it has everything to do with it. the kid has 800 hours too. its not enough. its the same view i had when kids were getting hired at 250 hours a couple years ago. like i said, scary......

you can take yourself off the pedestal now.....

There's guys with 2,000 hrs that are scary. 800 isn't a fresh comm ticket and 250. Read Saab's post on the recent hires under 1,000 hours. Good pilots...

Wags.... I know of NO branch who have in the past 30 years allow 18 year old KIDs to fly for them...Not ARMY, Not NAVY, Not Air Force, Not Coast Guard.... I am gonna call Bovine Waste on that one..and to go one step further I will say that most young men and women in the Military are Screened for Flight Training better than the Civilian world. Reading through this thread I noticed the individual is very confident about his/her ratings thought confidience is a trait that is desirable in a pilot we should be careful we dont get too cocky...

800's better than 250... And you're coming off as pretty arrogant yourself. I mean, if he gets through training, who's to say he's not better than you or me? Again- 250 hours is scary, but he put a good 500 in since leaving the training environment. Ideal, maybe not... but certainly far from "scary." And that's just talking about the flight time, I still fail to see how a 20 year old is inherently not safe. Sounds like someone might be a little jealous... :rolleyes:

Okay Im sorry guys, I re-read my post and I did come off as cocky. But, I have people all the time approach me about my age, like some students that sign up for a training program who are 40 years old and find out im 20 and say no way, he is too young. They don't understand that I have a passion for flying and know more than they may think. I have signed off over 10 students in the last 2 years for private, instrument, and commercial checkries who all passed the first time. No one knows that becuase they don't give me a chance. It is very frustrating. I may not be the best pilot out there, but I make smart choicesand I am VERY safe when it comes to pre-flight planning and in-flight choices. I work with an instructor that is over 50 years oldand has been instructing for about 6 months that bounces the plane every time he lands, and will fly until the thunderstorm is on top of the airport, yet people will still fly with him because he has a white beard so he must be the best. It sucks sometimes but I know it will pay off when I get an airline job sooner or later. Maybe not this one or the next, but it will happen. Thanks for all the input.

While they may be 18, I would not call them kids. At 18, they are old enough to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard and put their life on the line. If we consider them old enough to make that kind of decision then who are we to judge whether a 20 year old is old enough to fly for an airline? Age is just a number. I've know 18 year olds who were more mature than 40 year olds and I've flown with 800 hour pilots that were better than 8000 hour pilots.

That's too bad, I'm 22 and a CFI/CFII/MEI as well and teaching at a very good school and I haven't had that problem, I believe our oldest full time instructor is 24 as well so I suppose the alternatives are not necessarily there for someone that would allow age to blind them. I have had nothing but praise on my training, from my students, boss, FAA examiners, and that's all you need to know you're doing a good job. Don't let anything get to you, as long as you know you're doing a great job and people tell you, then you're fine.

It's always fun when I tell my students I was an instrument rated private pilot before I got my drivers license. Priorities in order a bit :rolleyes:

On topic, I have heard that the interview is about 20-30 minutes long of which 80% of it is more HR questions.

Sir, Sounds like to me that your just jealous of this young man. You hate to think that he is only 20 years old, and has 800 hours and is ready to venture into the airline world. Age has absolutely nothing to do with it. Is it our fault that there are people like JoeyyD9590 myself and others who have a real passion for aviation, and started early right from HS ?? What makes him any less qualified then the people who will be interviewing with him? That have the same hours but 5 years older. You need to deal with it and grow up !!!

Good luck with the interview. The only thing you should be concern is not the flight time, your age or anything else...but if you get hired you'll have a major problem finishing that degree. (probably not even finishing it at all)

I'm 23, I was able to get interview in eagle back in 2008 with 20 years and 300hrs, but my degree was first (just like you 2 more years to finish it at that moment), for 3 years I worked my butt flying banners, 135 cargo and flight instructing at the same time, plus extra flying outside with a couple of friends. Finally got hired at eagle 3 months ago.

Everyone got tired of flight instructing, but you have to take priorities in your life. Your degree is what will make you go into the majors, why? because is a requisite in almost every major. So...you have 2 choices now:

1. Get the interview and start flying for AWAC. (very tempting)
2. Finish your degree by 2012, have it in your pocket and then by that time for sure you will be ATP, probably some 135 experience IFR or VFR, doesn't matter. Get a regional job (by the time you will be 23) and by 30 years old you will be in a major.

The shortage start in 2012, so you will have no problem at all getting a job in any regional, even you might be close to your home.

I think you're young and that's why you can take the advantage of wait 2 years. ;) You're qualified and have good experience, but you need to learn a little bit more. Get your flight time, stop flight instructing and get some commercial experience.

It's your choice but think about your long term future, not your immediate future.

Happy 2011.