back in mid 90s competitive was 2500 TT, 500 multi engine, preferably at a 135 flying Barons or Twin Cessnas

"have a pulse" only began around 2015 ish, my estimate

It was mostly 1000/100 between about 2005 and 2015, and then like you said, pulse.

Two reasons, IMO.

1) control over your candidate selection. Much preferable to hire enthusiastic newbies rather than bitter dudes who got held back by the COVID. This was proven over the last couple years when young people skipped over a lot of guys with a salty attitude from the lost decade.

2) To maintain the illusion that there’s a shortage, and keep the right seat of the regionals staffed with these guys, while the current regional list stays firmly planted in the left seat. Permanently.

ATP/written completed, no more ATP/CTP courses, sim evaluation at interview. {Trying to remember the 2007-2010 interview drill}

ETA; I went to one interview during that time period where the HR lady posed as a candidate and sat in the lobby.

Had that at Colgan. 1000tt 100me ATP written and needed to do a full motion sim eval in a 1900...to earn $18 an hour.

Me too. That was the longest interview process I've ever been thru. Fly to Manassas, Va., 50 question written, three panel interview including Chuck Colgan (he played the angry captain), drug test, overnight stay, bus trip to Regan National, shuttle to NY and level D sim evaluation at Flight Safety. Yeah, I can see this happening again when the airlines begin to hire.
ETA; The check pilot was Kraft.

*JOB FAIRS*
Flying out on your own dime. I seem to remember a thread recently about a guy who didn't think he needed to pay for his hotel at an INTERVIEW.

Yeeeeaaahhh attention to detail fail on my part there..agreeing with you.

There was the 2005 to 2008 timeframe when regionals were hiring at 250 hours. I was “lucky” and had less than 900 when hired.


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I interviewed at Colgan, ASA, and SkyWest. All were pretty thorough, long, and required a sim eval. The most difficult and longest interview was DEFINITELY the 2 day ASA marathon.

The most relaxed and low stress was at SkyWest. It was difficult, but everyone was very nice and truly wanted you to succeed (which was also the case for the training department). In 2011, I was one of the lowest time guys in my SkyWest class with around 2,000 hours, ATP, and a Citation PIC type rating. I think almost everyone in my class also had a 4 year degree, and I had to do a decent amount of networking to even get that interview.

I don't wish on anyone for those days to return, but it does seem inevitable.