First real post here!
I would like to use the forum's expertise on a predicament I am faced with. I have been more of less flying a desk for the past two years (with about 10 hours of "good deal" flight time each year in the back of a training jet). I will be leaving the military with over 3000 hours and with my FAA CMEL rating. I would like to work for either a corporate or for a major airline and I was wondering if I should get my CFI to log some flight time to make me "current," or should I just get my ATP and not worry about how many hours I've flown in the past 2 years. Thanks for your time and wisdom!

 

Pm me. I just retired from usaf.

 

Same deal - flying a desk for almost two years, and just started flying again (other than those good deal flights in the right seat of a 60 and backseat of an F-18).

GO GET CURRENT. And study. Those skills lapse very quickly and you will rapidly feel like a douche in front any current aviator with 1/3 of your experience. It doesn't cost anything. Take your Military Competency Instructor test, get your ratings, and find a 61 flight school that will hire you to do flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks.

 

I would start logging some current time, however you can do it. I'd also get an ATP.

 

T45Heinous, tough time figuring out who you really are. Here is a portion of a quote from another thread. I think it will answer the question.

Hit up sheppard air, they've got the cheapest/easiest testing prep. Take the milcomp cfi test, and with the written in hand, walk it into the FSDO. If you were an instrument instructor or NATOPS in the E2, then you can add on the MEI in addition to the CFII with one stop shopping.

 

Learn to fly at a regional airline... great experience for the major!

 

I agree with Snarge on this one. Get the ATP, get the CFI because its another box to check. Apply to United and Delta on Airline Apps just in case and then when you're close to your terminal date pick a few regionals on there and submit to them. They might be desperate enough to hire you with little currency. I think for a military pilot checking the 121 box might be the biggest boost you can give your app at this point. It will get you current, you'll learn a bunch and be more marketable. You'll have you currency up much quicker than you will flying as a brand new CFI and your family will get non rev privileges.

By the way, if you choose to get your CFI just to log some flight time, don't expect that to be an easy process. First you need to get students or hired as an instructor. You also are going to need to learn how to actually instruct in the plane you fly (assuming you haven't flown GA in a while).

 

Yup easier to get on with a regional and log part 121 time than try to impress the majors with right seat Cirrus time..... The learning curve for the MIL guys can be huge at the majors and the regionals is a good baby step.....

With the MIL back ground, upgrade at the regionals can be real quick... suggest some of the 'bottom of the barrel' outfits like Great Lakes, Mesa and Gojets....

 

What do you mean exactly by checking the 121 box?

 

This is ridiculous. The OP knows how to fly, he doesn't need to "learn to fly", he needs to update his currency.

What the disgruntled mil-hater meant to say is for somebody who is not current/qualified, a regional is probably a better option than paying for 100 hours of single engine piston on your own dime and will look better on an airline application.