Who hired you and with how much time?
 

This forum is so imense that trying to sift through all of the different threads and find out who was hired with what hours is a very time consuming task. I was hoping that anyone that has been offered a job here could post the following:
1. Who hired you?
2. What was your total time / multi time etc?
3. What were the dates of application, interview, and class date?
4. Were there any other factors that helped you get an interview such as internal recommendations or any other factors that you think helped.
5. What made you pick this job over other potential jobs you were eligible for?
6. Are there any other things that you feel like sharing that may be helpful for someone trying to figure out their next career step in the regional airlines.


I am nearing the minimums for some of the regional airlines and would like to know more than anything what times I need to have at different airlines and if there are any other things that could help me. Thanks!

If you have the minimums why dont you just apply and see what happens... like 99% of us did.

right now its pretty much 1000/100 if your close apply no need to run thorugh all those questions.

Thats the problem is i don't have those minimums but I keep hearing rumors of people getting hired with FAR LESS than the published minimums. I am trying to find out how often this happens and at which companies.

Then apply anyway..Pinnacle needs you!

USA JET 2800TT 1700 jet

If you do not apply, you'll never know what could have been. It's been said time & time again, minimums are not set in stone. I am below the minimums for an airline & I got called into interview.

Other instructors I work with that have far more time then me haven't applied & are now rushing to since they heard I got a call.

Good luck.

Company: ASA/Expressjet
Applied: 4/28/11
Called for a interview: on 5/12/11
Interviewed: on 5/23 & 5/24
Called for class date: with expressjet on 5/25
Times on app were: 713/130
Times when interviewed were 740/150 had a internal rec

Mesa ..Nov 1999.. 860 TT... 200 multi 100 turbine (internal rec)
Kalitta Air.. May 2011 (in hiring pool).. 9000 TT.. 5400 PIC Jet (internal rec)

I am nearing the minimums for some of the regional airlines


If this is the case then whats the problem? Apply at those airlines... or just keep instructing until you have the mins (if your an instructor). Pick the right place to go... I sure as he** didnt.

9E is hiring like gangbusters, the pay just got better and the work rules, but the place still su***.

1000/100 is our mins, unless you went to UND or Western Mich then its a heartbeat and a college degree.

Good Luck

1. ASA/XJT
2. 900tt/160 multi
3. Applied 5/12, called 5/25, interviewed 5/31 and 6/1, class 6/6
4. 1 Internal recommendation at XJT and 1 at ASA, recs given after interview scheduled
5. It took them less than a week to get me to class
6. Get out there and apply, they are stockpiling pilots like bottled water before Y2K

CommutAir, 1400/400, 300 turbine. 135 experience and a type.

Interviewed with AE, ASA/XJT, and Colgan, offered by all. Turned down interview from Lakes.

I was hired over 11 years ago. My times won't mean much in todays market. However, I did get called for interviews at Comair, ACA, and American Eagle with times below their posted minimums. Apply now, and keep updating. You never know what could happen.

thanks for all of the info. My times are currently only 481tt/132me. I was planning on trying to build some more time during the summer as an instructor as I would really like to be at ASA from what I heard while talking with several ASA pilots at a previous job they were the only regional guys who said that they actually liked where they worked. I suppose I should do a little more research on the different airlines and who I would be willing to work for and then just start applying. Thanks to all for all of the replies so far.

Are you saying you didn't pick the right place??

Well I picked a good one in the past, but that good one went away... This pick has been rough.

I think you need to get that tt up... If I were you I would instruct.. 700 to 800 hours is a good place to start. 480 is fairly short.

Understand...I have asked myself numerous times if my choice was the right one and I always say yes and no..All of us regional pilots are in similar situations with management, contracts..etc. I think the only thing different (to a point) is the name on side of the plane.

Here's my career progression so far:

May 2000 - Graduated UND / May 2000 - FAR 141 Flight School in Major Metro Area, Flight Instructor, 315TT/33ME
August 2000 - Atlantic Coast Airlines, Flight Operations Intern, 562TT/36ME
December 2000 - Atlantic Coast Airlines, CRJ FO, 664TT/57ME
-Furloughed May 2005. Acquired CRJ Type Rating & ATP, 3713TT/3072ME
June 2005, GE Capital Aviation Services, Contract Pilot, 3725TT/3072ME
August 2005, Corporate Gig, regional Fortune 50 subsidiary, CE560 Captain, 3763TT/3103ME
November 2010, Corporate Gig, international Fortune 50 company, CL604 Copilot, 4816TT/4025ME

For my first regional job, I was hired as a bridge intern then "flowed" into a new-hire class with the blessing of the Director of Operations. I'm sure it helped that I worked for him personally for the majority of my 3 month internship and impressed him and the system chief pilot with some of the projects I worked on.

The contract flying was luck and right place/right time- flying the aircraft that had been repo'ed from my former employer to the desert for refurb, then doing MX test flights and delivery flying to their new owners.

The first corporate job was also luck and right place/right time- got it through Climbto350.com. My current gig was an "off the street" application to the parent company of my first corporate gig... knowing the guys and gals in that department certainly helped me get the foot in the door and selected.

I've been very fortunate. The jobs that I wanted, I have been able to interview for, and except for one corporate flying internship that I wasn't offered in college, I've landed all of the other flying jobs that I've had serious interviews for.

True. For now at least, give it six months 480 just might be enough. AE/ASA/XJ are interviewing with 500TT 100ME for some people. It will continue to drop.

yeah thats what i was kind of hoping for. im close to the 500 which seems to be a magical number for many. Thats why I was wondering where everyone got picked up especially recently.

Mid 700 TT 120 ME, no interview calls, just thank you letters. Good Luck.

I know PDT has been hiring guys around the 400-500 hour mark. not sure what their ME time was but can't be much. Not sure but Purdue might have a flow through with PDT because seems the majority of the new hires are purdue grads. Shoot them your resume, at least get an interview as a practice, and learn how to sell yourself so you can be better equipped for the interview you were waiting for. Or with so much attrition at PDT, you might hold a line or upgrade faster than elsewhere, but it's all a crap shoot... go for QOL and living in base if you can

have some of your friends look over your resume. try to get an internal rec, or have a friend walk in your resume. your times should get you interviews at a handful of places... or have you been applying to fedex and southwest? =D

Always apply regardless of if you have the minimums. Meet and network... and get referrals from as many guys as you can.

When I first applied for Pinnacle back in 2002, I had 1200 hours and around 200 ME. Their minimums were 1500/300. I didn't get the call until i had 1700 and 350 with multiple recs, but that sure as heck shouldn't keep one from applying.

When FedEx opened their window in mid 2004, I had my name in the hat immediately... despite being a 2200 hr CRJ FO.

And when Delta opened their window in late 2006, when i had around 5000 hrs and 1800 CRJ PIC, my name was in the hat within hours of the window opening. Guess who interviewed first and was hired first (sans any relatives, gender, or minority "advantages")?

Always drop your name in the hat ASAP.

I can get at least 5 guys to walk in my resume in eagle's HR, but i need to be 21. Most likely that is my problem.

I agree... These regional airlines go full circle in what seems to be 8 to 10 year blocks. As I'm sure you know in the mid to late 90's everyone wanted to go to Mesa, then 10 years later "Mesa Sucks". All these regional airlines do one thing good, its getting suckers like us to fly for nothing, and when they give us a 3$ hr raise we sing their praise. We are nothing but a step above indentured servant's.

Good luck with your next step.


*** An indentured servant was typically a young, unskilled laborer contracted to work for an employer for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of their indenture***

Interviewed At Piedmont 2/16/11 (or something during that week)
Applied end of January just called the HR director Bob Trout and he told me to e-mail my resume.
I had 330/45
I went to Purdue and I know that we don't have a bridge program but Piedmont has hired a lot of our Graduates in the past and has had success with us making it through the program since we still teach steam gages. Also the HR director know one of the prominent staff members form the program and they will vouch for you if they like you.

This is some really good advice. Hasn't worked for me yet but if you don't apply.....you can't complain about it later! Also, if you have multiple job offers, pick the one closest to home and/or which ever one is crappier. The crappy place will most likely be the "go to" regional in a few years.

330/45??? I'm sure you are an excellent 330 hour pilot (honestly), but, boy that is sad.

Might as well give a 16 year old the keys to a tandem tractor trailer hauling nuclear waste.

Just goes to show how desperate a lot of the regionals are getting.

Do us all and especially yourself a favor and stay Instructing for some time. It is invaluable time and a chance to pick up much needed experience. The last thing we need is more low time kids jumping in the right seat that don't have enough experience to help out the captains. It puts us into a one pilot cockpit. The time will come, you have waited this long to get to this point a little more time won't hurt. Just my 2 cents.

1994 - Part 135 On Demand 1300/300
1995 - TSA -1800/600ME
1998 - TWA - 3300TT/1400 PIC turbine (2 types)
2002 - furlough
jobs numerous
2007 - UPS - 8500TT/1800 PIC turbine (3 types)

Time is essential but enjoy the journey. :)

Don't believe this. Jump as soon as you can. It will be in your best interest.
Getting more time will help him not you. I came to a regional with a lot of time. I would have done it sooner if I could. Good luck.

Your wish is granted. 1100/80 and still no call from anyone. 800+ hours instructing. Applications in with 5 regionals, most with several LOR. No failed checkrides, accidents, tickets of ANY sort. Hoping soon though

It may be because of your multi time good luck though !!!

I would bet its your low multi time... a buddy of mine has somewhere near 1700-1800TT and only 70 multi and is getting NO bites even with internal recs... Its sad that 30hrs of multi will get you that look even though you may have 3-4X the total experience of a lot of guys getting hired.... Good luck!

I am in the same boat as you. I'm sitting with 1500/90 and I have only heard from Great Lakes and Mesaba. Mesaba's mins. are now 600/50 so if you haven't already, go to their website and fill out an app.

Wow... that's the worst. 10 hours of multi engine is all that's limiting you? That totally sucks. Are you able to just buy your way up to that magic 100 hour mark? Because it seems the moment you cross that line everything opens up.

Man, this is very discouraging. I am sitting at around 1300/70. I will be publishing my app to AE this week. How current are you in a twin/IFR/etc?
I am currently building up to 100ME at a slow rate, but I am current in a twin and flight instructing keeps me up on everything else.

Can anyone here speculate on how hard Eagle is holding at the 100ME mark? I spoke with a recent new hire that said one CFI he interviewed with had well under the 100ME hours, wasn't current in a twin, and discussed the mighty C152 during the tech portion of the interview because that was his "most recent aircraft"... this had my hopes up.:(

I am IFR current and single/multi current. From the looks of it, I think AE is sticking pretty firmly to the 100ME rule, regardless of TT unless you have some really good recs. I have 3 AE recs and 2AA recs, no failed check rides or tickets and no call. Although I only just updated my app this week and my ME went from 50 to 82 but I am still not expecting a call. Some how got to get 18 more ME hours. I can't wait to see what exciting things I'll learn in those 18 hours that I didnt in my first 1100 hours (800 of which were instructing)...