I don't know of any Mil guys that went to the regionals (that were current). Out of my small cross-section of maybe 50-60 guys that I keep up with, I think all have been picked up.

Not saying it doesn't happen, I just haven't seen it.

Yep. That is the price to pay for not staying current. I have a few mil friends at the regionals making next to nothing (but they have their mil pension) and I have other friends who went to fly ISR aircraft [decent money] for defense contractors over in the sandbox (which hurts because you're gone a lot).

Heck, I went to the regionals straight from active duty and I was very current back then, but of course that was 10 years ago...different times. I made more in the reserves than I did flying full-time for my regional.

Thank you all for the advice and more importantly some confidence in my chances to get into a major. It's obviously a major transition leaving the military and while I have the utmost respect for regional pilots it doesn't make a whole lot of financial sense in my case to go from $120k+ military job to $35k regional job. I hate to say it's worth going on cruise for another 100 traps and 300 hours if it means not sacrificing my family's quality of life (even the one they have when I'm not home).

Aside from my kids getting older I realized that I have (as have many others) used up many of my nine lives in service to this country and in my 20's its been great. I've been privileged to fly hornets and serve with some of the greatest Americans to walk this earth. I've seen friends of mine die, eject, lose their families because of their time away, and risk their lives time in airplanes flown well past their engineered lifespans in service to this country.

I've been shot at, I've killed, and I've found myself in situations where I've been so scared that I've prayed to God to just get me through. This business asks a lot from us and with all due respect to the AF guys here, you can imagine but not comprehend, what it takes to hook up to the catapult on a pitch black night, take a shot into the darkness, knowing that even after risking your life in country you have to bring back your hornet/rhino back to the boat.

I look forward to my last few years in this business, teaching the next generation, going back out there one last time, and standing on the back of the boat with radio in hand to make sure my friends get aboard safely. After I finish, I want to take care of my family, to see my children, and continue flying in another way. Thank you everyone for your advice.

I don't think you'll have any problem getting hired. UAL just hired an AF pilot who hadn't flown in two years and FedEx hired another mil pilot with less than 2000 total hours. You are coming off an active duty flying tour....in today's hiring climate you will get hired.

I'd hold out for one of the majors... The calls will come quickly once you apply. I'd start networking with old buds who are at the majors now and tell them your about ready to apply very soon... Even if you didn't know them that great, but flew together in formation, I'd call them. I'd apply about 9-10 months out when you know your terminal leave start date. Good luck.

Guess it depends on what social circles you are in. I have seen several current guys with no skeletons who just got caught with on-file separation/retirement dates before getting a major call (2014-present timeframe).

IMHO, it was a lack of planning on their part. Many of them just didn't understand the long lead time in the industry between application, interview, and class date.

Some of those guys went to go do contract flying overseas, and some of them went to the regionals. Some of them are all ready at a major, some are still at regionals or flying King Airs in far off lands waiting.

Now if it can just say this way for two more years


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Three yrs AD - $360,000

One year regional plus two additional years at a major -
$30,000
$300,000
$300,000

Plus - better seniority every single month for 20-30 yrs.

Three years of hiring is 2000-3000 numbers at a major right now. That's a HUGE difference. HUGE. 500 is big. 2000-3000 is a different life.

LOL. I want some of what you're smoking.

I am pretty sure he means 2 additional years at the end of ones career. 2 additional years of the highest earning yrs of ones airline career. 300k is not ridiculous.