Military Helo hours
 

Hey guys, after some research I am finding that the majors like to see the Military time on a resume and some even lower their minimums for some of those who were Military trained. From what I've gathered by research is that most majors will not count any helo time. I'm looking for any info on majors or LLC who do accept helo time if it were built in the Military. My background is regional FO flying CRJs and also a Guard guy with 1K of Blackhawk time. Thanks for any input

There are very few, if any, majors that will use helo time toward the minimum or even competitive minimums. JetBlue has been known to be helo friendly.

Now, having said that, 50% of my flight time is helo time. I do have >2500 mil MEFW time and >1500 FAR121 MEFW hours. My MEFW time isn't impressive, but it met the minimum hours for a few major carriers. My 4000+ helo time made me and my stories different than the 10,000 other applications in their stack and was one of they keys to getting interview invites...so yes, helo time does count, but probably not until your fixed wing time exceeds the threshold to have your application scored...Good luck!

jetblue and frontier both count them. Jetblue likes them....and a buddy just got hired at frontier with mostly helo time

What kind of FW time did you have to go with your helo time? I'm in a similar situation.

+1 for JetBlue liking helo time. However, you need to have a competitive amount of fixed wing time as well. I have mil helo buddies at every major and some LCCs. The general story is that it is valued, it is a differentiator from others in the stack of apps, but you still need an appreciable amount of fixed wing time to prove you are more than just rotor trash. ;-)


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I only have 1600 fixed wing and around 1050 rotary from the Guard. I think I'll keep building experience with the regionals before I submit an app to the major/LCC airlines.

That is crazy talk. If you have time, put your application in, you have no idea who will bite. I'm a helo guard guy that got a call (and hired by UAL). I never thought it would happen but it did, I just jumped in and muddied the pristine waters dominated by the AF and Navy.

Quoted for emphasis.

Not me....he is on apc so I'm sure he will see this thread and chime in soon

Don't wait...as others have said put your apps in now



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I am sure that not having an updated application stands a 100% chance of not receiving an invite to interview.

The hiring started a year ago with nearly 10,000 applications on file and the airlines hiring nearly 3000 pilots. There will be another 3000+ hired this year, and quite possibly 3000 next year. The 10,000 applicants at each airline are the same as all the airlines. The stack is dwindling quick.

Apply and update regularly! Good luck!

I specifically asked Delta and United how they view RW hours when I was at WAI in March. They each said that it counts towards total time but, of course, you still need to meet their FW mins. I told them that my app on airlineapps doesn't show my RW hours in the "total hours" section when I compare my app and they reassured me that they can see it. JetBlue counts both RW and FW hours the same, but they do require a min amount of FW hours as well. SWA counts RW the same as UAS time, which doesn't make any sense to me but I'm not gonna worry about it. That tells me they value a 2 hour flight to grab a cheeseburger in a Cessna 152 more than a 2 hour flight at night, off a boat, carrying ordnance in a helo.

All that said, put your app in now. Go do interview prep (I recommend Emerald Coast), and go to OBAP in August followed by WAI in March. I did a full court press and it worked for me.

Did get hired by a Regional with the majority being RW time. Not all regionals looked at it the same though. The others talking about the majors are much more knowledgeable than I.

Take a look at the airline apps website "Compare my App" section. There are some mins posted there and it should tell you if you hit the "mins".

Will do, thanks for the input.

Privateer,

What hours did you have when you were called by UAL? I have 1200+ helo and 600+ FW and will be getting out in a year so I'm trying to build my ME FW hours til I have to get out of the Navy. Considering Regionals to build FW hours but I meet Jetblue mins right now. Thoughts?

I had 1200 helo. Of course I had 5200 total, 2000 in C-9s. That may have made a difference.

I was at 1900 tt, 1260 army helo and 500 fw (80 glider, 400 sel, and 37 multi) when I started at Mesa. Now at 2400 total, 1260helo/1100fw (of which 600 is CRJ). No love from any major, including JB/allegiant. UAL/DAL require 1000 fw turbine for mins for reference and you won't make it thru the computer system without it. I haven't been to any job fairs but will start.

If you can go to Vets in Blue that seems to help a lot with JB. A regional wouldn't be bad for you to add fw jet time and check the 121 box on the app. But you need fw turbine time (500 for JB, 1000 for UAL/DAL).

I have 600+ FW Turbine (100 SE and the rest is ME) and still have a year to keep building FW ME Turbine before getting out. I have the ATP as well. Hopefully my FW time is good enough by JUL next year. FW ME PIC will probably be around 200 hours.

I know a p3 pilot with around 2k hrs in that, lots of PIC time, at Skywest, and a c130 guy at Mesa with about 1700 c130 hrs (lots of PIC), and a 1700 hour f15 guy (all pic) who is about to go to the regionals because he isn't getting any calls. Certainly try for the majors/LCCs, but it will take a lot of luck and networking. I would have a regional plan as a backup, or a guard/reserve fw plan to continue to build. Perhaps an IP gig would be even better.

I'm in the same boat. Just under half my military hours are Helo, and as stated above, only a couple of companies (JB, Frontier) count them 1-for-1. I met with the guy from United at OBAP who actually does the #'s/filters for app screening...and the way it racks and stacks, helicopter time doesn't count to get you looked at. Keep in mind that once you get past the initial filter with all your FW time and other positive attributes they're screening your app for--then, your Helo time will be a feather in your cap...BUT, till then....it is of no help with the unthinking computer filter that is set up to discount (or give very little weight to) non FW time. So, I'm doing the 121 thing with the regionals and all the recruiters that I've talked to have confirmed that they would greatly value the 121 time added to my mil experience.
I had all my apps in approaching retirement, nobody called so I went regionals. Hopefully it'll be a short stay - time will tell!

Great info everyone, really appreciate it. Definitely looking at regionals as well to build time and hoping to affiliate with a VR unit. Which regionals do you guys fly with and how do you like it? As for getting the call to the majors, good luck to all of you.

I work at Mesa, one of the lowest pay and worst contracts right now of all the regionals. But we are adequately staffed (actually fat FOs) and the company doesn't mess with us like at some other companies. Also we have no 50 seaters to get parked. Great pilot group.

Pick a regional you don't have to commute to. I live in PHX which is why I chose Mesa. Commuting to reserve at a regional is awful. If you can guard/reserve bum to offset the pay that's a great deal.

Where do you plan on living?

I am looking at Charlotte, they have PSA there, but if I affiliate with a VR, closer to one of the bases (PHL, DFW, DC area, Norfolk area).

Oh lots of choices then. DFW has Mesa and Envoy...pick your poison. DC area...lots of options, don't know how junior it is for different airlines. IAD one of mesas junior bases (along with DFW). Don't know about PHL/Norfolk.

Doesn't Air Wisconsin have PHL and ORF bases? And DCA?

Yes. All three of those plus LGA. All bases can be had right out of training. I chose AWAC for the DCA base since I live in the area. I like AWAC just fine, but of course have no basis to compare with other regionals.