I am currently gathering Military heavy PIC time (and TT), but it is coming very slowly (especially with excluding the dreaded "other" time).

Being short on TT for most major job postings, would it be worth it to join a regional for a short period of time to become more competitive in the TT column? Then I could drop trips here and there to keep building heavy PIC military as it comes...

Also, will the 121 experience add justifiable weight to my application?

Just don't want to miss the next hiring opportunity. Any advice is appreciated...

Thanks everyone!

 

I wouldn't give up a lot of military heavy PIC time to chase regional SIC, but if you can do both it will certainly help pad your total and turbine time. The 121 experience will look good too.

 

If time is getting hard to come by, I'd take the 121 gig. You can drop ML anytime a good trip opens up in the Reserve/ANG gig.

Both the $$ and the heavy PIC time will make it worth chasing all the Mil trips your can and just fill in the gaps with the 121 thing.

JMHO,

Ball Breaker

 

If you can do both, by all means do both. You will learn a ton doing 121 time you just don't get in the Mil. You'll become much more familiar with the FARs, and going in and out of major airports will be eyeopening vs. the everything comes to a stop when you land at XX AFB. The more PIC turbine time you can pad the better as well as opposed to Regional SIC. Regional is good, Mil PIC is better, both is BEST!!

Best of luck whatever you do. I hope you catch the beginning of the wave that's coming.

P.S. Start stashing away savings if you haven't for that wonderful "probie" salary

 

Are you currently Active Duty, Reserve, Guard? What kind of time do you currently have? Where do you live...anywhere there is a regional airline base? Lots of info needed to offer a helpful response.

(Also, if you are an aircraft commander, all of your time logged counts towards your total time. Even if you are in the bunk, you are still the AC.)

If you can do both, thats great. You will learn a lot from being an FO at a regional airline. I think it also shows a little interest/initiative in wanting to be an airline pilot. Heck...you might even have fun doing it.

 

Can't thank you gentlemen enough for your time. Maybe patience is the answer here in my case? I know of many mil guys who bypassed that level-as they should. I sure any HR rep worth their salt can say "yep, he may not have accumulated 6K hours flying between EWR and BUF, but he does have solid international, oceanic, and heavy military PIC experience - we can train him on how to call for push back."

On a serious note, maybe I would go into cardiac arrest (and lose my medical) sharing a less than desirable hotel room with a 23yo kid getting paid 250 wk during training? LoL.

Thanks again!

 

Ewww, kinda touchy;

Before too big of a hole gets dug, read here. It takes a bit of drift towards the end;

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...employers.html

But to reiterate a point made. Yep, those on the HR boards know all too well that although one type of experience isn't directly related to another, it can be taught and isn't rocket surgery. The guys that know this best are the ones on the HR/interview panels with military experience. They ALSO know very well that even though a particular candidate may have the SAME crayon set he does, if said candidate thinks his crayons are too sharp and shiny to go color with the rest of the kids, there's AT LEAST another 100 applicants in the stack do know how to share and color with the other kids.

In other words, he can sniff out an arrogant/condescending attitude, regardless of the persons background and experience. As well as determine if the candidate is going to be a good fit for the company's culture and pilot group.

 

Not meant to be an arrogant statement whatsoever.

Just a normal comparison of mil progression vs civy progression, that's all. Not which one is better...

I admit that the average mil guy/gal may be a little behind (put your favorite major name here) at training, but they will understand how to fly a heavy airplane.

Isn't that what it is really all about after all (flying a 12.5K + lb. turbine powered airplane at the upper flt levels and at Mach speeds)?

If that wasn't it, then 99% of the folks on here wouldn't be dealing with the self-described "regional hell" they live with to get the above referenced time. Correct?

Seriously, thanks guys for your time!

 

In a competitive environment, sure. The more experience on the resume, the better. But at the end of the day after the candidate meets the mins, it STILL boils down to the candidates personality and how well they can sell themselves in the interview. So no, it's not really JUST about flying a big/heavy/fast airplane high up.

And believe it or not, you'd be surprised at "back in the day" how many pilots were hired at two NOW HIGHLY coveted jobs (ahem, FedEx/Southwest) that had 1000 TPIC, but had NEVER flown a plane at mach speeds in the flight levels. My, how times change and the pendulum swings.

Well, there's not really that many other viable routes to get to the "brass ring". And yep, we ALL complain about "regional" hell. But I ALSO hear many military pilots complain about "military hell".

 

Good personality + works well with others = implied. Where do you work anyhow? Have you served or sacrificed for your country?

Military flying is challenging, and therefore it is not for everyone (24+45 duty days, combat zones, etc.). I'm not looking to escape it as I still serve proudly, but I will have to retire well before age 65, so I am out looking to where I would like to go next.

PS-I'm sure there are many who serve their country on this forum and where you work. So please be respectful to their sacrifice and service. That is, please don't refer to it as "hell."

I say that because civilian situations can be walked away from in a moments notice and are based in "profits" only. Civilian situations can be improved if all the employees stand together to make them better. Usually when a military person rants, it is usually because he or she has already sacrificed a lot and is tired-not because of contracts or work rules.