It’s not like a year at a Regional is some form of punishment.
Flying 121 could not be more different from flying military, it’s a different universe.
Get that 121 experience and build your TT for a year then it’s a walk in the park to get to a Major.

 

But I wouldn't wait six months for a regional class date if a ULCC will bring you on next Monday.

Regionals historically have adapted their training programs to piston pilots with no airline or turbine experience.

ULCC historically were not as accommodating of low experience but that appears to be changing as they also hire R-ATPs. Do your research for specifics.

 

Question, which Regional do you think is going to hire him? Have you seen what is going on in the Regional market these days? If they have one wiff that you're going to leave before upgrading and serving some time as CA they won't hire you. If they do it is usually with a contract with financial penalties for leaving early (like Republic). Same with the ULCCs, they are getting very good at sniffing out people who only want to use them as a stepping stone.

 

How do they sniff people out in this climate?

Only hire folks with multiple DUI's, six pink slips, or a felony?

Other than that, almost anyone can take a type and some 121 SIC and make a good run at the top-tier.

All they can really do is hire older people who's zip code matches their domiciles and hope X percent of them will stay.

They could in theory not hire mil because they are obviously attractive to legacies, but do that for long enough to show a pattern and you'll get owned in USERRA lawsuits.


When they ask the question there are two wrong answers:

1) "I'm definitely going to make a career here, I think legacy pilots get paid way too much, I don't need the money and think it's unjust." They'll know you're full of feces and are lying to their face.

2) "I'm just here for a type rating, some IOE, and then off to DL."

The best answer is a realistic, believable answer: "There are a lot of things I like about brand X (domiciles!), I'd really hope that I can stay long term, I don't want to keep subjecting myself and my family to new-hire training and junior schedules, but I can't completely rule out other options until I get some perspective on line".

If you can make a case that you really want to live in one of their domiciles, that will go a long way (assuming it's not a big legacy hub). Even better if you already live there.

 

IMHO you are definitely hirable at any regional and would move on to a major once you have the ATP. I was retired MIL FW and hired at SkyWest. I hadn’t flown in 10 years except about 30 hrs GA in the year before I was hired. Got hired at AA 2 months after completing IOE at SkW. FWIW I had 4,000 mil FW hours which helped, but in today’s environment I think you could do a touch and go at a regional and move on once you lose the R.
I agree with Rickair about the CFI. High failure rate makes it a bad risk decision because you already meet the mins to get into a regional. Go rent a C-172 on weekends and focus on a 121 job. Good luck!!

 

1. Log your sim time separately. It's still Eval/IP experience.
2. Pick your regional. They'll scoop you up and you can take your six-figure bonus; you're at a major in 3 yrs or less.

Good luck.