cocomojoe4

Hi guys,
I am a CFI and college student at ERAU with two semesters left. I don't have much time at all (about 900TT and 150ME) and I am seeking input on how long the demand will last for pilots with the regional carriers. I am working hard to get out of school as fast as I can, but the reality is that I have a year to go. I am a little concerned that most of the available jobs will be gone a year from now since it looks like alot of people are starting to hire. Is there anyone that has been there done that willing to give me some input or advice on the matter. Open to any opinions/suggestions....thanks..Joe

Freightcowboy

Hey, don't worry about the hiring forcast. In the next 5-10 years the baby-boomers in the airlines will be gone opening up the flood gates for guys like you trying to build experience. Example, 51% of Continental Airline Pilot's will be gone in the next 10 years. US Airway's pilot group average from what I had heard is 50-55 years old right now. The regional pilots will have to fill those slots. Regional airlines are still hiring. ASA, I just got my letter today in fact saying I was hired, Express Jet, Republic, Skywest, after the new years, Air Wisconsin and the list goes on. Start looking at websites and start sending stuff in NOW!!!!!!!!! Don't wait if anything get a paper trail going NOW!!!! So when you have desirable time you'll be good.

Freightcowboy

Was That For Us?

cocomo, don't follow the trends. Do what you want to do, and there will always be jobs available.

Don't listen to those negative types who claim the sky is falling on this career. The industry is going through an adjustment, sure, but there will always be hiring, and a handful of quite excellent jobs..

TankerDriver

Cocomo, I wouldn't worry. You've actually got quite a bit of flight time under your belt for someone who hasn't finished the ERAU program. I graduated with 275 hours and then started CFI'ing there. It took me about a year after graduating to get the flight time you have now and I wound up paying for all my multitime in the process.

Take it one day at a time and don't worry about everything happening as you planned it. I got so caught up with trying to make things happen when I wanted them to, not necessarily when it was best, and it's just going to drive you crazy when you don't get your way. It's in our nature as pilots to be impatient and want things to happen yesterday (most of us anyway). If you're determined and work hard, which is looks like you're doing, you'll be rewarded. Keep the teaching coming along and before you know it, you'll be up over 1,200 hours.

BTW, how is ERAU these days anyway? Are you in Daytona?

cocomojoe4

Thanks guys for the input, I really do appreciate it. Just for a little background I did all of my training through my MEI all part 61 at my local flight school while working on the line crew when I was in highschool. I entered college with all of my pilot and instructor certificates and I am just trying to keep as current as possible while I am trying to get out of ERAU. I have been working every summer as a CFI and co-pilot for a corporate flight dept. near home. They have a king air so I have been fortunate enought to fly it for 100 hours or so. As for TankerDrivers question....ERAU is doing pretty well, DAB is closed down most of this weekend because ERAU is hosting Florida Skyfest which is an airshow so that is fun to watch. I am not a big fan of the ERAU flight program (I am doing Aviation Business) because their pilots seem extremely sheltered when they graduate because they are used to ERAU equipment. From the ones I have flown with they seem hesitant to fly anything manufactured more than a few years ago. I am also not a big fan of the huge 141 program over there because it is like a bunch of young CFI's babysitting students through the whole program. It just seems really inefficient to me, to much paperwork and not enought flying, but thats my opinion. Any comments would be great....thanks alot joe

fosters

You're lucky - when I graduated ERAU I had to wait for a few months and then move 1000 miles to find a CFI job, because back in 2002-2003 no one, and I mean NO ONE, was hiring AT ALL, unless you knew some people in some really high places. It took me over 2 years from graduation to airline job, CFI'ing the whole time.

I wouldn't send in your applications just yet, IMO. I was called within a few days from some airlines (colgan, ASA, and AWAC). Others followed quickly within a few weeks, PSA, Piedemont, Commutair, etc. As you get closer to graduation, say 2-3 months or so, then start applying, IMO.