Is it hard to be an AF reservist and RJ PILOT
 

How would the 2 weekends a month and 2 weeks in the summer work? Do you tell crew schedule that you need those days off and what about training and deployments? Can I take leave? I'm just about done with college and would like to do both



Thanks

I personally think that's the quickest way to a Major. Go through UPT, get your ratings, log 750hrs, get your restricted ATP, and go to work for a regional. The regional will give you off for whatever you need in the next month at your reserve job. Your reserve job will pay much more so you pick up as much as possible at your reserve job and drop as much as possible at your regional job. Eventually you'll make it to the left seat at either job and shortly thereafter with 2000+ total time and some TPIC you will be competitive for the majors.

Thanks for your time. The only thing is that I have all my ratings but CFI. I'll be graduating this semester. Not sure if I should go to AF now or after I get hired. Either way I want to go

And will all my certificates and rating count towards UTP or will I need to do it all over again there

Go to whichever you can get into first.

You'll do it all over again and then some.

It's extremely easy. I was a CFII MEI, who did a year at Pinnacle before getting picked up to fly heavies for the reserves, then just got back full time with Endeavor a few months ago. Both parties are very accommodating. Now that I am a traditional reservist (until this summer, when I go on 6 months of upgrade orders) I generally go in once or twice a month. My monthly currencies are a takeoff, landing and instrument approach, and you have quarterly, bi-annual, and yearly currencies, which add up, but you can do a lot of them in the simulator. A good reserve unit understands that you have to pay the bills, and your civilian job comes first. My airline understands my military commitment, and will always let you go with no hassle. I get my commander or scheduler to sign a letter detailing what days I need off, but if I can't get it to them in time I just do it when I manage to get to base. They will take my word for it if I need the time in a crunch and adjust my schedule accordingly.

The biggest drawback is total time. I only got 600 or so "loggable" hours in the 3 years I was gone on military leave. Had I stayed at the airline I would have gotten a lot more, granted no military time. I had an Eagle buddy who got hired at United with 4000TT with no PIC. I have pretty "high quality time", and will upgrade with Endeavor likely as soon as I get the 1000 hours at the company, but it would be nice to have 2500 more total hours to make me more competitive with a variety of employers.

Thank you so much. So having everything before UTP wasn't a waste?

How many hours do you have? If you don't have 1500 hours or came from one of the schools that require less hours you can't even go to a regional right now. That's why I would focus on a reserve job which will reduce that 1500hr ATP requirement to 750 and get the military stink on you which will get you hired at a Major with less total time.

As mentioned above some civilians are getting picked up with lower total time and no TPIC, but right now it's not the norm. That could change however.

For your information I received interview offers from both Southwest and Delta and only had 7.5 years in the Air Force and about 2300TT.

It's definitely not a waste. I went to UPT with my instrument and about 250hrs and it made UPT a lot easier in my opinion. As long as you have the right attitude about your previous experience.