When should I apply?
 

I want to return to the airlines, but I am in need of some advice.

I am a former 121 regional airline FO 12 years removed. I have roughly 2570TT with a little over 2000 of that in the right seat of a SAAB 340 at the regional airline. I do not have my ATP and had not flown since I quit the airline until recently. I recently got my flight review sign off, am working on my IPC, and have been studying for interviews.

When should I apply to Skywest? Now? Wait until I have my IPC sign off? Some time after the IPC sign off with more recent time?

Thanks.

Can you start tomorrow, and would you like to be a direct entry captain?

Only kind of joking.

Would like to know as well. I’m prior 121 but haven’t touched an airplane in 18 months. I haven’t had any luck at cargo or Breeze because of recency of experience, so I’m curious to see how picky the regionals will be.

Seriously? They’ll hire you as soon as you can get an app in. If you have 1000 hr of 121 time, and want to upgrade to CA, they’ll hire you before that even. If you will stay at a regional as a CA, they’ll find some willing young lass to bear your children. Several. Lasses AND children.

Come on over! See you in Detroit soon. Btw was that Saab a Mesaba bird? We still fly the same routes in the CRJ2.

App in NOW
 

Apply 10 days before you think you can be prepared for an interview. My experience and what I've seen, don't waste your money on the IPC unless you want to do it for yourself. If you're doing it to be a better candidate, save the money. It won't matter. There is a DEC I know who hasn't flown sense 2008; no TPIC.

9L but I think they went to Mesaba after I left

Thinking of coming back
 

I am thinking of coming back as well.
About 1800 TT, CL65 type but haven't flown since 2015.
Will they even consider me?
I am thinking of doing an IPC to prepare? What else can I do to prep? What is the interview look like these days?
Is training AQP style? What are the chances of getting DFW after training? How long is reserve? Is training still backed up?
i will read the boards as answers may be there but if someone has up to date info, many thanks in advance!

Apply, anywhere but SkyWest, unless you’re interested in not flying for 6 months after training

And you somehow think it's better at any of the other regional's right now...lol! They're all backed up and one isn't even giving out CJO's right now. I'd pick OO as long as it was on the ERJ. Hell, by time he/she gets to the CRJ, they may have the problem fixed anyway. Either airframe is still a few months out from a class start date though. Heard it's the same just about everwhere. Also heard the AA WO's have gotten crushed with applications since their new pay came out, but they have publicly posted previous 121 candidates will move to the front of the line and may even skip the interview process entirely.

The biggest challenge for those trying to reenter the 121 world will be...are you ready to come back? We had someone with those same credentials in my CRJ class and he didn't make it out of sims. He was 10 years removed from his last 121 job and was already typed in the CRJ's. I don't know what exactly happened to cause him to drop though. You'll get your normal bucket of extra sim time if needed, but you won't get any special treatment just because you have previous experience.

I did see one of our other pilots go from Indoc directly into the CA upgrade class for GS. He had North of 10,000 hours, but the major's wouldn't touch him yet either due to recency of experience. He had been kicked out of his overseas contract job when COVID hit. So he ended up with us and is actually still with us for now.

Bottom line, be mentally prepared for the pace of training before arriving. Oh, and I'd also consider sending out apps to the ULCC's.

Best of luck.