CODs4ever

That number is down to 100 in the last 12 months from what I have heard and has to be paid flying, even if it's Cessna single engine on a CFI.

hindsight2020

I understand the whole "willingness to work in the industry" bit, but that requirement always seemed wonky to me. So you can starve as a piston CFI or turbine FO during the year, but owning your own airplane for hours while keeping a living wage job during the day is all of a sudden blasphemy?

Willingness to fly airplanes to the tune of six figures should not be litmus tested by a willingness to fly airplanes for peanuts. That's vestiges of the "dues paying" aviation religion. The market should speak for itself on that front.

Sliceback

Check out the insurance rates for owner-operaters. Years ago it was higher vs professional pilots. Given a choice would you choose candidates from a non structured, higher than average risk group?

The market is speaking. They've set their limits. Don't like their limits? Move on or start your own airline.

Hacker15e

What I posted back in post #127 was a direct quote from the slides UAL presented at their webinar in summer '15:

"to be considered current in UA's eyes, you must have 100 hours of flight time in the last 12 months in something more complex than a Cessna 172."

CODs4ever

I agree, but I think the airline rationale is that time spent "work flying" is somehow more valuable than flying around for personal pleasure whatever the end goal. For what it's worth, I have held onto my day job for now, as it pays the bills, but I actively flight instruct and fly corporate part 91 on the side. I am just left with almost no free time. That's the sacrifice of not taking a regional job and the accompanying massive pay cut.

CODs4ever

I know of someone (ex mil 3+ years out of cockpit) who got hired at UAL with only recent CFI time and have also heard from someone who spoke directly to a UAL rep who said, "if you're on the payroll, even light single-engine counts for currency"

Of course common sense dictates that a ME turbine will go a lot further toward securing an interview, and Part 121 time is gold.

tunes

i'd say those people are the exception to the rule.

Albief15

Really?

About 1/2 of the current SWA hiring team are from the civilian side of the equation. Charlie Venema, former UAL hiring chief, came up through express jet. I interviewed at Jetblue in 2001 (no military interviewers) and FedEx (1 military, 1 former supplemental guy). United hires about 65-70% non military, and one of their recruiters--who works for us--likewise has a regional background. If you visited WIA last week you would have seen a lot of pilots who were never in the military recruiting and doing presentations. Having something in common with some of those folks cannot hurt a candidate, and it certainly gives them a more diverse background from which to share experiences in their interview.

Although the data point is old, Plato Rhyne II at Delta used to say his idea candidate was a former military pilot with some 121 experience. While that was almost 20 years ago, much of the value in the statement is still there.

I am concerned when I hear advice given on these blogs that might be detrimental to those looking for work. Opinions are just that, but I've got a LOT of data points backing up the idea that getting some 121 time is a good investment in your career if you are stuck on the sidelines after retirement or a non-flying tour.

I've said before--I hope all the guys coming off active duty do what I got to do....end up at the airline they want to retire from while still on terminal leave. Its hard to make that happen at times, however, and when it doesnt' work the pilot needs to make a choice about what works best for their situation.

I am an aircraft owner. I love GA. At the same time, the flying I do--even IFR--in no way approaches what you do in the 121 world. Its also expensive...I plan on about 100 an hour or more for a 260hp retract in operating costs. Conversely, a guy who gets hired at PSA, ASA, Skywest, etc is going to be getting paid every day to fly. It won't be much, but at least its cash coming in vice going out. If being a CFI on the weekends while you do a non-flying job makes more money for you, then that might be an option, but outside of some guys from Doss Aviation I don't know many guys hired at a legacy that were not flying turbines somewhere or teaching in a simulator facility (DOD type). I do know quite a few guys hired away from regionals and nationals (Frontier) to bigger and better things.

Please don't take this as a "it cannot be done" statement. I am sure it can. But for a guy playing percentages, trying to get on as quickly as possible in this hiring wave, I stand by the advice the quickest and most effective way is a pass through the regionals. Its faster than AOR jobs. Its faster than sim jobs. And its faster than GA jobs....

PotatoChip

Albie,

Great post, as usual. Yes, really. I wasn't lying. But as I stated, that was from my experience, and I added the useful YMMV. I am not disseminating bad info on this forum, I am relating my experience. If I can't provide my personal experience on this forum without it being described as "advice detrimental to their career" then forget it, I'll keep it to myself I suppose.

Albief15

Not my intent. Just want to balance anecdotal inputs with some numbers.

FYI...I was SOF when an Eagle Squadron commander bailed out over the Gulf. Same guy later an F22 guy and wing King. He is now at AA. He did a stint at ASA/Exp jet for a year or so. He and dozens of guys like him now at Delta and SWA. Should they have had to "pay their dues" at a regional? Maybe not...but it worked for them. I had another guy....tons of warbird, multi, and GA time to go with his 2000 plus Eagle hours. He refused to "stoop" to flying regionals. He is now a GS pilot...airlines never called because 3-4 years out of turbine flying made him less attractive. He pointed out his flying was more challenging than any 121 right seat, and I agreed. But it also was not relevant.

My caution was more to a previous poster who alluded to a recruiter saying my GA was enough. It might be for some. As I mentioned, I have had a couple girls hired at UAL out of Doss. I cannot name another guy who got there that way. I just want outsiders reading these blogs to see the large picture. Post away, and forgive me if I came off high and mighty. My intent is to offer a bit of perspective from someone who has seen a lot of folks struggle with currency options.

Please post away...