The conversation of mil flying versus regional flying is stupid.

Majors hire mil guys because that type of training is much more rigorous compared to an airline training program. It’s not about F-16 pilots lighting their hair on fire as they fly 10 feet over the trees at 500 kts.

Mil aviators have proved to be reliable hires time and time again. Don’t fix it if it’s not broken.

As far as the argument of regional pilots flying mainline passengers, but not getting a mainline job. If you’re resume looks like the other 20,000 regional pilots, you need to do something to stick out.

Get a bachelors, network, become LCA, something. Now, for the guys that did all the right things and still didn’t get a call, just keep updating your app and networking. That’s all you can do.

Lay this argument to rest. It’s dumb. It is what it is. Play the game and move on.

 

I was speaking from the perspective of management bean counters, not actually saying all regional pilots are interns although a 23 y/o with 1500 hours is probably pretty close to it.

Mil pilots are known quantities for trainability and also whole person... responsible, will show up on time with a pressed shirt and a clean shave. Today's generation will be sober too.

They are also mission/goal oriented... but most quickly learn there's no percentage in bending over for the company. They don't bend over any more than anyone else in the long run but their other ingrained habits tend to stick with them.

 

Good thing? Hell ya. PDT put it in the LOA AA / US Signed a 4 will not be required. Let's move on. You wanna fly with with DAL types go to DAL.

 

Probably better to put the interns in 25 year old cargo widebodies, as opposed to new Skywest CRJ 700s flying everybody's passengers in and out of Aspen or Cape Air Cessnas single pilot.

Accidents rates do eventually creep up at very high hours. Maybe those peeps with over 20,000 hours should be forced to fly fifty seaters, or maybe old and small airframes flying cargo does make the most sense..

 

Legacies don't fly cargo planes (actually not entirely true, but only a very tiny handful to places which are not for the faint of heart).

Can't discriminate against old people. To say nothing of seniority.

But they can start noobs on small planes... no law against that.

My unbiased observation... much higher CONSISTENCY in professionalism at (most) majors. Certainly the big ones.

Not so consistent at the regionals.

Some of that is age/experience. Some of that is the filter to progress from regional to majors... tends to concentrate those who don't make the cut at the regionals.

Also while I have heard anecdotes of age 60+ airline guys who are not at the top of the game, I've never actually met one. The guys I've met and flown with are plenty sharp. There are also plenty of doctor, lawyers, senators, presidents, etc over age 60.

 

Not sure if this was a troll post, but in general, I agree with the quote above. It seems that the WO's attract the candidates with the least education and/or professional skills and experience. I've seen some pretty terrible CFI's (who never deserved the title and somehow got through the checkrides) get hired at those places. They are just looking for a shortcut to a major by skipping the college degree requirement. It really doesn't seem like a great idea for the future of AA and my best guess is that AA would require a 4 yr degree if it was in their control, but their hands are tied contractually to said regionals.