I have a question about getting my ATP. I'm a F/A-18 / F-35 guy for the Navy, meet all the wickets for the majors with the exception of my ATP. I don't know much about the airlines because up until now, I haven't placed much consideration into making it a career choice post retirement. So I pose a dumb question that hopefully you much more informed, intelligent, and experienced pilots may talk me out of.

Reading around it would seem that a job with a regional feeder, e.g. PSA, will pay for your ATP and subsequently flow their pilots to the AA. It also would seem that through compensation, first year pay would be that of year one FO pay at AA. What I don't know is:

1. Could a pilot meeting the requirements for a major airline, then flow through their feeder, say in like a few months or do you have to wait a few years?
2. As far as pay is concerned, would there be credit given for time "served" at the regional? Say FO year 2 pay vice the year 1 pay jumping from a PSA to AA?

Just curious.

If you are competitive with your current qualifications to go directly to the majors, then it is a far better financial move to just pay for the ATP/CTP out of pocket and (hopefully) go direct to the majors.

You may appear on the surface to "save" money by going to a regional and having them pay for your ATP/CTP, but in the end you *lose* money through the lesser pay during the time spent at the regionals and the potential lost seniority at whatever major airline you might end up at.

If you are not current, or you don't have enough time or quals, to go directly to a job at the majors, then it is a no-brainer to go to the regional airlines.

In your case, I wouldn't recommend it. Just go to somewhere like Mil2ATP, pays your dollars, and knock it out in a couple weeks. Then VFR direct to the majors.

Don't forget to invest your time/money in professional application/resume review and interview prep.

No credit for time served. If, however, you aren’t current or are totally clueless about the 121 world, there is nothing precisely wrong with going to a regional, especially one that gives you a significant signing bonus. Just don’t spend any of the bonus until it is earned. Let them put you through ATP/CTP and immediately start working the majors. You will likely be picked up by a major in 6 months or so.

What Hacker said... plus:

Formal flow at the AAL owned regionals are conducted in seniority order; so the answer to your question is years, not exactly educated on the topic these days but at least 7-8 would be my guess. There are thousands upon thousands of individuals flying at every airline that "meet the requirements for a major airline" and you are competing against all of them for the same jobs.

There is no "credit" for time served at a carriers regional with regards to pay or seniority.

One other thing to think about should you choose to select the regional route. You probably decrease your chances of being hired by the legacy carrier whose flag you fly under at the regional. First, they would prefer to hire someone else and keep their regional staffed. Second, they have to train two people when they hire you (you and a person to replace you at the regional).

Think about what your resume is lacking and try to fill in the gaps; read it like they are going to read it. I would aim high and work down from there casting a wider net every few months until the phone rings. A few other words of advice: try not to commute; and it's not all about pay -- work rules are well worth a few dollars an hour.

After a few weeks on reserve at a regional airline you will have wished you paid for an ATP; I would advise you to avoid it if you can!!

Best wishes.

Unless you have unusually low (non-competitive) flight time or are non-current, pull out all stops to get hired by a major asap.

Regional is a fine path if you need it, but don't go there unless you really need it.

As others said, flow takes longer than you need (or want) to wait.

Go directly to a major. Every day you are not hired you lose quality of life.

Thanks for all the responses, you guys definitely have helped