mins are mins, but what do u REALLY need??
 

hey people,

im a cfi/cfii in florida with about 600tt with 120 or so multi. i've seen on this site that the minimums for some of the regional airlines are around about 500-600 total with about 100 multi.

but how many people actually get in with those times?? obviously the more time the better but is there a line in the sand to shoot for beyond which your chances are markedly improved?? 750? 1000?

also how important are age and college degrees in the equation? im 23, and have finished 2 years of my 4 yr college degree. do i have a realistic shot or would i be wasting paper sending resumes to all the regional carriers?

i'd love to hear from ppl who got hired with the mins, or if anyone knows much about the hiring policy who can shed some light??

thanks guys :)

Usually the 500 hour jobs go to people with an affirmative action ticket or people who attended some kind of expensive academy program...if you qualify, you might get in at the published mins. Aside from that, competetive mins right now seem to 1000+ / 100+, although that can change...it was like 2000 / 300 a couple years ago.

Do yourself a big favor and get that 4 year in anything but aviation. That way when the rose colored glasses get fogged over with the reality that is now Aviation in this country, you will be able to get a real job, buy a plane for yourself and fly for fun.

This is not a slam, we all love aviation otherwise we would never put up with this industry, but its not too late for you, please have yourself a backup plan.

i thank you for your advice, but if you had seen the australian and probably every other country in the world's aviation industries, youd be able to appreciate just how good things are in the industry over here in the U.S. comparatively speaking...

there's so much opportunity here it's amazing... i was back home in sydney australia last week, and i went to my old airport where i trained for my private several years ago, and the state of things there was just so different to here in the U.S.

airplanes are old and decrepid over there, people who instructed me years ago are still sitting around in cramped 152's and there are no jets ANYWHERE to be seen...

im teaching in florida and u just hafta go look at boca raton or tamiami or FXE to be knocked on ur butt at the wealth and opportunity that is around everywhere in this country...

on a side note, my degree is in the health sciences... not very similar to aviation at all :)

thanks for your good advice, but take my word for it when i tell you that americans are truly blessed when it comes to aviation.

The grass is always greener I guess. In reference to the minimums question, usually the ones with the 600/100 mins you need about 1,000/100 to be competitive (or again, be affirmative action/pay a lot of money). Anyone posting 1,000/100 or greater (AWAC, CHQ, etc.) you can usually get hired at those places with the minimums if you have someone to walk your stuff in. Just what I've seen so far...

If you meet the minimus, APPLY! Let the airlines themselves decide for you if they are going to hire you. Send a resume, worst case, they'll tell you no

Two things:

First, I had a feeling that was the case. Since I'm still in the training phase, I'm actively involved in General Aviation in the US. Some aviation magazines have made mention of how much more difficult personal aviation is outside the US. A friend of a friend out in Arizona, whose originally from England, said that EVERYTHING, especially airplanes, is dramatically more expensive in Europe. I've heard that Europeans have to pay as much as $9US/gallon for AvGas!!!! Plus rediculously high landing and air traffic contol fees. Airspace and regulation can be annoying too. And of course, this is in addition to the massive taxes that Europeans have to pay. As for flying is non-first world countries, fugettabotit!!!

Secondly, since you have a science degree I have the perfect fallback for you: Teaching! Specifically, high school science. There is a HUGE need in the US for high school science teachers. People I speak with that are in the know tell me that if you are a certified high school science teacher (any science), you'll get a job overnight. Heres what I recommend you do: Since you have more school to go, I recommend you take educational classes to fulfill your open elective. This could also improve your teaching skills as a CFI. IF you can, try to do your student teaching and actually get your certificate.

If you get laid off (and I say "if", because it may never happen to you), you can get that teaching job. And I hear teaching high school science pays pretty well, mainly because theres a demand for the position.

I'm working on a Meteorology degree, and this is my backup plan.

Just my thoughts.

If you want to fly for a regional, send them your resume. The worst thing that will happen is they won't call you. I got called to interview at one regional when I was way short on their published mins. Let them decide how much is REALLY enough time. Besides, you may have something on your resume that they like. If you get the interview invite, you have enough time to get hired.

Back in late 99'/early 00' I applied at ACA, Comair, and Eagle with less than the stated minimums and received calls for interviews at all three. ( I wound up not going to any of them however.) Paper is cheap, spend a couple of hours at the computer and apply at every regional regardless of their minimums.

SkyWest is the only one that I know of that won't bugde on the minimums.

I don't have any statistics to back it up, but I had heard once that less than half of the pilots SkyWest hired had a college degree.

I agree with what everyone else is saying...people do get hired below mins and you should definately send your resumes out. Just to reiterate...the competitive minimums are usually higher. Some places will pick you up with lower time, it's kind of a crap shoot. Also, Chautauqua won't budge on mins either in addition to Sky West. I wasn't saying don't try...just trying to give you reasons as to why you may not hear from them if you do apply.