That was the case before they raised year 1 FO pay to $100/hr. Now they can pick an choose who they hire.


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They probably will get more selective but I know a new hire who hasn’t flown in 12 years- not once. Only took 2 refresh lessons in a 172 and got hired- post pay raise. Yeah that bar needs to be raised a tad bit.

 

It shouldn’t be that hard to get hired at another 121. 8 out of 30 of my class at a regional were asked to resign and everyone who wanted to go to another 121 eventually did. Did you try Air Wisconsin? A few guys from my class went there. Some also went to endeavor, republic and horizon.

Maybe hiring at the regionals is a bit different now compared to winter of 2021 though.

 

Look at applying at 135 companies such as FlyExclusive. They require you to have your ATP/CTP done (which I assume you have). You can go there, get an idea of a different type of flying, and then you ca nlook at going to a ULCC after some time building.

 

I did a consultation with Raven a while back and it was a good experience. Several other pilots recommended them to me and they shoot straight. Fees are not unreasonable for the service.

https://ravencareers.com/

 

OP, two points I’d like to stress to you. Get another job that is considered a step up from instructing. It’s imperative that you prove yourself to other employers like the regionals you’re try for by successfully passing a Part 135 etc. training curriculum. That step will more than balance out your previous failure.

Freight, right seat 135 passenger ops (Boutique Air for example), just anything that’s considered a career progression step from flight instructing. In the meantime keep hitting up the regionals hard. I think one or more of them will give you a chance to interview.

That brings me to my second point. Absolutely get an interview prep before going on any interviews. They’re not that expensive is my understanding and it’s imperative that you be groomed on how to properly explain your training failure, how you’ve handled it and what you’ve learned from it. In my opinion, an interview prep will do you good and you pay for it once and have the information and the grooming that you need for multiple interviews.

Good luck. It’s a minor speed bump. Keep pressing and you’ll achieve your goals.

 

I just have a question for the OP—they let you go after your first written test fail? There was no further opportunity? Is there more to the story aside from a medical condition which you implied impaired your abilities to pass the systems test the first time?

The way you own this will determine how your future interviews go.

 

It's axiomatic that it's easiest to find a job if you have a job. If you're working as an instructor now, keep putting in the applications. It's a slow(er) period right now, but keep applying. When asked, explain your situation. You had a low score, were removed from training, and you were struggling with a medical issue which overtook you, and has been addressed.

A failure under 121 will follow you, presently, for life. From a writer's perspective, nobody likes a perfect character. It's not interesting, nobody trusts that character. People love flawed characters. You're not being written, but your story is. You have a flaw in your past; show that it's in your past, show that you can move forward, put some distance between you and that training failure, and looking forward employers will be far more interested in your recent history than your ancient history. Apply to all the regionals. You'll pass, you'll get hired, you'll get some history reflecting this, and you'll look back to have a good story to tell in future interviews about a failure you've experienced, and how you overcame it, and you'll be able to use it as a selling point to show a stronger, more determined you. That's the way it works.

People aren't investing in interview coaching and preparation like they used to. It wouldn't hurt you to do so. If for nothing else, our own confidence, in telling your story.

 

I had the same question. I am not stating there are truths being left out here, but you are allowed to be re-trained after any failure and given the ability for a second attempt. But it is also possible that said airline knew they had an excess of FOs and used this one failure as an excuse to shed a little financial burden. Who knows.

But to the OP, as already stated, an easy way to come back to the 121 world is to prove to them you can be successful. Find a 135 operation that works for you and put in some time, preferably one where you can either be hired into a PIC position or a quick upgrade into one. However, I would advise against going anywhere forcing a training contract. Ameriflight just posted several openings within their company, Southern Airways Express & Cape Air are always hurting for people too. I worked for Berry Aviation and they are always looking for pilots (it can be brutal, but you’ll build solid experience there).

Best of luck, you’ll succeed as long as you keep putting in the work.

 

In the past I recall there were regionals who did not allow a re-test for the written... they basically assumed that a multiple choice written is all about work ethic and if you can't even get that right they don't want to waste the sim money on you.

I also recall at least one that had a mems & lims test on day one... you had to pass in order to come back on day two. Obviously that was back when they gave you a study package well in advance.

The regs allow for a couple strikes, but the airlines don't have to.

I would have assumed that in today's climate they would be more forgiving, but maybe not.