av8nallday

Hello all,

I wanted to get some quick questions answered that pertain to my future outlook of becoming a pilot in the majors.

I am currently in flight school and have heard many different avenues that I can take to get the required hours for an interview. I’ve heard things like be careful of which regional carrier you choose as it may have a negative effect. To go fly internationally and get your hours quicker on bigger aircraft because the requirements are lower and the experience is better then flying for a regional on smaller jets. Furthermore, you’ll have an upper hand with having experience on bigger jets over those that have flown for regionals in the U.S.

Since Southwest doesn’t have a direct flow I was curious what they look for and if one avenue looks better then the others. This is my end goal I will fly for anyone at this point but, I really like the culture of Southwest and want to get to them as quickly as possible to maximize my career and earning potential.

Thanks in advance

wilco811

In order to go fly internationally you'll have to go through a regional and get some jet experience. Honestly PIC time on the RJ and international WB experience are both considered very valuable experience. One isn't necessarily better than the other. Just remember that once overseas it becomes much harder to schedule and make it to interviews back in the mainland. I would recommend a solid regional with a flow through such as Envoy. That way you'll have the flow through to American. If you wish to apply to other legacies you can do so while you wait for your flow. Skywest is also a nice place to work. "If you work for such and such regional with a bad reputation you'll never get hired by a major" is simply just a rumor. Tons of folks doing just fine who have flown for those so called outfits.
However at this point there is no reason to go to those places unless you are really close to one of their bases. Best luck to your future! If you have questions feel free to message.

PotatoChip

I have both international widebody experience AND regional captain experience. I have not been selected for an interview.
Good luck. It’s not easy or necessarily fair.

SimMonkey

0488D58F-7B6D-4D34-AAA7-0121C7BAC385.jpg

Recent breakdown of new hires. Being an Instructor and examiner is also desired. Think leadership positions.

Psycho18th

And all that was just one newhire...

av8nallday

PotatoChip thanks for you insight it seems like you have had tough go. If you don’t mind can you elaborate on “it’s not east or necessarily fair”
I know it is a tight knit group but this is a first that I have heard it not being fair.

PotatoChip

I’m not saying it is or isn’t. More like life isn’t fair, and same goes with hiring practices anywhere. Seemingly great applicants get looked over while a 28 year old with zero TPIC gets hired. After years of applying and being told “looks great! Keep doing what you’re doing!” you start to wonder.

av8nallday

wilco811, thank you for taking some time and sharing your insight with me and what you’ve seen and/or experienced. I can see how it would be difficult for being overseas and trying to make it back to interviews. I thought they would potentially start with a phone interview and if they liked what they discussed, you would be offered a more formal interview at a set time to come back to the states. I have thought about doing exactly what you explained, but I wasn’t sure if that was just as valuable and good compared to overseas. I’ve heard numerous things about flows recently such as, “they tell you the flow is 5-7 years but I am still waiting and I’ve been here 12 years.” Not sure how much truth there is to that, my first thought was maybe it isn’t them its you. But I try to listen to both sides to see whats real or not. If you don’t mind what route did you take and how was your experience thus far?

av8nallday

I see, that makes more sense, and I can understand how you feel. Who are you currently with? Are you liking the culture and the quality of life?

PotatoChip

Answers in red