Don't know about "pilot factory" preference, but almost any airline will have some preference for military, since they are all educated, have in-depth technical training far beyond what civilian pilots get in the US and really good stick and rudder skills. Civilian flight schools will always work with a problem student, and try to get him (or her) through training $$$$. The military will give you two maybe three scewups and then you're gone. Having to repeat a flight lesson is a screwup. Did you master power-on stalls on the FIRST lesson? How about short-field landings?

Remember airlines aren't interested in just hiring people who can get through 121 training, they want to hire people who can get through training with the MINIMUM amount of sim time. Sims cost big $$$ (almost as much as a real airplane!), so they don't want to spend any more than the FAA mandated minimum time. My airline does 40 hours, and if you need more than two, maybe possibly four extra hours you're gone...Did you get your PPL in 40 hours? Military guys have already proven that they can get through a similar program. Known quantity.

The good news for you is that there are no military pilots competing for your CFI job and not too many competing for your regional job. When you apply to a major is when the military competion comes in.

Nope. Just good pilots with great attitudes. Where are you in your training?

Yes, the Saab's do have auto-pilot, Beeches dont.

I'm about to start my IFR flight training. I did my PPL with Delta Connection Academy here in Houston but they're expensive ($220/hr) And the airport they use is a long hike from where I live, so I'm doing the rest of my ratings at a close FBO.

I'm relieved that they look at the pilot more than a piece of paper.

Thanks!

Chris

$220 for PPL???? I did mine for $55 in $outhern California!!!

Congrats, you'll be much better off for having realized this early on

Wow, $55 is a bargain. Considering that's in California is even more amazing.

I guess it worked for you if you're at the regionals now.

Well that was a few years ago, gas was cheap, and the CFI was my buddy. I should probably inflation adjust to about $70-75. But still...

It does not cost nearly $220/hr. at Delta Connection Academy. Its more than $50/hr. cheaper than that. Im not tryin to say its cheap thats for sure, but lets not throw crazy numbers like that out there. And to comment on that by saying thats crazy i paid $55 an hour then throw in there that u didnt have to pay for an instructor and it was years ago before gas got out of control is kinda silly too.

We all know flight training isnt cheap, and Delta is definitely more expensive than most places. But i started part 61 at my local FBO in NY and was paying more per hour than what i paid at the academy as a student. Its all relative.

Do they look closely at how much time it took you to do your PPL and IFR?? If I remember corrently, I had something like 58 hours when I came down from my PPL checkride, and I was 18 years old. It's more than 40, but keep in mind that the national average is well over 60 hours, and that I basically wasn't able to fly during the school year (crapp winter weather and high school band). Scored an 87 on the PPL written.

Right not I'm working on IFR and expect to go for the ride just after passing 40 hours.

Should I be worried?

BTW, I have a friend who just got hired by Colgan. Didn't tell me anything about the interview though....