Greetings. New user here, been lurking for about 3-4 months.

I'm an FA-18 pilot by trade, and am currently on DIFDEN orders doing the FAC thing.

I've got a little over 1000 hours total, roughly 800 in the Hornet, but I haven't flown in 2 years. I plan on getting out next year, but likely will not be able to get back in the cockpit before I get out.

I assume that the major's are not an option yet, and that I'll have to build up some more hours in the RJ's. I also assume that even though I have enough hours for any of the RJ's, my lack of currency will limit me to just a couple of the regional lines given my current status.

Is this correct?

I'm looking at going into the guard or reserve to pick up an easy (as opposed to paying for it) 100 hours to get current as a first choice to give me options to at least apply to a desirable regional line, with the goal of picking up enough hours in the RJ to apply for the majors. Is there a better route you would recommend for gaining currency, if it is needed?

I've seen the military conversion calculator here, but it seems geared towards the heavies. Am I underestimating my options? Does the 800 Hornet hours buy me anything in regards to PIC time, total time, etc? From doing a search here, it looks like I can add .2 or .3 per sortie, depending on airline, to meet the minimums.

Also, is the 1500 hour requirement for the ATP a hard requirement, or does the military conversion count towards that?

Thanks in advance

 

Yeah, in all likelihood you are stuck at something akin to the regionals for a while. I would go find a guard/res unit to fly your arse off with until you have the competing times. Spend as little time as humanly possibly in the cesspool or regional airline flying. The good thing going for you is that pretty much all of your time is PIC multi, so all you really need to work on is total time...

As for corrections to time, eveyr airline has a different policy. Some multiply your total time by a factor like 1.2 or 1.3, some add .2 or .3 per sortie. There is no standard across the board, you have to find out what the company you are looking at prefers. Many of these conversions have been covered here in the forums already. Seraching will probably get you the factor said company uses, but I would still doublecheck to be sure.

For the ATP, you've gotta have the 1500. UNLESS you were to go back and create a logbook that has every flight you've ever taken and factored all the actual taxi times and what not and ended up coming to 1500. Probably not the best solution by any stretch but it would work.

 

One more thing, as far as currency goes, with the big hiring rush going on at all the regionals it may not be that big of an issue. Can't say that with any authority though.

 

I had a squadronmate that did this who was at a similar position in his USAF fighter flying career. It was a significant amount of effort, but it was enough to get him to 1500 hours.

I don't know how that will affect him when it's time to go for an airline interview, since he now has a logbook that differs from his official military flight time.

 

Thanks for the inputs. I already have my entire logbook in excel, but its more for my own use than anything else. Wouldn't be hard to recalculate, but from what I've been reading about the interview process, I don't want to have to explain all the extra effort.

It looks to me that the most expeditious route to qualify for the major's is to jump into the reserves flying pointy nose a/c so I can relatively quickly get to the 100 currency / 1000 hr PIC time (with the conversion), and also jump into the regionals to build up to the 1500 actual for the ATP. Probably take 6-9 months doing both as opposed to 2-3 years just one or the other to build both actual hours and PIC time.

I plan on settling down in Virginia Beach after I get out (near Oceana) so it would be great to get on with the reserves there flying C-9's, but I don't know how long the process is with them to qualify for PIC, wheras with single seat or a reserve IP I get it right away.

 

I was in the exact same position, starting work on Mon with a pretty good outfit. I tried to PM you but you don't have enough posts. Get 10 posts and PM me and I'll give you my data dump. It can be done.

 

Thanks, will do.

 

I haven't forgot, but I'm at 37 posts and still no permissions to PM or anything else for that matter. I'll get in touch as soon as I am "allowed."

 

Click here for more information on PMs. If you continue to experience problems, contact the Site Admins for further explanation.

 

The whole not being able to PM is starting to irritate me...