (W-4/5 or 0-5s).

Flight Safety International in MCO is where our training is completed. Was just there and spoke to nearly every X ground/sim instructor and they all raved about the quality of SB SICs that have excelled at the training for the X. "Motivated", "well prepared", "quick learners", "sponges", "solid CRM/Checklist skills" is how they have described the Baker SBers that have gone through the 17 day training. Only 1 struggled but all have completed the type checkride and came to Baker.

These pilots, regardless of background have done well and I would encourage anyone who is weighing those options to consider researching and finding out what employers are SB approved.

FYI, Baker has all SIC training slots filled through March '24 which means these are pilots separating/retiring in 3Q25.

As you can see planning ahead for your landing spot, at least if Baker is a consideration, is open to only those who retiring in late late 3Q25 and afterwards. Other SB employers may not be filled up yet so do your research and send out emails to get clarification if your retirement date will match up to proposed training dates.

Some of our pilots have gone on 121 carriers (when the window was wide 8-12 months ago), some have gone to larger 135 operators (Net Jets).

We were offering continued employment at the end of their SB 4-6 month window but that maybe changing since we are not having as many SB leave for other jobs.

Just another perspective on whether to dip your toe into the flying waters outside of the military.

 

Typo alert.