Low time Mil - where to place my bets?
 

Hello all - apologies for another "what about me" post. I've been reading searching for about 4 months, and haven't quite put my finger on what my best option(s) are. At this point I've gotten myself into a PIO of indecision - there are a lot of good ideas and options out there, I'm just not sure I'm looking in all the right places.

The favorite option of Hong straight to my last job just isn't feasible. I don't have the time. 970hours ME jet PIC time, all T-38 and F-15. Mix in my GA and T-34 time and I'm at 1200 TT. Based on research, my resume will be "pretty," but ultimately useless at this point based on hours.

For resume fodder: approaching 22 years active USAF with the first 10 enlisted: 1.5 in maintenance, 8.5 enlisted crew on AC-130 (2000 hrs/940 combat,) and from 2005 to present - pilot training pipeline to F-15. Weapons officer/IP, SEFE, Operational Test Pilot.

Staring at retirement but unqualified for the airlines (FedEx, primarily - but haven't ruled out pax carriers,) I'll be going to the ANG instead to continue building hours. Here's the rub - is that the best plan? Suck it up with a regional (if I can even get hired there?) Does the SIC time as an FO even buy me anything, really, other than getting rid of the ATP restriction for total time? Look at corporate?

I know there's no shortcut to the hours, just wondering if there are options I'm not thinking about. I've ponied up for Emerald Coast so that I'm at least prepped when the time comes, just wondering what the experienced think about the situation.

Cheers!

I know a guy who has a restricted ATP, lots of backseat fighter time, few hundred up front, got out with less than 500 mil hours (plus 1200 or so backseat), got on with SkyWest, and after a few months got a call from AA (prior to even having 1500 hours). Just go to a regional for 3-12 months and you will be at a legacy in no time. Regionals pay more than a lot of places first year right now, too.

Don't slit your wrists by limiting options to just fedex. They're all good jobs.

Bottom line, apply to everyone. If a regional calls first, go. Slum it out, fatten the logbook and keep applying. A year or two in an RJ will go a long way for professional development as well as flight time.

Promising words guys, thanks for the thoughts. Definitely not limiting options to a single employer, I'm not exactly in the position to "pick."

Generally, my plan has never changed that when the apps go active, it will be to FedEx, Delta, United and AA.

After reading the regional forum, I don't dare ask the "which regional" question. From what I see the RJ job is a storm to weather. Though I don't see a sane argument against 121 time being a good thing.

whichever regional allows you to drive to work

Exactly what I was going to post. Don't commute to a regional job unless you have no choice. You've got all the right boxes (yeah I said it) checked... you just need total time.

Don't forget UPS and SWA. SWA may not be the greatest at first glance but they just passed a pretty lucrative contract.

If you've got the time in to get an AD retirement- retire now! Don't go to the guard and push off that pension for another 20 years just so you can get 100hrs a year in a grey airplane.

Retire now, and collect a pension. Go to the regionals or with your background, one of the ISR contractors and start getting more multi-turbine time under your belt. ISR pays 3X as much as the regionals starting out and you log about half Multi-PIC-Turbine after you qualify (which is often in your first 30 days). Regionals you've got to have a min of 1000 part 121 SIC and 2500TT and the right seniority number to upgrade but once you do it's all part 121 PIC.

Different ways to skin the cat flying wise but don't defer the pension 20 years for a small # of flight hours and a lot of bull****. If you're not ready emotionally to leave the military go do ISR until you're ready to go to the airlines. Otherwise that Pension will sustain you in first year pay wherever you go.

Don't rule out the defense industry (Lockheed, Northrop, Boeing, etc.); with your background and clearance you can find lucrative jobs.

If you're willing to be away from home for a bit, there are ISR contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan that will pay 6 figures and allow you to build time more quickly.

You'll have a shorter career than the younger guys. So quicker retirments is something to consider. AA has the most retirements, especially in the near term. A 45/46 year old's final retirement numbers would be approx 1700 @AA, 2500@DL, and 2700-2800@ UA.

DL and FedEx have had rapid upgrades. Will that continue? Surges often stop suddenly once the early movers grab the spots.

AA is looking at 6-7 year upgrades for guys hired today. Even the most senior base will only take an additional 1-2 years to upgrade because retirements will exceed 900/yr then.

You've got the resume but are lacking TT. Retire and join the check a month club. Get on with Piedmont/PHL or Endeveavo/LGA and learn larger jet/crew ops, civilian flying, 121, high density ops, all weather ops, etc, etc. Everyone learns something in a new job. Broaden your base of knowledge and experience and the next step gets easier.

Go to the big job fairs - NGPA, WAI, OBAP. Show your face. Matter of fact WAI is in March. Every airline and commuter will be there.

Remember we don't pick them, they pick us. It's probably a 1-3 year window for you.

Good luck.

Pretty cool career you had there. Congrats.

I think regional with some ANG for sanity and help with crappy 1st year pay/schedule would get you to a major soonest. Or go full bore regional, youll get 1500 in no time.

Commuting sucks. Doing it for first year regional pay would be awful