regional job on furlough?
 

I am currently furloughed from a cargo airline. There is a possibility of recall in the future. Could happen soon. Probably happen within two years. Might not happen at all.

I would like to keep flying if I can, and the regional airlines are picking up pilots left an right. I am not marketable to places like Atlas or Spirit (apps are in though) so the regionals are my only option.

Are there pilots out there that do this? Are there regional airlines out there that welcome furloughed pilots knowing that they may return someday? Is this generally frowned upon? I have interviews set up with ExpressJet and Eagle. Does anyone have any specifics on these two carriers?

Thanks

You can pretty much always count on getting hired by a regional as a last resort. If one is'nt hiring at the moment just try another,you just need to account for the low pay but it will keep you in the air and current. Alot of people say just go with Jetblue or Spirit, but they actually not that easy to get on with at the current time. And when they do open application windows they get flooded with resumes.

Wouldn't you have to give up your seniority at your current cargo company?

If he's getting furloughed, I'm doubting he has much seniority to worry about. I'm furloughed as well, and have already had interviews at one regional and one Part 135 carrier, neither cared about the furlough. Just don't go there and say, "I think my company will be calling us back very soon and I can't wait to get the call, then I'm so outta here!"

SKW says that you have to be willing to resign your seniority at your previous employer but I don't now that they enforce it. They never followed up with me...but I had a mesa number, they might be more stringent with someone who has a number they might actually want to return to. Our UAL furloughs keep their number, but that's part of the contract with UAL.

I think he means not just give up seniority, but resign and give up the recall rights. Yes, some will require you to do this, and you may also be held to a training contract, sometimes up to 2-years. If you can find a regional that doesn't have the training contract and will not require you to give up your recall rights, you'd probably be set. Well, as long as you are willing to work for peanut wages and terrible work rules, of course. When recalled, it is that airlines job to get your current, so it only matters if you trying to stay current for a better job or just really really want to be in the air.

Head on over to TSA

They're hiring and honestly don't care if you're headed elsewhere. It's a decent place to chill out and collect a check while flying.

Make sure you bid IAD since it's the only base worth commuting to.

Hope that helps bro!

If you don't mind me asking, who are you furloughed from?

apply to any regional that is hiring, one will call for sure.

The airlines know you will leave as soon as you get called back, so they know they're going to pay you miserable commuter-airline F/O wages for the next 2 or 3 years, then you'll leave. You're not going to stick around for a captain spot and make a little more money....

and you stay current

everybody wins, I'm sure a couple will call you

Why would you tell them you are on furlough instead of saying you simply left? This moronic question pops up here weekly. First of all, there is no way for a future employer HR department to get more info other than employment dates and in aviation, safety related records. Second of all, it blows my mind the one-way courtesy which flows from pilots to regional airlines.

Better question yet

(If you don't mind me asking), why are you looking at the regionals to begin with? you've put in your time, you're past the "regional job" stage.

With your experience you should be looking at some flight departments that operate long-range bizjets.

Going from the right seat of a 747 to the right seat of a G-V, Global Express or 7X should be a level move. And if its a good flight department, you might choose to stay when/if they call back,

my 2 cents

Are you serious? Do you really think that corporate flight departments with GV's are just going to pay for a $60,000 - $80,000 type rating for someone simply because they have int'l time? Do you have any idea what the current job market is like?

As much as many of us would like to think we are passed the regional job, the fact is that they may be the only viable option. I am a furloughed 747-400 FO, I have been a Captain at a regional, and have no big negatives on my file. I have applied to over 20 positions ranging from corporate, every major, single engine props, and regionals. I have received all of THREE replies. One regional, and two propeller jobs, none of which pay over $30k. THAT IS THE REALITY. :eek:

Don't worry. I heard there's a shortage coming. That's what the kids paying $150,000+ at ERAU are being told.

1) They will ask why you left. If you lie and they find out, you'll get fired. They will find out because...
2) A quick check of CASS will show if you're currently employed.
3) PRIA is mandatory...that will show employment dates including termination date when furloughed.
4) Your date of hire will be a strong hint that you might be furloughed. You could post on APC asking how deep furloughs go at any given company and someone would tell you within ten minutes. Any recruiter talks to lots of pilots from many companies and has a pretty good who is furloughed and who is not.

I don't think you can hide furlough status. Trying to would be a very bad idea.

Cape Air is always hiring. For some, Cape Air is the first step in their career, for some, it's where they go to "retire", and for some, it's just a port in the storm. There are plenty of pilots here that are furloughed from other carriers and are waiting to go back. You don't need to resign your number to fly here, and even better, you always retain your longevity for pay purposes, not matter how many times you come and go....

Not so easy. I'm at a 142 organization and from what I'm currently seeing those jobs are going to guys with type ratings and 500+ PIC in those aircraft. Aviation director at a Fortune 5 (five) company that I personally know (outside of aviation) advised they got 200+ "qualified" (see above) resumes in a 7 day period. Gone are the days of a handshake and a wink from the chief pilot.

Well, let's see; Perhaps he wanted to tell the truth? :eek:

It is conceivable that when asked, a CP, ACP or HR would verify employment with a mention that such and such was furloughed on ____. Then where would you be?

In getting any job, it is always better to be truthful.

Moronic comments pops up here weekly too.:rolleyes:

Haha... try hourly. :D

Always tell the truth in an interview. And don't underestimate the connections that HR folks have at the various airlines. Just like pilots, HR people tend to clan together, even from different airlines and compare notes. During those job fairs we all love, where do you think the recruiters go at the end of the evening? They find a bar that the pilots won’t be at, then commiserate and laugh at some of the clowns who approached their table wearing something stupid, saying something stupid, or have their resume printed with subtle, soft clouds in the background, or on their business cards.

I'm guessing you can't go to a major right now because most aren’t hiring, that was a joke by the way, or you don't have enough PIC turbine. With your heavy, international time, getting some of that will increase the chance of your application getting pulled out of the computer based filter systems they all use now. And going to a regional where you will fly a heavy, 7 leg, 121 schedule as a crew is valuable time. The price you have to pay to do so though is dear. You better have money saved, a second income, live at home, a significant other with a great job, or all of the above to make it work. Good luck.

EXACTLY. All the climbto350 openings are "must be typed and current with 500 PIC in type". Apperently there are type rated 7X drivers on the streets. I have seen KAL post for 777 FO openings for those with 1000+ 757/767 time on Rishworth or VOR Holdings. Good luck.

Thanks for all of the info guys. I did a search on the topic and came up with nothing. My apologies to those that I offended.

I am furloughed from Southern Air. My reasons for going back to the regionals are simple. I'm just not marketable anywhere else. I need to keep flying to get my total time up in an effort to move on someday.

I would love to get hired on with a corporate outfit, but as someone else mentioned it's just not that easy. If you know someone that is hiring non typed guys, please let me know!

The decision to go back to the regionals is not an easy one, believe me. Yes, my goal is to eventually get called back to Southern, but I need to keep on truckin until that happens.

I am working on getting on with an overseas carrier, but I can't count on that until the wheels are up.

Anyway, thanks again guys.

Do you happen to know if Rich Beardsley is still at Southern?

Don't see his name on the MSL...

Thanks for the info...