Currency and Hiring
 

Hello,

I am researching the message boards about currency and 121 applications. I am a former 121 pilot, been out 7 years, but remain current flying various GA aircraft. Not a great deal of time but multiple IPCs etc without issues.

My time is a tad above 2700TT and 1300 SIC turbine. I know that the regionals are hiring but would they often get the CFI types with more active flying creds.

In your opinion would I be competitive for an AWAC, RH etc...?

And before anyone brings it up, yes I am willing to leave my desk job!

~Thank you!

You have a pulse? Good.

Just about any regional will take you... unless you are a jerk... then stay away. Go to the regional where you can live in base.

As long as you keep instrument current (IPC every 6 months), Landing currency (3 T/O & landing every 90 days), and bi-annual flight review within last 24 months, the regionals will at least offer you an interview. Then I would recommend you get a fresh IPC (in a multi-engine airplane) right before the interview. I personally know of several that where in your exact same situation and got hired by doing the above.

Do some searching around, but I think in today's environment, you would be fine at most regionals. They are facing a real crisis with getting guys in the door who have the hours they need. Initial training will get you the time you need to get back in the game. Lots of guys are stepping in the door with zero hours in the last few years. If you have been flying GA, even better. Apply...if they want you they will call.

Great responses thank you! Good idea about the multi-IPC too!

I know many of you reading this are probably saying "why the heck would you leave your current job...."
But please let me tell you something that I did not understand in my prior 121years. I had it good. Really good. Maybe not money wise, but crew wise, environment and flying wise. I lived at my base and had great friends at the airport and local community. Things that would annoy me I actually miss!

A job becomes a job that is why we get paid. But in that pay comes a sense of self-worth and enjoyment, pride etc... I had that in the 121 world. Now flying a desk, I have the money but can't get out of bed in the morning with a smile. I loth it at times. We all work for the man but please if you are not happy in your current role as a pilot think for a second about what you have. If you can't see the value in your current role and can't get out of bed with the excitement you thought you would have while on IOE then think hard about what it would be like to sit in a windowless cube changing "this" to "that". My green grass syndrome (GGS) turned brown quickly and 4 sure was never as green as I thought it would be.

I know this has nothing to do with my initial question but it is free 20-20 hindsight!

Fly safe and hope to see you in the terminals.

Hi,

I appreciate that you are sharing your experience. I too am in situation where I make the decision of aviation or not. With that said, how many pilots get up each morning with excitement of going to work? Doesn't every career just become a job after several years. I have never worked at 121 so I don't know...perhaps pilots do actually do get up each morning with excitement.

Cheers!

Be careful what you ask for on here! Many pilots have been in for a long time and been through a great deal of turmoil. I feel for them. I thought I had it bad until I realized what life was like outside the cockpit.

It is all a matter of perspective and what you want. I know I want to go back and fly, I know the ups and downs and BS you have to put up with to fly. It is not all sunshine and VFR! However, like I said I have experienced both sides and can make an informed decision. Did I wake up all the time smiling. No. But I did start to smile when I met up with my crew, punched the clouds and drank my coffee to see the sun come up. Now, that is a good morning. Beats the paper jam, boss riding my a**, etc.... Yes a job is a job is a job....but if you know what you like a job can be more self rewarding and make the ups and downs more palatable.

In your shoes I could only recommend doing it and if you don't like it then you have a choice to make! It is after all voluntary.

If you look at the pay, aviationinterviews.com lists a fair amount of these details, then it can be upsetting for the first year or two. However it catches up in the long run. I would not expect to join a single airline and be done with it. I would anticipate moving around the system and having to join a new airline to upgrade or get to the majors if that is on your radar. Or you could remain at a regional and make the best of what you have. Either appear to be very doable in the foreseeable future.

Sounds cheesy but making the decision is not the hard part. Sticking with it is.

Good luck!

From what I understand a lot of guys who aren't real current get hired at pdt cause they get through the fillers on airline apps, get current and leave.

Thanks!


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Not generally. The "Ahhh!" moment comes later, during the departure turn, when pilots look down at a highway jammed with commuting office workers. They smile and think "I'm glad I'm up here and not down there." :)

Man, I know exactly what you are talking about!
I am very miserable in my desk job even way into the 6 digit pay!
I am about to make the plunge, enjoying your job is extremely important. After a few years, the money will be better, I hope!

Folks like us exist! Lol


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AWAC Drive-Thru Interviews

Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation

You'll get hired if you're current. The previous 121 experience is a plus, it shows you can be trained. I would shoot for the "better" regionals, based on your geography...you're fairly well qualified as applicants go these days, so no need to work at a bottom-feeder.

I'll be the fart in church. IF we're talking about making a buck-fity at AA/DL/SWA/UA, then sure thing bud. But if we're talking about merely substituting one problem for another (i.e. make good money/hate what you do vs make no money/like what you do) then you guys are truly doing it all sorts of wrong.

Take a look and see who makes up the preponderance of recreational flyers, everything from 2-seater RVs to a private TBM/PC12 and everything in between. It's not airline pilots, I can tell you that right now. And these folks get weekends off when the people that matter actually get them too. If you are truly making real play money (anything above 120, assuming your wife works) and you're not getting your flying jollies off privately, you're an idiot or your wife is a sick spendthrift and you need to get a better one.

The proposition of hating engineering/running away from it was easy for me to sell to myself because I wasn't gonna make decent play money in it anyways. Nothing to lose, nothing to look forward to type o' deal. But, if I was making 150K/yr on it and right away, I'd find a way to slack off enough not to want to kill myself and otherwise go fly the TWO airplanes I could afford to hangar in my very own airpark house while getting to also afford the necessities of life and set my family up for success. Never mind have the actual time off to get to enjoy all of it. You'd never see me on here, that's for sure. I'd be island hopping on the Caribbean as a weekend trip, just 'cuz I could. I'd be the envy of the office on Monday, with my racoon eyes and farmers tan, still smelling of sunblock.

Shuffling around from terminal to terminal to lay in bed overnight in Shreveport 3 times a week, away from yours for piddly 35K/yr (or even 65K/yr) ain't gonna make you happy long term. To each their own. To me, a regional airline job would make a decent part time job at best. But that's not what this industry needs, and I admit that enough not to go become part of the problem. The regionals need to die. No one is owed their dream. Ask me about it (I'm sure I still have the F-16 flight simulator I grew up with somewhere in the basement).

/stirpot


P.S.
And yes, XJT are handing out these "jobs" like Oprah handing out G6s to bored housewives on a Tuesday. Nothing to fret, just show up to the building and you get a car. :D

Yes, my assumption is that the OP is looking for a regional gig as a launch platform to the majors...otherwise keep the day job.

Ding ding!


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Maybe if you told us which airlines, you are looking at, you could get a better idea of the lifestyle. There is a lot of upheaval in this business just starting. Also, you have to realize the economy in general is very shaky and airlines are VERY susceptible to the state of the economy.

If you hate your job, why not look for another job outside of flying that also pays well. Once you are in this game, there is NO lateral moves you can make--remember that!

Great point Bedrock..... I am considering AWAC and Commutair for home base reasons. Both seem to have a happy pilot group-which is very important to me. I am aware of the 2015 contract issue with AWAC but I don't see a company going out of business in only 1 year, could be wrong though.

Also, SJS is nice to have but really for me it's about QOL.

Unfortunately, I don't anything about those operations. Though, Commutair is now offering a "whopping" 30/hr for first yr. FO.

Iam curious, though. What made you get out of 121 in the first place? Did you leave Comair?

I was out of full time jet flying for 6 years (was an instructor at a 142 school and added a G-IV type in 2011 and flew general aviation though).

I'm also former 121/135 and 91K with 9300TT and 1400TPIC. Four year degree with graduate work. No training failures, incidents, or violations.The majors and LLCs said no dice...go get current (I'm in a pool now pending recency).

Sent out a bunch of apps on Airline Apps - interviewed at AWAC, Commutair, and Envoy and got offers. Turned down interview at Republic and Gojet. Was offered a class at Mesa via a phone call and resume review. Never heard from Skywest, Endeavor, or Expressjet. Did not apply to PSA.

Based on what I saw at the interviews in terms of creds you should be in good shape for any of the regionals. I'm in Indoc currently.

WoW! Congrats on Indoc! Welcome back!

Oh - forgot to mention...a while back (I think it was around 12 months ago) I got the TBNT email from Horizon and did not get invited to interview!

Not to worry! You are back and you will make the next move soon I am sure!
Good luck and stay in touch if you would like.

Best