Age doesn't matter, remember? But if you appear "experienced" on your app, you will probably be passed over "by the computer".

No worries, I'll send you the info in a PM.

If you are a higher time regional captain and you haven't been called, don't despair. Average civilian newhire at my SWA class had anywhere from 7,000 to 15,000 hours.

If you aren't getting called, don't despair, but take some time to reflect on what's going on.

How many of us are lazy and don't take time to put precise numbers on the pilot application? Does your application say you have 12000 hours total time, 4000 turbine PIC? Really? Are you sure it's not 11,925 and 4,058 as EMB-145 captain? Get your logbook totals added up correctly and accurately.

Did you correctly indicate when your last flight was after you last updated your flight time?

Is your application complete with full 10 year background check? Do NOT rely on the application system checkers - make sure it's all covered.

What is your listed availability date? 2 weeks notice? Specific date 3 months from now? I'd pick a date 3 months from time you update.

Did you update your medical date on your application?

Did you list any volunteerism?

Two things to remember gents:

Your application is scored by a COMPUTER PROGRAM, and it is that program that selects you for the next stage. That means you need to have your i's dotted and t's crossed correctly. If you don't, your application will be disregarded as incomplete or with errors by the system, and you won't get called.

Once you think you have it corrected, ask a friend or pay a service provider to look your application over. Paying $100 or whatever it costs for app review is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.

Hope this helps.

I found out after doing an app review with Cage that I had quite a few errors. Even stuff as simple as formatting. Example, if you start listing phone numbers with () around the area code, they should be listed like that for every phone number on the app. N/A instead of blank spaces. In some cases NO was more suitable than N/A. Listing my flight rating in college as a separate "technical" school. I had my degree at Florida Tech accidentally listed as a "technical university" so it was possibly that it wasn't even giving me credit for going to an accredited college. And the biggest snafu of them all, my social security number was wrong. I guess back when I started airline apps I was too careless to pay attention to detail. I notified AirlineApps to change my social security number but they said they can't. All of my Letters of Rec are uploaded to this account. Luckily, ones SS# isn't "scored" on an app, I'll just have to notify the airline of the mistake should I get an interview... Still waiting.


Cliffnotes: pay for someone to review your application.

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This may be the case for some average joes but I'm willing to bet a 5000 hour female fighter pilot with a 4.0 masters degree from an academy , instructor pilot, etc, . etc. is not going to get passed over because in one box the area code was ...123.. and (123) in a different box.

Actually, those types know how the game is played and they have their i's dotted, t's crossed and they'll get the calls.

Do you?

Your saying the only chance to get an interview is to now pay an agency to review your application? How else would a person know it is N/A instead of NA or United States of America instead of just United States? If I had a lot of money I would pay for all of them to review it and I bet they would all say something a little different.

Your right though, it is the game we have to play. But I am glad we have this board to vent a little how frustrating and absurd H.R. and the whole data algorithm process has become. I mean is the Hogan really a valid test if you finally pass it on your second or third try? They should give the test to guys that have been on the line a few years to see the percentage that now pass it.

This is probably the wrong thread to vent about this stuff anyway. It's suppose to be about those recently hired. Which is a pretty big and awesome event instead of me being whiny about the hiring process at the legacies.

I paid TWO agencies to review my app. LCA, 4000+ TPIC, 8000+ hours, internal recs, actual volunteer work with OBAP. Basically, if someone went to the job fair and listened to recruiters go on and on about the qualifications of their "ideal" candidate; I have those qualifications. Yet, crickets.......

What would they lose by publishing a sort of "point system" whereby pilots could assess where they landed on the scale of competitiveness?

My wife applied for a competitive education program that published a point system for its applicants. It was complicated, but allowed candidates to have an idea of how they stacked up. It also gave you an idea of how to improve (if necessary). The program didn't guarantee anything to anyone based on the points (obviously) but was upfront about the average points that the accepted candidates usually had.

At this point, I'm guessing that Delta still has a deep bucket to pull from, and as long as they don't feel the need to cater to those who are waiting, they will continue the smoke and mirrors game. It sure keeps a lot of us on our toes...

Yep, and it will not change any time ever soon. Don't be fooled into believing that there will be a lack of applicants. The regionals may be hurting for pilots *to a degree*, but they are still filling seats with rear ends. Delta Air Lines will never find itself with a dearth of applicants.