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-   -   Is PIC time still important? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/90070-pic-time-still-important.html)

AceyCandler 08-18-2015 07:16 PM


Originally Posted by Avroman (Post 1951949)
who has plenty of community service...who has any other "OTHER" boxes checked besides being a basic pilot? Unfortunately things are shifting to "the well rounded candidate" Sorry I don't give a damn if my pilot can speak Spanish and Yiddish, knows all the Microsoft Office programs, was enlisted in the Navy for 8 years, volunteers at the homeless shelter, and can file a TPS report with one hand

Do you or anyone around here know where it's best to add in volunteer information in your airlineapps.com app? Thanks

knobcrk 08-19-2015 02:22 AM

Who would Jesus hire? You know he'd hire the guy with pic time.

I was starting to become one of those senior FOs that you hear get on with the majors but once I upgraded I learned and experienced so much more than all that time flying right seat. Yes I had events on the right seat but unless you're the PIC you really weren't making the decision to solve a problem. Do you really want your applicant making his first PIC decision on your 737 or Airbus? That's what recruiters think about.

knobcrk 08-19-2015 02:36 AM


Originally Posted by BE24pilot (Post 1951324)
It seems to be a fair question in todays Regional hiring environment. Is it better to pursue a company with a quick upgrade, or one with a pathway to a Legacy partner? With the ultimate goal being the opportunity to land an interview, is there still a benefit to chase a quick upgrade. We are seeing more and more FO's hired directly into LCC airlines for fear that the Captains will leave to a Legacy carrier once they get an Airbus or 73 type rating. American Airlines is not looking at pilots outside of their wholly owned regionals, and Delta is hiring 70%+ of their Endeavor SSP applicants. I see a number of FFD Captains with thousands of hours of PIC time still waiting to get a call. Just wondering what others thoughts are on the subject.

I think what's happening is the FOs are more motivated to go anywhere, like a low paying LCC. That's why it seems like FOs are being hired more. Most regional CAs would take a pay cut for a year or two by going there so they are more willing to wait it out for the best offer. I've heard many guys turn down spirit or frontier for example.

In my experience with recruiters, personality is really a smaller percentage of getting the job compared to the actual experience you offer. PIC is definttley still golden.

MoonShot 08-19-2015 03:59 AM


Originally Posted by Avroman (Post 1951949)
Neither, because the process has been hijacked by HR peeps.... Who has acquired a Master's degree, who has plenty of community service, who has management or 121/135 instructing experience, who has any other "OTHER" boxes checked besides being a basic pilot? Unfortunately things are shifting to "the well rounded candidate" Sorry I don't give a damn if my pilot can speak Spanish and Yiddish, knows all the Microsoft Office programs, was enlisted in the Navy for 8 years, volunteers at the homeless shelter, and can file a TPS report with one hand if he can't land a plane at DCA with a 15 knot crosswind in a 700ft overcast ceiling. But that's the kind of thing that HR peeps are looking at... they aren't judging flying first, they are judging the person's character first and their job skills after, if at all.

I've been told by 2 majors that letters of rec are great, but won't be looked at until the interview (SWA) or at all (Delta) because they don't want undue influence put on the selectors/interviewers.

I'd say 50% or more of the airline job has nothing to do with how you can fly an airplane. Give or take the edges of the bell curve, all pilots can fly pretty well. How you handle the "other" stuff is important and I disagree that it's unfortunate that things are shifting to well rounded people.

In my experience, those well rounded people tend to be good pilots in addition to being "well rounded".

Senior Skipper 08-19-2015 07:49 AM


Originally Posted by knobcrk (Post 1952084)
Who would Jesus hire? You know he'd hire the guy with pic time.

I was starting to become one of those senior FOs that you hear get on with the majors but once I upgraded I learned and experienced so much more than all that time flying right seat. Yes I had events on the right seat but unless you're the PIC you really weren't making the decision to solve a problem. Do you really want your applicant making his first PIC decision on your 737 or Airbus? That's what recruiters think about.

What does it matter which airplane you first upgrade on?

To the OP, if you want to see if PIC time is important, look in the major section under "who's been hired".


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