Making the MILITARY JuMp~
 

First, identify which regionals you would be interested in...the regional lifestyle is GREATLY enhanced if you can live at your domicile.

Then look at their published hiring mins, and try to determine what their realistic hiring mins are (may be higher or lower than published). People on this forum can address realistic mins at their airlines.

You may not need the full 100 hours of ME time due to the current demand, but you need to look closely at the requirements for total fixed-wing time...most airlines don't give much credit for rotor time (Skywest does). It is total time (so is blimp time), but many airlines want a lot of FW time.

You can submit your resume/application whenever you like, but will probably not get called to interview until you have the requied time. It might be a good plan to submit early, then call the recruiter when you meet the mins...this will give you an excuse to make voice contact. You may be able to interview prior to seperation, and arrange a class date shortly after.

The hiring boom should last a while until a recession, terrorist attack, or age 65.

Also you will need passport, FCC radio license, SSN card, birth cert, possibly ATP written, and a variety of other background docs (some take a while to get). Check out some airline web sites, some of them list all the docs you need.

Start sending out resumes NOW while you build your fixed wing multi flight time toward 100. Some places that might consider you with lower FW ME would possibly be TSA, Pinnacle, and Piedmont. As previously said, knock out the ATP written as quickly as possible.

I presume you are a WO...is there any way to get/keep a Guard slot once you get a 121 job? Double-dipping is a great way to get past regional FO pay and there are a decent number of dual-qual corporate jobs out there that require turbine helo experience as well as basic fixed-wing qualifications.

Best of luck!

yes definitly dont let that military paycheck go away, reserves or guard will always take care of you

good luck..just flew with an FO who was an army helo guy in socal

Pachpilot,

I'm also a former -64 guy (101st, 6th Cav, 4th ID). I left the Army in Aug 05, finished my FW ratings, instructed for a few months, and was at a regional by Aug 06. Right now is a great time to break into this business. I'm sure you've looked to see what all the airlines' hiring mins are, but some places have some exceptions for helo guys. Most will count your helo time as TT, and some will even give you a break. Others will not. Some that I know of:

ExpressJet - does not count helo time at all.
American Eagle - military RW rated guys have mins of 300FW, 100FWME
Pinnacle - Total time includes helo, hiring at 400TT 100FWME
ASA - counts helo as TT with 100FWME

Good luck, and if you have any questions I can help with, let me know - I'd be glad to help out a fellow attack driver. Oh yeah, check out http://aptap.forumco.com if you haven't already.

TS

apache guys are awesome. we carried an apache and its demo crew from willams gateway over to farnborough england last july for the airshow. the show they put on was incredible, you guys are the real deal.

Make sure you live in domicile. Thanks for kicking ass in the apache!

Have you been checking the posts on the APTAP boards.. Army pilot stuff? Checkout www.forumco/aptap.com. I may be off with address, so if that doesn't work.. google aptap.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE QUICK REPLYS!!! Guys like ya'll get guys like me headed in the right direction and hired with the right airlines! :D