Hi all. Long time lurker, first post. I'm a USAF guy (helo's though). I have everything except the multi time which I'll have squared away by end of August. I'm wondering if there's any advantage to waiting to apply to the regionals until after I have 100% of the requirements. For example do recruiters look at me and say "he has everything NOW let's put him in an earlier training class" vs "he'll have everything by X date, put him in a later class". I know DOH impacts seniority but just trying to weigh all the variables. Thank you for any replies (and thank you all for the amazing information searchable on these forums).

 

Some apps (typically majors) won't let you submit without meeting their mins. Some or most regionals will let you apply (and interview) early as long as you are fairly close and have an obvious plan/trajectory to meet ATP mins.

So if the app lets you apply, I'd go ahead and do it. Read the fine print though.

 

DOH doesn’t start until you show up at INDOC usually. But a lot of regionals have rotary transition people who will work with you to expedite things, even advance you bonus money for the FW time (including ME) that you need.

Decide who you want to apply to and give their recruiter a call.

 

I don’t think it will ever help to wait. You definitely won’t get an earlier lass date. I know that at XJT if you are below mins as a rotor candidate they will even pay for you to finish your hours and take it out of your bonus.

 

Apply early to the regionals you want to work at/the ones that have pools of applicants waiting for months.

 

Trans States has a program where you can show up to a day of ground school and "reserve" your seniority. I think they'll adjust your DOH 90 days to left of showing up to ground school.

I know they're not an APC consensus recommendation unless you need Denver day one, but that might exist elsewhere. I wanna say Envoy had something similar when I interviewed there a few months back, but a quick look at their hiring page shows that they've changed things significantly since they've got the new TA (good for them!)...and I see no mention of it anymore. Anyway, something worth looking into for OP.

As for rotor transition programs - I'd suggest asking what the training department does for rotor transition folks, how many they get, what percentage pass, and how they've adapted training to accommodate them. There's big learning curve from single engine light piston VFR to swept wing jet IMC. Not everybody uses their 250 hours as productively as they could have - does the airline have a system in place to help rotor pilots make the jump? Obviously you want to be tactful when you ask, but if you're deciding between two places and one has a good track record and one doesn't...well it's your PRIA record.

 

Appreciate the advice. Will have to just connect with the recruiters to learn the intricacies of the seniority dates it sounds like. Also, I should be clear I am in no way interested in a rotor transition program. About half my time is turbine fixed wing (prior FW dude, went rotary in the Air Force because it's awesome) just need the multi time and I have the requirements.

Thanks all for the inputs here. Overall takeaway seems that there is zero advantage in waiting. Cheers!