How much is too much?
 

Hello all. I have heard thru the grapevine that many of the regionals do not really want “higher time” pilots. The reason that I have heard is that if they are high enough time they will leave as soon as a better carrier calls them and the regional wants them to work for at least a few years.

I guess my question is a two part question. Is this the case with the regionals and if it is, how much time is too much? The reason why I ask is that in the next year I will leave the military with about 4,500 TT / 2,000 PC, and my ATP. Knowing how competitive the majors are there is a strong possibility that I may not get a job there right away. I would of course want to keep flying and building towards that major airline seat at the regionals, but will I have “too much” time to get hired by them?

Cue the smarta**es who reply yet don't answer your question by saying "apply and find out"

When the floodgates open and the majors start hiring, the regionals will be SCRAMBLING to fill their classes. They aren't going to turn you down for being "over qualified".

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Combine the above with the FACT that regional airline management ONLY cares about the fire that's right in front of their face. In other words, filling the seats for the here and now.

We have recently hired pilots with much higher times than you have. I would not worry.

Depends on the airline. If they have a choice (ie enough bodies with ATP mins to fill the next class), some may prefer not to hire someone who is clearly major airline material.

In the case of SKW, we are crawling with ex-mil pilots, often retired O5/O6. They'll hire you, but will want to get some sense at the interview that you want to stick around at least for a while...for many that means roots in UT, ID, MT or even SOCAL, since a major airline newhire is almost certainly going to the east.

Your times are actually rather low son.

We (G7) have hired everyone from 1500- 20k. Recently, we have hired 25 year captains from Comair who were management pilots/ directors of training, etc. bottom line, at least here, there is no such thing as too much expirence. Getting people with different backgrounds and different amounts of flight time is fundamentally a good thing for everyone involved.

I imagine 4500 took a number of years to acquire in the military. Your time is sufficient to go straight to a legacy carrier. A regional is a waste of your time.

That said - no, your time isn't even close to too high. There really is no such thing as too much time.

If nothing else, regional carriers rely on attrition to keep labor costs lower.

.......................................

You have fairly significant time for ex-military (assuming you're a fixed-wing guy). 4500 hrs in a C130 vs. a C150 is vastly different. I would recommend that you skip the regionals and aim for a major/legacy next year. Your 4 yr degree alone is something many don't have. Don't sell yourself short. Even an LCC like Spirit is better than the best regional. BTW I was NOT military. I had 5000 hrs when I was hired at UA 15 yrs ago after flying for a commuter airline (BE-1900) and a freight oufit (B-727). Letters of rec from your former buds and networking are what is going to get you a good job.....Now let the remarks from the RJ guys begin. :D

..........................:o

As you may be aware, "G7" is in a bit of a unique situation and they will take just about anyone who has the questionable judgment to apply there (or folks in very unfortunate situations).

The OP can do much better.

I have 6,000 hours mostly part 121, 4,500 PIC. I got hired at a regional and I tried / still trying to get on with a major. People may tell you to skip the regionals and go straight to a major. More realistic advice would be, apply to a major and tread water at a regional until the majors ramp up their hiring.
That situation may change next year, but right now there are plenty of high time guys in RJ's with apps out at the majors. The regionals know this which is why some are asking for training contracts for new hires.
I doubt they would turn away qualified applicants when they are struggling to fill classes though.

Thanks for all the input guys. I am aware that 4,500 TT is not really that much when going against guys that have been airline flying for years. When I read that Alaska has 2,900 applicants for 80 seats, that was very sobering. Knowing that there are guys out there with much more time than I have and lots of 121 experience applying for the same jobs I will try to get does not give me high hopes.

My big worry was that I could find myself too low for a major, but too high for a regional. It is good to know that there will be places for me to hang my hat when I get out.

There you have it. You're military AND you'll wear a hat. A shoo-in at Delta! :D

True, 4500 military ISN'T the same as 4500 civ. the problem is that if he goes non current. Then all the time WON'T matter. It's been beat to death in other threads. The only real problem a separated mil pilot faces is a currency issue.

An understandable concern. But contrary to popular belief, you're being compared/ranked/racked/stacked against others in your peer group. Majors hire from ALL backgrounds. The HR people know that 4500TT is A LOT of time for a mil pilot. When you get past the who you know/internal rec factor, what else is on your qual list? IP, Stand eval, NATOPs, safety background, etc?

That's what will separate you from those in your peer group.

Bottom line, you will have to stay current, regardless of how you do it. Most, if not all apps ask how much time you've flown in one form or another. Last 3 months, 6 months, year, whatever.

MilitaryA8TR...you will have little problem getting hired somewhere to keep current, and that is at a minimum. You could fly 135 as well, don't forget.

There are a myriad of part 91 jobs out there also. Do you think of settling down and being home almost every night? A corporate gig could be just the ticket! Some corporate outfits are pretty much ex military only. You lucky dog :). The world is your oyster! Don't fret!

Like Rickair said, showing some indications of putting in a little bit of time at a company will go far. And lastly, there was an ex military guy in my new hire class. So it happens. (He bounced two weeks after IOE, but hey-he got hired at a regional to start with!)

Good luck to all those pilots trying to stay current, even if you have to tread water at Spirit or United before you get a good job. :D

Oh stop it! But so true :p. BTW, I've been jumpseating on Spirit a couple times a month between DFW-ORD since you guys started the route. Nothing but really good experiences :)...Thx!
(the NK pilots truly gained my respect in the summer of 2010 though)

True. And it's a bit of a generalization, but still valid. Depending on the type of 91/135 gig, they can be reluctant to hire someone if they get even the littlest whiff that they'll sprint in a fashion that would leave even Usain Bolt in envy.

Again, depends on the type of gig.

I would get on a regional and tread water..

I know a guy that's an FO at SKYW.. He has been there about a year. He is still part time with the 466th at Hill and got out of active as an O6. He went to the regionals with like 3200 hours in the Viper and some sparkvark time too.

He already has an interview at DL basically waiting for him when the time comes.

I have 60k hours. I know I'm low time. Will I get hired?

........no

"when the floodgates open..."


Ha. Yeah right.

Must be type-rated,current and have 500+ hours PIC in type don't seem to be indicative of floodgates or the mythical LOOMING:eek: pilot shortage.

Pilot Analyst just posted that his data disproves the "pilot shortage" rumor. I would love to send his research to my former college professors. They use electronic media to promote the pilot shortage almost every day. Like a bunch of parrots.