His beard is way better than mine.

 

Not sure about others, but UAL requires an unrestricted ATP to apply.

 

I put in for a separation with no reserve job or civilian job in hand (leap of faith). I was due to be in my AEF bucket right after my ADSC expires and figured I better get out while the hiring is picking up rather than risk sitting out of the game on a deployment. It's worked out for me, but was tremendously stressful for the last 4 months (no kidding the most stressful time of my life). Make sure your wife is on board and understands the sacrifices of first year pay and that you might not get hired. If you end up taking a leap of faith have a backup plan to feed your family and a backup plan for your backup plan. I was networking like crazy for both flying and non flying employment.


As for trying to stay in until you get the job offer. It's probably possible, though not with every airline. United seems to be hiring pretty far out, but not AA/US Airways, SWA, not sure about Delta. When I put in for separation I thought that I had to give six months notice, but I've heard conflicting info on that since then.

As for applying, by all means apply now, put your earliest availability on the app and keep updating it. Also get all of your queep sorted out (transcripts, FCC permit, first class medical, passport, drivers record, Recs, sort through your log books).

PM me for specifics

 

I wasn't sure which you meant..I've seen people mis-use it to mean "against."

I'll fix it to your original intent.

 

RBI - PM sent.

 

No worries. Unless a certain well-known mil-hater is posting I try to keep my comments mostly positive.

I think JB really likes the rotor time because they have a fairly senior pilot there who seems to have a lot of influence on hiring with a rotary background.

 

I'll offer another reason. I love coaching guys with rotary week experience, especially the Navy/Marine guys. Here are some reasons I think JB might like them:

1. Name a single seat helo. Even an attack helicopter is a two man operation. Teamwork and CRM are vital to the mission. My favorite example are the real world rescue stories I have heard from many of these guys. Working with rescue swimmers, fellow crewmembers, and shipmates to save lives is one of the best examples of applied CRM I have ever heard, and some of the stories still give me chills. Helo guys work very well in a team environment.

2. JB is looking for pilots to stay a while. Maybe their resume isn't as sexy as the guy with 4500 of multi-engine PIC in a C-17, but remember their needs: A solid, safe pilot that will be around long enough to amortize their training and perhaps be around so they don't have to hire his or her replacement.

3. Jetblue is looking for pilots who "buy in". You don't fly Apaches into combat or fly a LAMPS off an FFG in rolling seas for the money. You don't do it for the style points. You do it because you believe in the mission and to take care of your fellow sailors, soldiers, and marines. I have met many Air Force officers who were "passing through" on the way to the airlines. Actually, that was my initial plan but after going to war and getting an Eagle assignment I ended up buying in somewhat myself. I don't meet many guys in the helo world who don't have a lot of team spirit.

 

Thanks RBI73, great perspective! Fortunately, all the other "queep" is taken care of (less some interview prep), all that remains is publishing the apps. I talked with a buddy in my squadron in the same situation and he said go ahead and throw them out there, but use the availability date as the mechanism to make me marketable, whether that is short or long term. I am in a position where I am free of my UPT commitment, but will have to Palace chase to the Guard/Reserve for the Post 911 GI bill commitment (Sep 15), which according to AFPC should be approved without much work, but might take ~4 months or so.

So United is 1 year, any idea on Delta or American?

 

Delta is interviewing/hiring mil guys posting early and late summer availability dates.

For my own job search I've found linkedin very valuable in networking. By clicking on "follow" the company you can then see who you know and who they know at these companies. This has resulted in lots of emails and phone calls to old sq mbrs and several letters of rec during my last 8 months of networking. I usually can find a few reserve/guard mbrs at my current base as well to track down and ask questions which usually leads to someone else I knew 10 yrs ago. When an airline opens their app window, I am already prepped with several contacts since I've found it can take as long as 2 months to get a letter of recommend into the system by the time you send resume, send a draft and then follow up.

One of our pilots just got approved for palace chase--not sure exactly but seems like it took at least 3 months to get final approval.

As for retirement--AFPC site says you need to provide at min 120 days from first day of terminal leave/permissive TDY. The site implies that if you don't, they can't guarantee you orders in time.

 

2 years ago was when getting out needed to be slow rolled. Now, if you have decided to pull chocks or retire, put the paperwork in and get on with it. When a window to apply opens or opened, you need to apply that day and update monthly. While the large hiring boom isn't quite on it is starting. Don't over think it, just do all the things outlined in all the threads. This isn't a mystery. Do or do not. But trying to be cute will lead to a very cute sound of crickets. The opportunity is out there for the taking, and it is very worth it when you pull it off.