ipdanno

If you get out soon, and need to maintain currency, the Guard/Reserve thing is an excellent way to go. Getting hired at any company...121, 135, night freight, etc, you will be SIC, not PIC. Transition into ANG/AFR, you will prolly stay aircraft commander logging TPIC, or at worst spend a few months copilot or first pilot in a new airframe before rechecking out as AC. Another good way to pad the hours, or even reach the mins, but on your own terms.

Even if you get picked up at your dream legacy, keeping the ANG/AFR gig can help improve your take home, along with providing a safety net. But it's not free, it costs you time.

Good luck.

F15andMD11

Unless you only have 800 ME... Lets not get all high and mighty. I know a Raptor pilot that went to regional for a touch and go, there about a year and now with AA. Besides just think how many regional left seaters you'd upset as you're there for less than a year getting your hours.
Another thing to consider, training is not easy at the airlines, they throw a lot at you in a short time. Its harder for mil pilots because we have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to the FOM and ZFW etc, etc. You'd get a leg up learning that stuff earlier.
Sorry Traveller - I scoff the comparison, you flew a lot more FW and those grades of yours....wow.

MikeF16

There's no getting high and mighty, unless making a statement based upon observation is somehow egotistical. I never disputed that flying for a regional could enhance a resume, I only said it is not a requirement. In the last month guys in my squadron have been called for 6 separate interviews (4 DAL, 2 UAL) and we've already got 5 who left and are flying the line (1 UAL, 2 SWA, 1 US Air, 1 AA). ME is not a requirement to be called, lots of Viper guys with zero ME except UPT are getting hired. If you don't have enough hours for an ATP that's an entirely different animal, but then again if you don't have the hours for an ATP you can't work for a regional either.

Although I accepted I might have to fly for a regional to maintain currency if I didn't get called, I did everything possible, including extended my time on AD to avoid doing so. I'd recommend the same to anyone else waiting for a call (or doing guard/reserve as suggested above), barring potential stop-loss of course. Sounds ridiculous with the USAF paying people to leave early, but in my experience the USAF can't see further than the tip of it's nose. I certainly can't predict the future, but it would not surprise me to see a stop loss and/or (voluntary) recall of certain flying AFSCs in the next 2 years. My current squadron is bordering on dysfunctional people are leaving so fast.

F224

Impressive resume numbers, if you have the proper personality to go with them. My guess is the Delta internship was far more important than the two high GPA degrees.

In two years, the majors will be sucking up 1000-1200 hour F16 pilots, just like they did in 1986-89 time frame. In fact, NWA dropped it's minimums from 1200 to 1000 hours in January 1987 because DAL was scooping up all the six year F16/F15/F14 and A4 fighter guys. Five or eight of them were my classmates in February '87. ( I had 2800+ TT, 1400 ME or which 525 was Metro F/O, 800 Army National Guard Rotor, I was 28 and had the Bachelors Degree and the soon to be Ex-wife)

The combination of quality flight training, education and reasonable qualifications will get you the interview. Also, leaving any job in less than one year raises red flag with HR types. I would suggest going the Guard/Reserves route ahead of a Regional for that reason just to maintain currency, it can be fun being a Guard Bum, trust me. HR views that transition as an extension of your current employment.

Bottom line... that seniority number is the most important thing, do what you need to secure it, NOW!

ellsworb

FWIW, lots of us VSPers are going to Regionals. . . the reason: The USAF only gave us 3 months from notification of VSP approval to the last separation day. So our biggest threat was TIME. I'm only a single case, but I went from application submitted to butt in class in 5 weeks. My contemporaries and I all also have our stuff in at the majors, but that takes TIME. During that time, I need/want to keep current.

Folks retiring or are able to plan their separation are in a MUCH better position to plan, get apps in early, and wait while collecting the paycheck.

Good Luck to everyone!

ellsworb

I've had a UAL hiring rep tell me exactly the OPPOSITE. If you're applying to DAL, UAL, AA, AS, SWA type, they know you're likely not going to jump ship. She was adamant to not worry about it.

F224

Times change, glad to hear that is now the case.

rickair7777

In the recent past Legacies were concerned that new-hires would quickly bail for UPS/FDX/SWA, but I think today anyone hired at one of the big three will probably stay and the HR folks know this.