Rusty Pilot, Is it time to get back in and apply?
 

CFI with Commercial Instrument ASEL & AMEL

Haven't flown since 2002. Kept my CFI current, and have current 1st class medical

Don't care for my job (non-aviation related) and am considering flying again. I was instructing on and around 9/11, where someone with my qualifications (1300TT about 100ME) had no chance of getting picked up. Got sick of instructing, and got another job.

Looking at local airlines like Piedmont and Colgan. See that Piedmont doesn't even have an hour requirement.

I am not stupid. I realize that I would need a lot of sim time to get back to proficent. Plus, a decent amount of FAR review, plus ATP Written Review.

So, my question is, would most airlines want to touch someone who is out of the game for 5 years. No criminal record, DUI/DWI's, etc. Only two traffic tickets ever. One was for +10 mph and was 12+ years ago, another was illegal lane change over 5 years ago. Did bust one checkride, but passed all others first time. Have passport and radio license

You have a pulse, right?

Most days I do.

Currently live in Northern MD, so want to try to get with an airline that has a base @ one of the following airports (IAD, DCA, BWI, SBY, MDT, PHL, AOO).

Looks like I have a lot of options to choose from. Has anyone else been out of the game for a while and then interviewed? If so, how was the reaction.

The thing I am most worried about is the 1st year pay. Will be a 50%+ pay cut for me, but I will be able to work with it.

I have seen guys who have been gone from flying for awhile jump right back in and do just fine. Someone in my ground school was in the exact same boat as you. I say if you can take the paycut then go for it. just do your research and select a decent company you can live with. Welcome back to flying!

Get back in the saddle again. Get current with your landings and approaches. The rest of your plan sounds good. Good luck.

my advice is to stay away from mesa airlines. I have about 3 students that went there and I have talked to some of their flight and cabin crews and they say that they practically have no quality of life. use the regionals as a stepping stone and find a good freight company to settle down with because that's where the major growth is and has more stability(if you find a decent airline).

Good luck!
Fly safe
TDXPilot

Been out 13 years and getting back in......

Me too. For me its been tough. Stopped flying in late '01. Worked in aviation research '96-'06, mostly flew in the late 70's to early 90's. Earlier this year went to Asia, flew a bit, which, as it turns out, was easy. But finding something in the US that's not a regional where I have to re-locate (did that in the 80's) or 58 hours duty per week for what works out to $11 an hour (freight) is very, very tough. Corporate says where's the Hawker type? (or Lear, or whatever) and then there's the no 300-500 hours in the last year, and it just goes on from there. But if you're young (younger than me), current, and want to go to a regional I should think you'd not have a problem. Myself, I find it hard to even study for an interview. I do when its a good interview, true, but when they say something like "where's the Hawker type"? and I've gone out of my way to go interview there and its clear on my resume there's no Hawker type, well, its pretty deflating. I keep getting offered flying at the types jobs I did 25 years ago, for what works out to be much less money. Maybe the lesson in this situation is don't get off the circuit.

I'm in a similar situation, getting back in after a 13 month break due to a medical issue. I'd say in today's market you're pretty close to getting on at either Colgan or Piedmont.

My times are higher (5500 total/3700 multi/3500 turbine, prior 121 PIC), but I sent a resume to PDT and got an interview invitation 30 minutes later.

I also have a friend who got bunred out on instructing back before 9/11 who recently jumped back in. he had about 2000 total, mostly primary instructing with low multi time. He didnt have too much trouble getting interviews.

Good luck!

I was out of the saddle for 2.5 years. I'm in training at Republic now. Get recurrent and send out your resume. With your lack of recent experience, you might need to go to a job fair to get someone's attention. That's what I had to do. The Republic side of RAH has bases in DCA and PHL.

So, I am exploring options. After I do book work and Frasca time, I have two options that are about the same price. Option A is to buy multi block time, and get some hours in for currency. Option B is to sign up for Regional Jet course offered through All ATPS or another similar company. What would most people recommend?

Multi block, maybe shoot some approaches or get some actual in it.

Why do you need Frasca time? Except to prep for an interview, which very well may be in a completely different simulator, your money is better spent in real airplanes. The RJ course may or may not help you, but it shouldn't matter in this job market. Get recurrent, apply. If you don't get any bites, then do the block of multi. Don't spend anymore than you have to. You will need that savings on first year pay. I'll tell you right off the bat that XJT and AWAC probably won't hire you unless you have 100 in the last 6 months.

Thanks for the information and frankness. Believe me, I do not want to spend more money than I have to. Was planning on using Frasca time to get back to being current just on procedures, checklists, flows, etc. Much cheaper to re-learn on a sim vs a twin. Then, I was planning on doing time to get my landings and approaches current.

You are going to need to show recent time and recent multi. Do as much recurrency as possible in a single to get that total recent time up. Then get the twin experience. That's the most cost effective way. If you can swing a part time instructing gig, that's even better and cheaper.

I am coming back after 5 years away - flying, but military rotor, not really the same. I got 2 jobs in 2 weeks, and have another interview coming. I went the multi block time route, IAP's and pattern work. I only flew it twice before I got hired. You are in a better position than you think - good luck.

Seriously, don't spend much money yet. Apply today then go buy the FAR/AIM and Microsoft Flt Sim, dig out your instrument procedures and ATP study guides and give it a few weeks. If you don't get any interest then you may need to go get current and hit a job fair or two. The regionals are hurting big time for pilots so there's never been a better time to be in your situation. Good luck.