Hey USMCFLYER,
sorry for the thread creep, but is your girlfriend down in SD? My wife is the Senior Special Agent (SSA) for an NCIS office in the Western Region and says she works with EV from time to time. Just curious?

TC

 

Hey Man, don't be so defensive. You're right, go Guard or Reserve so you know what you're going to fly. I just read an article last week that said for the first time this coming year, more than one half of all active duty UPT grad were going to drones. Don't shoot the messenger! I think the number were 370 grads to manned A/C and 375 to UAV's.

Chill Brother!

 

Shack! Check your PMs.

USMCFLYR

 

I would HOPE the money isn't an issue cuz there isn't much anywhere in this industry. If you don't do it for the flying you're going to be severely disappointed. Good luck. I did my time instructing and flying freight. In fact I have been trying to get my freight job BACK but they, like everyone else are not hiring right now. My freight job was MUCH more enjoyable than this Regional crap. I would leave this job tomorrow for my old job.

 

Come on now, that was obviously a joke. I agree with active duty going to UAV's, that's why I'm saying go Guard or Reserve. Just trying to help a new guy out and point him in the direction of opportunities without worrying about getting UAV's.

See ya in DTW or MSP...your DAL N brother...

 

Because as CFI's we aren't competitive against guys on furlough from the airlines. It's hard to make yourself seem like the better choice over a pilot with thousands of tprop or jet hours when you have thousands of piston and a few hundred light twin hours. I'm working 7 days a week and I'll be taking almost a 50% increase in pay going to a regional, the pay at my flight school is horrible.

I'm giving the military serious thought, but the 10yr. commitment (Navy) or more for the AF is a very long time, and with no guarantee of getting fixed wing out of flight school it makes it hard to sign the papers. As stupid as that may sound, I just have no desire to fly helos or UAVs, especially with my long term goal set on flying for a major (someday, many, many moons from now).

 

My apologies, mis-read the tone..... Just ran into a FNWA guy down in the pilot lounge in LAX couple days ago. Nice guy.... Looking forward to SOC so we all get to start flying together.

Back to the thread. You are correct about going Guard or Reserve. We have the California Guard Unit at Point Magu in Ventura County and I have seen them advertise for new pilots. This is the way to go for someone starting out. Get training, turbine time. It's career insurance in this crazy industry, so if your company furloughs, you just go "feed from the trough" at your Guard unit and still make a great living. Not to mention that oneday you'll have a very nice retirement.

I Socal the unit has a mission of fire fighting in addition to the regular C130 mission.

WMUFLYBOY, you may not have considered this, but give it a thought. It could possibly allow you to skip the Regional level all together and go straight to the majors after you put in a little time at your unit. Don't let the military thing scare you off. You shine your shoes, cut your hair and say sir, but it could be the best move you'll ever make in your life...... My Delta "newhire" class had 3 guys from the Alabama Air guard. They were flying KC-135's at the time. The youngest guy was 25-26 and had been flying "Heavies". Not bad, mid-twenties and at a Major.

TC

 

You guys keep making it sounds like an airline would actually have a choice to hire you over a furloughed guy. There is no choice. It's the furloughed pilots job to come back to if they want it. It's not like the airline can just blow off the guys they furloughed and skip to you.
Now, if they recall the furloughed guys and some choose not to return, that may create openings.

 

Re-reading my post, I can see how you misinterpreted it, sorry for the lack of clarity. Thought the was enough. Good advice above, Guard bumming is a good deal in tough times.

 

No, no not at all, I'm sorry if thats the way I made it seem. I know the furloughed guys get priority over us at the airlines, and that is the way it should be. I'm talking about the night cargo and the Pt. 135 jobs, it is hard for a guy like me to be competitive right now against a guy on furlough from an airline.

I realize I sound like I'm whining, but I understand why things are the way they are right now. Please don't think that I believe I am above paying my dues in this industry, I know that is the standard and to expect to not have to would be downright dumb.