Recent flying experience?
10-14-2013, 04:06 AM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Posts: 15
Recent flying experience?
I realize recenct experience in the cockpit is important, but how critical is it? How long could one be out of the cockpit and still get an interview?Here is the reason I ask.
I am separating from active duty early next year just shy of 14 years of service, and I am considering taking a UAV job in the Guard/Reserve. I have applications out to all the airline/cargo companies that are currently hiring, but still no calls for an interview. I know I need to be patient, but I worry about stepping out of the cockpit for UAVs and never making back into a cockpit.
Thoughts?
I am separating from active duty early next year just shy of 14 years of service, and I am considering taking a UAV job in the Guard/Reserve. I have applications out to all the airline/cargo companies that are currently hiring, but still no calls for an interview. I know I need to be patient, but I worry about stepping out of the cockpit for UAVs and never making back into a cockpit.
Thoughts?
10-14-2013, 08:42 AM
#2
Otto
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Position: Turkish Pile Driver
Posts: 1,806
Most airlines appear to allow about a year to pass before you turn into a pumpkin. In their most recent hiring, I think SWA said you had to have flown 2 of the last 5 years. That said, as competitive as hiring is right now they can all afford to hire only current and qualified pilots. In a couple years if things go extremely well for the economy and industry they will likely have to reduce entry standards.
10-14-2013, 05:10 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,187
Originally Posted by Clearsky
When one says, stay current what exactly does that entail? Some casual flying of single engine cessnas at the local fbo 5-10 hours a month, or 20-30 hours of multi engine turbine a month, or somewhere in between?
10-14-2013, 10:30 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,187
Originally Posted by flynutt
As Clearsky mentioned, 100 hours in what airframe? Does it matter?
If the OP is looking to stay current while running out the clock, get your CFI or start flying 135 part time if able (plus make some extra coin and tack on a resume bullet. )
10-15-2013, 07:22 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Center seat, doing loops to music
Posts: 825
Assuming both candidates have the same flying history when they got out of the military, I find it hard to believe that an interview board ain't gonna look pejoratively at a guy who has been keeping currency by flying single engine piston equipment privately in excess of 12-24 months vs same guy employed in say a single engine turbine part 91/135 outfit for currency, or is a rich daddy type and can get turbine time privately.
If in indeed engine type is inconsequential to your chances of getting hired wrt recency requirements, then there really is no point in giving yourself that haircut with the regionals. You can own your own piston single for cheap and fly the snot out of it for years and not lose the income opportunity accepting a regional FO gig (and even some 135 outfits) would place upon you. I flew 265 hours in my old Piper Warrior II in 12 months privately without even trying, and that was commuting to my girlfriend on the weekends after my white jet slaveship driver "2 a day every day" weekday gig. Imagine what one could do with any day job, since they all pay better than 1st year FO, but otherwise no weekday commitment to fly. You'd double that in a heartbeat. The C-150 I used to own cost me $15K to acquire and burned 5GPH of mogas from the gas station down the street. Flying 100 hours in that is a drop in the bucket. No way I would lose the income opportunity, even juxtaposed to freggin' Olive Garden, in order to take a regional job just for the sake of recency, if this avenue is supposedly good enough.
Somehow I get the feeling that this avenue isn't really gonna cut it for these mainline outfits though. I think the real world implication of the currency requirements is that you better have turbine recency to whatever hours within 12 months.....
If in indeed engine type is inconsequential to your chances of getting hired wrt recency requirements, then there really is no point in giving yourself that haircut with the regionals. You can own your own piston single for cheap and fly the snot out of it for years and not lose the income opportunity accepting a regional FO gig (and even some 135 outfits) would place upon you. I flew 265 hours in my old Piper Warrior II in 12 months privately without even trying, and that was commuting to my girlfriend on the weekends after my white jet slaveship driver "2 a day every day" weekday gig. Imagine what one could do with any day job, since they all pay better than 1st year FO, but otherwise no weekday commitment to fly. You'd double that in a heartbeat. The C-150 I used to own cost me $15K to acquire and burned 5GPH of mogas from the gas station down the street. Flying 100 hours in that is a drop in the bucket. No way I would lose the income opportunity, even juxtaposed to freggin' Olive Garden, in order to take a regional job just for the sake of recency, if this avenue is supposedly good enough.
Somehow I get the feeling that this avenue isn't really gonna cut it for these mainline outfits though. I think the real world implication of the currency requirements is that you better have turbine recency to whatever hours within 12 months.....
10-15-2013, 07:55 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,187
Originally Posted by hindsight2020
Assuming both candidates have the same flying history when they got out of the military, I find it hard to believe that an interview board ain't gonna look pejoratively at a guy who has been keeping currency by flying single engine piston equipment privately in excess of 12-24 months vs same guy employed in say a single engine turbine part 91/135 outfit for currency, or is a rich daddy type and can get turbine time privately.
If in indeed engine type is inconsequential to your chances of getting hired wrt recency requirements, then there really is no point in giving yourself that haircut with the regionals. You can own your own piston single for cheap and fly the snot out of it for years and not lose the income opportunity accepting a regional FO gig (and even some 135 outfits) would place upon you. I flew 265 hours in my old Piper Warrior II in 12 months privately without even trying, and that was commuting to my girlfriend on the weekends after my white jet slaveship driver "2 a day every day" weekday gig. Imagine what one could do with any day job, since they all pay better than 1st year FO, but otherwise no weekday commitment to fly. You'd double that in a heartbeat. The C-150 I used to own cost me $15K to acquire and burned 5GPH of mogas from the gas station down the street. Flying 100 hours in that is a drop in the bucket. No way I would lose the income opportunity, even juxtaposed to freggin' Olive Garden, in order to take a regional job just for the sake of recency, if this avenue is supposedly good enough.
Somehow I get the feeling that this avenue isn't really gonna cut it for these mainline outfits though. I think the real world implication of the currency requirements is that you better have turbine recency to whatever hours within 12 months.....
If in indeed engine type is inconsequential to your chances of getting hired wrt recency requirements, then there really is no point in giving yourself that haircut with the regionals. You can own your own piston single for cheap and fly the snot out of it for years and not lose the income opportunity accepting a regional FO gig (and even some 135 outfits) would place upon you. I flew 265 hours in my old Piper Warrior II in 12 months privately without even trying, and that was commuting to my girlfriend on the weekends after my white jet slaveship driver "2 a day every day" weekday gig. Imagine what one could do with any day job, since they all pay better than 1st year FO, but otherwise no weekday commitment to fly. You'd double that in a heartbeat. The C-150 I used to own cost me $15K to acquire and burned 5GPH of mogas from the gas station down the street. Flying 100 hours in that is a drop in the bucket. No way I would lose the income opportunity, even juxtaposed to freggin' Olive Garden, in order to take a regional job just for the sake of recency, if this avenue is supposedly good enough.
Somehow I get the feeling that this avenue isn't really gonna cut it for these mainline outfits though. I think the real world implication of the currency requirements is that you better have turbine recency to whatever hours within 12 months.....
10-15-2013, 10:35 AM
#9
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,232
Originally Posted by hindsight2020
Assuming both candidates have the same flying history when they got out of the military, I find it hard to believe that an interview board ain't gonna look pejoratively at a guy who has been keeping currency by flying single engine piston equipment privately in excess of 12-24 months vs same guy employed in say a single engine turbine part 91/135 outfit for currency, or is a rich daddy type and can get turbine time privately.
...
...
If the OP is serious about airlines he should get a real flying job until the majors call.
10-15-2013, 11:35 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
In my job it was all about numbers. You needed 100 hrs in the last year. It didn't matter what you were flying, but if you had 98 hrs, you didn't get forwarded to the selecting official. Simple as that.
This was not airline hiring though, but an example of recency being the important/deciding factor.
This was not airline hiring though, but an example of recency being the important/deciding factor.
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