You could definately get a regional job.

I think any major would want some recent professional flying experience...

If you want a quicker path to something better, you might consider street captain doing grand canyone tours or something like that. If your previous TPIC was 121, you might be able to get a call from SWA when you hit 1000-1800 TPIC. If you don't have 121 TPIC it might be a little tougher...you might need to get a 121 captain job. Some of the grand canyon stuff is technically 121, but no one takes it seriously since it's all day VFR on the same route.

 

Yep all of the training was USAF. All that TPIC was mil in the C130.

 

any one else want to chime in....

 

This is sort of my situation too, (6700 TT - 4000 ME 3300 turbo-prop 3600 PIC, not much PIC turbine)...and 120 (turbine) in last 4 months. Out of flying for 5+ years (most of the flying was prior to 1990) but was working in aviation in safety research so I wasn't out of the loop...but I'm finding it very difficult. Most suggest get more recent time...this bothers me and is very catch 22...more time to get a job, don't I need a job to get that time? Very weird. I've also had it explained to me several times lately in the few interviews I get that I need 50+ in whatever type to get hired...uh-huh. Itw as explained because of the NEt Jets monopoly...the charter places basically have to meet their minimums (or more) so they can cover MX trips for them. In fact, a lot of places have higher mins than Net Jets.

Any ideas?

 

have you been interviewing at regionals?

 

No, not looking at regionals. I did that in the 80's and if its not worse these days its at least the same, except with the caveat of there being a very good chance of not getting out. I'm living where I grew up, where I want to live, I moved plenty for flying in my younger days. I figure there's got to be a something good or modest where I live (metro area with 6.5 million) - some sort of light turbo-prop get you home at night sort thing. I call that modest. If there was a regional with a primary base here I'd consider that, I could live fine on Captains pay and could even hack the FO poverty, for awhile. But there isn't a regional pilot base here, except for one company with two reserve crews and I know commuting is life killing. I've applied at the fractionals with local bases - no response, local charter places (where the mins seem to be NJA or above, like Argus mins) and a couple ACMI freighters with home basing - no response. As I wrote I haven't much recent time, 120 hours in March-April, (that was in SE Asia, super funky company and not worth the professional and personal risk to stay) and 15 hours last July in GA aircraft. I pretty much stopped flying in 2002, and wasn't doing that much 1991 to 2002. Its funny because it was easy for me to get back at the controls, no big challenge to be comfortable and competent. Its just crazy to go interview at a place and they want a type or time in type even though the resume clearly states what I've flown. And so I'm supposed to get a type and then somehow get 50 hours in a Lear (today's interview example) just so I can get a job there? The next place of course wants a Hawker type, and as you can tell, it just goes on and on.

Well, I realize now that maybe I'm whistling past the wrong category here, since it is, after all, in the regional forum - but I thought it was worth advice seeking in a more general way. Still accepting advice.

 

i bet kalitta would give him an interview they want guys with overseas experience, theres an august and october class. not sure if thats what your buddy is looking for since its long trips away from home but thats always an option

 

Kalitta....thats an interesting thought.

 

We need pilots here at Grand Canyon Airlines. He would would defintely get an interview!

 

i dont think he is moving west anytime soon.....lol

honestly the main concern is the long time out of the cockpit. Skills are still good and getting better.