Some advice for a current military pilot pls
03-06-2011, 07:50 PM
#11
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 664
Originally Posted by EP11
This thread probabaly belongs in military.
03-06-2011, 07:57 PM
#12
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Legacy FO
Posts: 4,096
As a military guy, you are a special breed when it comes to flying times. The civilian only pilots will need significantly more hours. The military guys also have the networking (that is inbred into us from day one).
How do you think you're going to stand up against other military folks is what I would be worried about.
I will say this, I think this VSP is going to be small when it comes to the number of pilots they let out. You're not going to see the massive numbers like the previous VSP. So you have that going for you.
But who is hiring right now? DAL just finished training the classes for the year although some good rumors point to hiring in the very near future. They're still accepting applications. SWA wants to hire a 100 or so. FedEx is gearing up for what some believe will be a few hundred positions. UPS has brought back a few furloughs but still has about 100 still out. United and CAL are merging and I doubt they would start hiring during the merger. jetBlue was hiring earlier this year but I don't know if they're still calling folks in. American isn't hiring. I have no idea what US Air is doing. Atlas was hiring.
Personally, I think if you wait a few years, you will be in a more friendly hiring environment.
How do you think you're going to stand up against other military folks is what I would be worried about.
I will say this, I think this VSP is going to be small when it comes to the number of pilots they let out. You're not going to see the massive numbers like the previous VSP. So you have that going for you.
But who is hiring right now? DAL just finished training the classes for the year although some good rumors point to hiring in the very near future. They're still accepting applications. SWA wants to hire a 100 or so. FedEx is gearing up for what some believe will be a few hundred positions. UPS has brought back a few furloughs but still has about 100 still out. United and CAL are merging and I doubt they would start hiring during the merger. jetBlue was hiring earlier this year but I don't know if they're still calling folks in. American isn't hiring. I have no idea what US Air is doing. Atlas was hiring.
Personally, I think if you wait a few years, you will be in a more friendly hiring environment.
03-06-2011, 08:05 PM
#13
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Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 52
Originally Posted by webecheck
I am able to leave active duty by Dec of 2012. However the Air Force, in its infinite wisdom, is willing to pay me 125k(pre-tax) to leave by Sep of this year. The extra cash and the earlier out date would be nice if I knew I actually could get that airline job we (mil pilots) always assumed we would be able to get one day.....and I would thus avoid another 6 month deployment later this year.
So, the question is, is getting an airline job within the next 6 months a feasible endeavor? I have an F-16 background, 1800-ish hrs total, 1500 PIC, 800 Instructor. All my time is turbine, but only about 280 is multi.
I for sure want to do the airline gig one day, but I'm not getting out of active duty for a regional carrier job if you know what I mean. Excluding deployments and weekend exercises, the job has been relatively good to me and my family. Pay is good enough and benefits are nice. I have 9 more years until I could retire, but that 9 in front of me is going to have a lot of suck in it....and thats a fact.
So, if getting a job is likely then I would probably take the money and run, find a guard/reserve unit to fly with, and then enjoy not having to worry about a 365 day tdy to egypt, libya, or pakistan.
If not, I guess I'll suffer through that remaining 9 years.
What do you guys think?
Thanks in advance.
So, the question is, is getting an airline job within the next 6 months a feasible endeavor? I have an F-16 background, 1800-ish hrs total, 1500 PIC, 800 Instructor. All my time is turbine, but only about 280 is multi.
I for sure want to do the airline gig one day, but I'm not getting out of active duty for a regional carrier job if you know what I mean. Excluding deployments and weekend exercises, the job has been relatively good to me and my family. Pay is good enough and benefits are nice. I have 9 more years until I could retire, but that 9 in front of me is going to have a lot of suck in it....and thats a fact.
So, if getting a job is likely then I would probably take the money and run, find a guard/reserve unit to fly with, and then enjoy not having to worry about a 365 day tdy to egypt, libya, or pakistan.
If not, I guess I'll suffer through that remaining 9 years.
What do you guys think?
Thanks in advance.
03-06-2011, 08:09 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 664
LAF bubba. if you fall into the yr gp, you can apply. my CC called afpc and got the scoop directly. hard to believe i know, but its true. my cc emailed us the info....even saw my name on a wing generated list of all the eligible majors on the base. all 23 of us will have the RIF package written up apparently.
03-06-2011, 08:37 PM
#18
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Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 148
Originally Posted by webecheck
I have an F-16 background, 1800-ish hrs total, 1500 PIC, 800 Instructor. All my time is turbine, but only about 280 is multi.
03-07-2011, 01:07 AM
#19
Banned
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Narrow/Left Wide/Right
Posts: 3,655
Originally Posted by webecheck
I for sure want to do the airline gig one day, but I'm not getting out of active duty for a regional carrier job if you know what I mean.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Also, in the Navy reserves as well it is easier to get a flying billet the more junior and current you are, as you ripen in your career and seniority, it gets harder to make the transition.
My understanding of the sep pay for reservists is that they take it out pro-rated interest free from your retirement pay at age 60 over a 20 year span, so $125K will reduce your reserve retirement by roughly 6K per year once you collect a reserve retirement. Not bad for an interest free loan.
03-07-2011, 04:28 AM
#20
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Left Seat, Toyota Tacoma
Posts: 593
Originally Posted by webecheck
riddler,
word i got is they just want less people on the AD side right now. cleared hot to go guard/reserve.
appreciate all the responses, and yes i have done my homework, but the issue i'm trying to get a handle on is how coveted are these few openings that are about to occur? or will there be sufficient hiring that my credentials will be good enough? i'm sure everybody has friends at all the airlines right? hell, even a 3 yr regional pilot has more than 2000 hours doesn't he?
word i got is they just want less people on the AD side right now. cleared hot to go guard/reserve.
appreciate all the responses, and yes i have done my homework, but the issue i'm trying to get a handle on is how coveted are these few openings that are about to occur? or will there be sufficient hiring that my credentials will be good enough? i'm sure everybody has friends at all the airlines right? hell, even a 3 yr regional pilot has more than 2000 hours doesn't he?
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