Same here. I know dozens of FO’s, no prior military, no prior 121 or TPIC hired at legacy carriers without a flow. All their PIC time was from GA piston airplanes.
I think it’s part of what killed ASA as it became very top heavy (expensive).

Ya, what you’re seeing is dated now. PSA FOs get the sign on bonus plus increased pay rates at 50 bucks an hour first year. The retention bonus is gone and is now a hard pay. Before you didn’t get the Retention bonus until year one anniversary. So now you’re making money from the start. Pretty awesome deal! Plus pay over 75 hrs to 85 is at 125% and from 85-95 at 150%! For all pilots. I’m a year 4 captain and went from 72/hr to 89/hr and when we lose 200s the pay increases due to blended rates. So more like 90 an hour. It’s crazy!! Plus Schedule Adjustment Period and Flow.. no concessions were made.

While I do agree there are exceptions, there is almost always some type of rare qualifier that got them there. The ones that I know that went from FO straight to a Legacy without any 121 PIC time, no mil, and less then 3000 hours did things like intern at the Legacy's corporate HQs during college, through nepotism from somebody high up, served the executive board of a nation wide charitable organization, etc.



But hey, if you want to spread false hope to everybody who doesn't have a taste of the industry yet, more power to you and Meow.

3/4s of the ones I know, this statement didn’t apply. Aside from meeting the mins, volunteering, and being an overall non-dick. They had nothing special in their backgrounds. Sure a few had unicorn qualifiers like an FAA internship back in the day, the occasional triple minority, and some with their masters. But largely, nothing special - some didn’t have the internal recommendations either.

How many hours did they have. Did they go right at 2500?

I stand corrected, I guess I am wrong. FOs are getting snatched up by Legacies right at 1000 Part 121 SIC time. No special qualifiers needed. Don't worry guys, your stay at the Regionals will be short. Only a year or so before you are snatched up by Delta.

My buddies and I have concluded they do that by lottery, nobody is sure why (other than the obvious affirmative action picks). Possibly to smooth out their age demographics to prevent *another* retirement bubble in 20 years, possibly to leverage optimism among entry-level/ junior regional pilots... if one of them gets hired, they all think they'll be next.

For planning purposes, the only *predictable* way to get called is still to have a relatively clean record, a degree, multiple types, 5K+ hours w/ 2K+ TPIC, and usually something else on the resume that makes you interesting... masters, volunteer, check airman, etc, etc

2500-2800, I know one had just finished captain upgrade with 2700TT. However, he got the call before he updated his app to include that information.

Can I quote you on that? :)

Yeah, but not too much TT. After about 8K they don’t seem to like you.
I know pilots at the legacies who also scratch their heads about it. It seems that once you hit your 40’s as a non military FW pilot your chances drop dramatically. While there are exceptions to the age rule, they are exceptions.
The only common thread I saw in the FOs getting picked up was that they were less than 35 years old but over six years as an FO. Unless they were a targeted demographic. I saw some of those FOs picked up after 3-4 years.