Opteryx

OK, it's kind of a long story but essentially I stopped flying Vipers 10 years ago. My last tour was a staff job overseas and I retired from that and stayed overseas as a GS. (The money was good and it was good for the family). I've missed flying professionally but concentrated on taking care of my family. I have stayed relatively current by flying as a CFI (172s), and getting a CFII but it's nearly impossible to get the 100 hours a year most places require for any kind of currency. Also, since I came out of fighters, coupled with the long time off, I'm wondering if I have ANY appeal to any of the airlines. I don't have the ATP yet but plan to get it soon (it's tough when you're overseas). I just turned 50 (is that a big obstacle?)

I realize the change in minimum time required is coming up so that increases the chances, but at the same time, I'm not going to take a job with a feeder at $18k a year. I love flying but that's just silly and I have a family to support. I'm willing to base overseas, at least for a while longer.

Any insight/advice would be appreciated.

rickair7777

Sounds like you have to decide whether you want to fully commit to the airlines. If you do, and are prepared to do what you need to, you can still get hired at age 50.

But in your shoes with nothing even resembling turbine recency, you're probably going to have to work for a regional or a comparable civilian gig first.

If you're just waiting for the majors to call, probably not going to happen. That might change in five years or so, but by then at age 55 your seniority cost/reward equation will not be looking too good.

gr8vu

I am retiring as well from AD and New to forums but have to agree with prior post in current environment. My main data point is a friend who retired last year and was current in fighters. He finally took a regional job after 6 months of waiting for the dream job that is still out there in that ether called the pilot shortage. Things should change but timing in the big unknown. Another person I know in the airlift business made it to SWA interview but was told he didn't have enough recent time. There are govt contract flying jobs that are 2 or 3 months on/off in remote locations that pay over 100k a year that look for fighter pilots. Not sure how much recency matters to them. But you could pay the bills and get some hours and then see if the shortage really comes. But many of these companies feed mainly from recommendations of current employees. Again just a newbie opinion.

Opteryx

This sounds to me like a euphemism that can be translated as "sounds like you have to decide if you want to work for a while at the poverty level and dip into your retirement savings for years." so the answer to that is no, but that's why I am asking the question.... I'm hoping one is not completely dependent on the other

I'm certainly not that naive (although it sure would be nice) - I am looking for other options, including overseas, as I said. I think that an experienced pilot, even one without recent turbine time, would be more of a desirable option for many flying outfits than a fresh-faced twenty-year old right of of an FBO. For instance, I just applied to FlyDubai, whose qualifications for FO I meet, except for one that I could discern - that of multi-crew time. I put a statement on there that as an F-16 pilot, though we fly single cockpit, our crew is our wingmen flying right next to us communicating over the radio instead of the intercom. Can anyone argue that that is not CRM? But I was rejected.
Or, does anyone have any inside information that fighter guys are not desired for some reason? That's why I'm feeling this out.

Opteryx

Does anyone have any leads on these?

Sputnik

Don't know if that's what he meant, but Dynamic, Avenge and I think L3 still flying C12 variants in hot and crappy places. Pay is good. i3 has ad's out for IPs (IFS and UPT) for in Iraq and Afghanistan. No idea on pay.....but it better be good.

How's the current job? Is it unstable or are you just hankering to fly for a living again?

xjtguy

Although that concept makes COMPLETE sense in the U.S., and some other countries, how a foreign airline does things can be COMPLETELY different to how the U.S. view time/experience. Some have things like hours in aircraft over a certain weight/tonnage, etc that can exclude pilots that have multi-crew experience.

Stitches

There is never going to be a shortage for good, well paying pilot jobs. The supply/demand curve is not in your favor now.

Age is not a show stopper, but currency is. At the majors right now there are 7000-12000 applications in the stack depending on who you ask and you're not even in the mix yet. Those guys are qual'ed and current and don't have a 10 year break in flying that would make an HR type wonder if you really want to be there.

I don't blame anyone for not wanting to work for $18k a year at a regional. Since you're not willing to make that kind of sacrifice I'd strongly suggest looking at coorporate/civil aviation jobs. Some can be a bit easier to break in to and although they won't top out as high as a widebody captain, you won't have to make the financial and family time sacrifices to get there. I agree that the cost/benefit equation doesn't make sense for you to chase a job at a major at your age.

Regardless which path you choose, networking is key!

UnderOveur

Start shaking your network trees for anyone who works...or even better...flys for DynCorp.

Opteryx

Boy, that's for sure!