Near 20 Year AD Retirement
 

Looking for suggestions as I near a 20 year retirement. Which is better (1) go to the regionals for a year and try and get hired by a major/legacy once I get the 1,000 hour turbine time they all seem to be looking for or (2) try to get a FW billet on AD and get the FW mins which would take another 3 years or so. I have just over 4,000 TT all turbine, just mostly Helo with about 150 FW turbine hours. I have all the ATP mins minus the FW total time. Just wanted to see what everyone thinks. Appreciate your time and comments.

I'm assuming you're Navy so you're looking at going CNATRA or C-12s, C-26s overseas. I'm also assuming you're prior enlisted and can go past 20 years of service. You could be an O-5, but there aren't too many O-5 flying jobs out there. I'll caveat my comments with the fact that I'm a transitioning Navy guy myself. If you're Air Force or Army, you can stop reading now....

If you can get CNATRA I'd go that route. One, there are a ton of reserve airline pilots working in the VTs. The networking opportunity is huge, and that's the name of the game for the airlines. Two, you'll be earning another 2.5% per year. Three, you would determine how "quickly" you get to the magic 1000 hours of PIC FW time. You can fly as much as you want. Four, all of your time will be IP time as well. Five, your PCS commitment will only be 1 year and IMO the VTs would be easier to transition to the airlines then being overseas.

Going C-12s or C-26s overseas will give you multi-engine fix wing time, and the experience of living overseas. Plus, it would make you very competitive for the Kingair contract flying overseas as an alternate route than the regionals. Also, the C-26s use to have the ATP check ride written into the FSI contract for recurring sims (2010 time frame). Not sure how it is now with the new ATP rules.

If your goal is PIC time, stay away from the regionals. You'd start off in the right seat and it be at least 2 years before you saw the left seat.

A third option is FTS. I transitioned to FTS at the 20 year mark and the networking opportunity is huge. I would only accept FTS if selected for VR or VT. If selected VR you'd get big wing time and your commitment is only 2 years.

Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the VR lifestyle, the FTS selection process, etc...

Thanks for the reply. I would go to VT land if I could, but don't think that will be an option. I am the other service option not mentioned, USMC. I am prior enlisted like you figured and have an opportunity to go to station to fly UC-35s or C-12s. From what I am told they get about 250-300 hours per year. I am just curious if I should go to a regional for a year or so and build the time quick vice 3 years as I am 42.

I'm an army guy in a similar situation. I work with pilots who are in the reserves as well as the Airlines. They all say the 121 turbine time is more valuable, however most of them say you can't beat a military pay check while you are building hours. My plan is to leave after 20 and do the regional thing. The retirement pay will help offset the pennies the regionals pay. Good luck with whatever path you take.

Given the hiring outlook, a betting man would go for the regionals. A military aviator with 1000+ TPIC helos and 1000 TPIC FW 121 *should* be competitive by the time you get there...which should be 16-20 months after hire date if you're forward-leaning. If things move out faster, then you're free to take advantage of any opportunity which comes up (unlike overseas PCS). But it comes down to security/compensation vs. possibly getting a seniority number faster...I can't answer that for you.

Research the military R-ATP requirements, TT is 750 hours not sure how much FW is required for that.

Thanks for the input. I am leaning towards getting the 121 time and move to a Legacy sooner, but wanted to see what everyone thinks and see if there were any big arguments one way or another. I know several friends who are in the same boat as I with regards to get out or try to build time on AD.

I am not worried about income as I will have my retirement and my wife has a great paying job.

I also have seen on SkyWest website recently where they will pay for you to get the CTP. It looks to me that if you have 25 hours of ME time you can get hired. I like the idea I would not have to pay for the ATP.

Retired ARNG here.

Retiring, then getting the 121 time appears to be the best option for you. Once you retire, where will you and your family live? With respect to regionals, that will mean a lot for QOL considerations. Avoid commuting if you can. Commuting on reserve sucks! There's no other way to put it.

If you commit to three years AD, that's three years seniority at a Part 121 carrier you can never get back. Getting hired at 45 means 20 years instead of 22-23 years and could be the difference between being furloughed vs. being a junior reserve should that happen down the road.

PSA is rumored to have something in the works for the CTP. Don't know what they are doing for that right now.

Regionals. 3 years at the Air Station is at best 1000 hours and maybe 500 or less considering broken planes, sudden "good deal" assignments, or paperwork loving bosses.

Find the most tolerable Regionals you can and lean toward the easiest commute.

Good luck.

Start the seniority clock ticking as soon as possible. If not, I can demonstrate the best method for kicking yourself.

Thanks everyone for the information. I am leaning towards getting out as suggested to start building the 121 time. Just wanted to see if there was any benefit of staying a few more years. Up for promotion this year so that was the only carrot out there, but looking at the potential for moving up quickly by doing some 121 now vice 4 years from now, it makes sense to get out at the 20 year mark vice a few years from now.