Not saying you're wrong, and I recommend having a current FC med, but I haven't updated my UAL app in about 8 months and I got an email to start the selection process (hogan) this week. My app is expired so I can't check, but I'm sure it has an FC med date that is greater than 6 months.

I'm pretty sure the whole 1st class med has to be less than 6 months old is a myth

But if you are over 40 a first class only lasts 6 months, right?

You're the 2nd person I've seen say that about turbine today. Never heard or seen that anywhere before. I was always told "current is current." Probably need turbine to get hired, but didn't need to be current in it.

All I can say, I got hired flying nothing but single engine piston day VFR for the previous four years. And so did all the guys who got out with me.

From the horse's mouth, if the FAA is a horse:

(1) A first-class medical certificate (i) Under age 40 an airline transport pilot certificate for pilot-in-command privileges, or for second-in-command privileges in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 requiring three or more pilots 12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.

(ii) Age 40 or older an airline transport pilot certificate for pilot-in-command privileges, for second-in-command privileges in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 requiring three or more pilots, or for a pilot flightcrew member in part 121 operations who has reached his or her 60th birthday. 6th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.

**Lesson here is, don't forget to renew your First Class Med the day before your 40th

In that case they must be giving you an "A" for effort, ie the fact that you spent your time and money doing GA demonstrated resolve even if the military pipeline wasn't able to keep you flying.

In the past they always seemed to prefer people gainfully employed in turbine aircraft over folks who weren't. I would venture that still applies in spades to civilians.

Seriously, how many times do we have to revisit this...

The company has a filter on airline apps, if your medical isn't within the last six months, your app doesn't get through. That's straight from the previous hiring manager at United when I talked to him in the chief pilots office in September.

If PRS's app got through, I have no explanation. Perhaps it had already been pulled into the call stack before you timed out. If anyone wants to roll the dice to save $100 for a multi million dollar career, that's your choice.


The rest of the companies, I have no idea.

Saw today that Emerald has an app service. It's a bit pricy though. Does everyone use airlineapps or should I consider something else? Also, how long does an RR license take to get from the FCC? UPS requires one to apply.

You can fill it out online and pay. Then they send it to you in the mail. Very easy.

I've filed out apps for all the majors that are hiring, and I know that some ask for hours flown during the last 12 months. What I don't see is a published requirement that says "100 hours in the last 12 months." I realize that certain companies may have unpublished requirements. I have heard of people, including someone on this forum, getting picked up by major after coming off a non-flying staff tour and having 0 hours in the last twelve months, but I realize that cases like that are the exception, and that exception may not apply at every company. However, cases like that may be why there isn't a published requirement; by not publishing a flight recency requirement like that it allows the company to make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. I'm coming off of a staff tour myself, although it was a flying staff job. However, like any flying staff gig, my opportunities to fly were limited, and I'm just over the 100 hour mark for the last year. I'm rolling into an IP job at an AFRC unit and will definitely fly every chance I get to get those hours up.

The deal with the 1st Class Medical makes little sense to me. For those of us under 40, it's valid for 12 months. I wonder how many well qualified candidates have been eliminated for following the FARs and renewing their medical once a year?

Thanks for sharing the info.

Cheers!