After Military...
 

Like many before me I apologize if this thread is in the wrong forum or been previously addressed. I am a new member. My situation is as follows... I am currently a Naval Flight Officer (NAV) who is working on obtaining all of my ratings and hours. When I retire in 2014 I will be 42. Provided I have the hours and obviously not concerned about making a lot of money will regional airlines be willing to hire me? I guess what I am asking is everything else aside such as pilot demand etc is my age going to restrict me or make airlines not want to hire me? I have no dreams of going to a major airline and would be quite content to fly a regional airline as a second career. Any insight/advice will be appreciated, especially by other former military folks now flying commercially.

I doubt that age would be a limiting factor. Most regionals have a fairly high turnover rate as is due to guys leaving for the majors. With the new age 65 retirement reg you'll still have 23 good years to work with the airline.

You will have no problems getting hired at the regionals in general. Usually they will consider your military background a bonus (responsible adult). But interviews are usually done by regional captains...be advised that you might run into an interviewer who was rejected by, or resents, the military. If so, just roll with it...he will get his jollies by screwing with you, but will probably not have the nads to turn away a perfectly viable candidate over his personal sour grapes.

But it also depends on timing, if they are not hiring, you are out of luck. You could always flight instruct or try some other general aviation job to build hours in the meantime.

If hiring is very slow, then competitive mins will be higher. Also it look like congress is going to require an ATP for all airline pilots...this would be in effect by 2014 if the legislation passes. You might need 1500+ hours with several hundred ME hours to be competetive. I would plan on at least 1500 (for the ATP) plus 100 ME. The more ME you have, the better when times are tough at the regionals.

Thanks for the info... not as discouraging as I anticipated!