Starting after being hired
 

Hey guys!

I was wondering how long your interview is good for at most regionals. I would really like to apply as soon as possible, but due to my age/school situation I can't start until summer (spring semester ends in May and I turn 21 in on July 1).

Someone told me that when you interview, you can take up to 6 months before starting training, but I haven't been able to find any information to back that up.

What is the earliest that you think I should apply?

Every airline is different, do your research and you will find the few that you would like to interview at first, then ask your question again. This website if full of great information if you lift a finger or two and look around. But congratulations on 121 jobs practically falling into your lap after college at the age of 21.

depends on where you want to apply. if youre looking at asa it probobly wouldnt hurt to apply now. maybe call the hr dept. wherever you want to go and see what they think.

I'm thinking Piedmont as first choice, Eagle as second, and haven't gotten too far past that. I paroozed the website, but couldn't find that information for either of those airlines.

If you're not ready to take the job, why would you interview now?

send in your resume when you are ready to interview. Make sure you meet all the mins including age before you send it out. Those airlines are going to want to start training you probably within a month of hiring you. I would not send your stuff in until you are ready to work. The month you graduate would probably be fine if you meet all the other mins. I def. would not send it in right now if you dont plan on working there til you graduate 4 months from now.

Plus, in 4 or 5 months time, a lot can change at regionals. Keep researching over the next several months and keep up with the latest news.

I interviewed with eagle in november and told them I coulnt start until late january. they didn't have any problem with it. make sure you meet mins before applying though.

I guess I'm just a little freaked out about the hiring minimums. They're so incredibly low right now, I would really hate to miss such an opportunity. So the thought was that if I interviewed a few months early it would secure a position at the airline in case hiring started to slow down.

pdt is hiring at under 300 hours and under 30 multi...im sure you will be ok.

I had a couple friends looking at doing the same thing at PDT. I told them to apply about four to six weeks before graduation. Figure it will take a little bit of time to set up an interview (1-2 weeks) then, assuming a job offer is extended (which at PDT you will know before you leave) another 1 to 2 weeks. Both my friends had a class date starting the day of graduation so they asked to start in the following class and that was ok but from what I have heard they want people who can start ASAP. Good luck!

Of course the usual question is why PDT and Eagle? They are two of the longest upgrades both with relatively uncertain futures. They do have good work rules though. Have you considered any other airlines?

Yeah, what the sarge said. First of all, I don't think you're going to see minimums across the board come up that fast (or at all) between now and then. Second of all, if your times are that low, you may want think about doing something where you are building PIC time (like CFIing). The airlines will still be here. I promise.

PS
I assume you already have a 4 year degree. If you don't, jumping to a regional before you finish college would be doing yourself a HUGE disservice.

i had the same plan, thought I'd apply a couple months before graduating college and give em time to call. I applied online at about 9 pm at night and rah called next morning around 830 so I was pretty suprised, interviewed on spring break and was hired, they were cool with waiting the two months till I graduated to start class. I did have more time than most going into a regional though 2000TT/600multi, 22years old, 4 yr degree from big university non-aviation. The other two good regionals I applied to called in about a week. I was really suprised it was that fast but I went to rah cause of the bases and quick upgrade. didn't even consider any of the bad regionals.

They were my top picks based on their quality of life, not set in stone for sure. I'm obviously still in the learning process and trying to get as much information and as many opinions as possible. What would your first choice be?

Also, right now I have about 700/25 for flight time (I am a current CFI), and will hopefully be getting another 30 or so multi hours within the next couple of months.

Freezingflyboy, I will not have a 4 year degree at that time (I'm a junior now for a BA), but have been doing it online for a while, so I'll still continue online, just at a slower pace.

Get to 100 multi and you can go anywhere you want. You should stay in college and get a 4 year degree. I can't stress how important having that backup degree is. It will make you much more valuable outside of aviation. Besides, college is the best time you'll ever have. Once you start down the career path, you have all that responsibility crap to deal with. Enjoy it while you can.

Is it possible to work for a regional and take online classes?

Ya, that's not hard at all... Earlier this year before my current airline, I was working 5 days a week doing full time web/graphics design and flying skydivers on the weekends... all the while taking a full time class load online... you can definitely do it working less than 7 days a week.

Listen Grasshopper, Get your 4 year degree I know of several Captains who are at Decent Regionals who wished they had it It may not be a requirement at all Majors I dont really know about the Legacy carriers either but I do know that it cant hurt.. also think about this if you get Furloughed or your Airline Tank you always want to have something to fall back on what happen if you develope diabetes or something that disqualifies you from flying what is your Plan B or Plan C I personally learned alot from instructing and teaching ground school Like was said earlier dont be in such a hurry live alittle the Airline will be here when 6 months from now.. and the sky is not falling..

One final thing Stay away from MESA...
Friends dont let Friends fly for JO

Why wait until you meet the mins when most places are hiring people below the mins? The only places I have heard that are still holding steadfast are Horizon and Skywest.

because you need to gain the experience of decision making! Being a cfi and being responsible for another person's life or flying as the pic will help you make wise decisions. A tool too many people in right seat are lacking.(even I turn to the left and expect the captain to make the call sometimes) Sooner or later, when you upgrade as a captain and you turn to the left for help... no one will be there!

Not knowing anything about where you live or your career goals, I would say that there are better choices out there right now. But then again, not having to commute is worth its weight in gold and both those companies have historically had pretty decent work rules.

Jebus...get some more time first. Lets say a year from now, you're out on your arse for one reason or another. Economy is in the toilet (trust me, it will be) and now places are requiring 1000PIC for an interview. Where will you be? Just a scenario to think about. Oh, and there are a lot of guys that do online classes but they do take longer and sound like they can be a pain sometimes, but thats just what I've heard from people I've flown with, no first hand experience.

I know jumping into the airlines is very attractive right now, but you're young. Slow down and enjoy the ride. At 21 you should be getting hammered at college parties, waking up in strange places next to people you can't remember the names of. Gotta have a base for all those crazy stories you tell over a beer on the overnight.:D

for sure man, stay in college. I completely agree with the guy above. If you really want to fly that bad, teach on the side while going to school. Maybe get on flying part time charter or something till you graduate. I took a full load of classes(real ones, not online), flight instructed full time, flew part time 135 in a baron and partied real hard. Don't be one of those aviation dorks that doesn't have anything else interesting about them other than flying airplanes. Finishing college will make you a more rounded, interesting person. You can't get that experience anywhere else. You won't regret it and if you stay in school and teach you'll have plenty of time to go to whatever regional you want when you're done with school.

Well I can tell you this much... If you work for AE (as I do), when you hit the 250 TT with 50 Multi you can walk into an interview and will start training within in months... I have know atleast 9 people that have done just that.

Is that the best idea? Not in my opinion.

My dollars worth is this:

Get the 4 yr degree. Everyone needs one. If nothing else it looks good on paper.

CFI during college, I wish I had done this. If you can find a FBo that needs a MEI. Intructing will build decision making skills, along with many other characteristics a good pilot will need.

DONT take out loans for your flight training. Pay as you go. I made the mistake on taking out two loans for training. I regret it every time I send good ole Sallie May a check. It may take a bit longer, but by god I swear you will be better off for it.

Now as to your airline choice:

AE, is whom I work for. I am not a pilot for them as of yet, Come November that will change. I can speak for the company as a whole and I know a bit about the pilots.

The QOL and Pay at AE are on par. The Head Ups here at AE are generally good people, and Dispatch is a pleasure to work with on most occasions. Now the big big big turn off for AE is the 6-9 yr upgrade time. If you plan on flying for a regional for a long time then Eagle may be the best choice for you. HOWEVER, if you plan on moving elsewhere within the next 5 years, then you may want to look at somewhere like CHQ. The key to moving up is TT and PIC time. You will get alot of SIC as a Eagle FO, but at a place like CHQ, you can make CA in as little at 14 months. I am not saying CHQ is a good place to work, but i can say that the pilots I talk to on a regular basis from there seem to enjoy the company and their jobs. Trans States is another low time short upgrade regional... Again, I work their flights here in BNA, but I dont know much about them.

All in all, Eagle is a good choice. Stable and generally reliable. Yes were are going through a spin off from AA... But I can tell you from senior management here at BNA, Dont expect much to change. There is some inner political struggles going on that has nothing to do with Eagles future as an airline.

The other thing to think about is Bases.

Where do you want to live?

For me, I will commute out of BNA. I already have a house in Nashville, and BNA is an easy commute.

Eagle has Domiciles all over. But if you wanna fly an ERJ you will end up in ORD. You might get DFW, but dont count on it. Everyone that I know has ended up in ORD. You wanna fly our prop planes? Well San Juan is your new home.

I think CHQ and Trans States both base out of STL. I dont really know of any other bases for them... On a side note, the Airport at STL is a dump. I non rev up there once a month to give my money to Harrah's Casino... I personally would not like to live in STL.

Everything I have said is based upon my experiance as an AE employee, and my personal beliefs and expectations.

As such, you will have to make your own decisions about what is right for you... IF bopping around flying for Great Lakes is what makes you happy then do it. No one person on this site will have a ready made answer for you, but we can help with suggestions.

I hope this helps. Excuse my spelling, It is 3:15 am and I am typing in the Dark.

I hope you spell check your rezoomay.:rolleyes: