USMCv22

False dichotomy. 10 year pure V-22 dude(s) can and absolutely are making it to the Majors without fixed wing assignments, merely by flying a little Cessna on the side to gap that 250 airplane time. Though even that will be gone soon with the new FAA rule change which will credit V-22 (and AV-8 and F-35B) time towards that 250 ATP requirement.


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USMCv22

No one is arguing that a candidate needs an ATP to get a job at an airline . But folks who have spent 10 (actually there is one dude who only did 8 years) flying nothing but the V-22 out of flight school have and are being interviewed/hired directly by the legacies. The inference I think you are trying to make is that a V-22 pilot must fly an entire "traditional" fixed wing assignment in order to meet the minimal 250 APLN PIC requirement. However, V-22 pilots are going VFR direct from Active Duty to the Legacies/Majors (except SWA) WITHOUT a "traditional" fixed-wing tour (some having the dreaded first-world problem of having to "choose" between majors). And those that are going to the regionals are spending <6-12 months (just enough time to check the 121 block) before getting the call.

To your point about the 250 PIC APLN time that 61.159 requires for guys without a FW tour, that gap is being easily bridged by dudes splitting time in a Cessna 150/172 on the weekends just to meet the "legality" of 61.159. However, there is an FAA rule change, soon to be published, that will allow V-22, AV-8, and F-35B (all the powered lift aircraft) time to count towards that 250 Airplane PIC requirement for an ATP (there is already a ruling out that allows MV-22B time to count towards a Commercial ME rating).

To the OP/Thread bumper, there have been 4 recent "pure" V-22 pilots (and that's just from the USMC, the only pool I have direct insight into) who have been offered an interview/gotten hired by a legacy (straight from Active Duty) in the last few months.

Southwest is the only expectation, and their director of hiring gives incoherent and ill-informed explanations as to "why" they are the only ones who discount the time. Though maybe not his fault, perhaps he has been severely misinformed as to the nuances of FAA powered lift rules and interpretations, and furthermore how the V-22 is operated. Delta, AA, and UA have no such biases, and to counter Rocky's points, none of the V-22 folks hired by these legacies (to include the "purebreds") have had any issues with training. (Rocky, fmr F-15 driver, says that SWA is not "desperate enough" to hire V-22 pilots yet )

Personally, I find flying NB aircraft in the 121 world a whole lot simpler than piloting a complex, multi-crew tiltrotor aircraft that must be expertly handled seamlessly through both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerodynamic regimes in threat filled environments. But that's just me.

BL, if you are a V-22 driver (with ~1,000ish ACDR in the plane), use your GI bill or some other source of funding to get your ATP while still on AD and you have a good shot if getting a call directly from one of the Majors.

Alternatively, if you really want to save $$ or are <6 months out from your EAS with crickets, go ahead and do one of the Regional CTP courses (RTP not required) and get on with them so you can check the 121 block while you continue to enhance your application. You won't be there long.

USMCv22

Of course I meant SWA is the only "exception," not "expectation."

Joshua19

I am sorry to say. But the best advice is to stay in for those 9 short years. the worst is behind you.

USMCv22

Well, since the OP was 3 years ago, I think he’s down to 6.....


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Phoenix21

In this hiring environment? Especially now that MV-22 time has some value and counts 90% for fixed wing ME for the majors? 9 years is a small eternity where they’ll miss the hiring wave.

rickair7777

In this climate? No. Get your seniority now, and definitely finish in the reserves just for the backup employment and retirement pension/medical.

Unless your goal in life is to be a general or flag officer. We do actually need some folks who are motivated to lead for the long haul.

Excargodog

^^^^THAT

Next three years or so you’ll be on the leading edge of the hiring wave. Nine years out you’ll probably get hired alright, but you’ll be junior for a LONNNNGGG time.

Flyingtank

I’ve been hearing about this rule change for over a year now, any word on when it might actually come to fruition?

tnkrdrvr

Can’t comment on the Osprey, but a guy in my new hire class had only Harrier and F35 time. The FAA didn’t give home any grief and that was several years ago.