How much time is appropriate between resigning and starting class? I have a CJO and would like to resign a two months ahead of the date to wrap up business items and give 100% in training?

 

Are you worried about currency? Might the company fold in those two months? If not, it is appropriate to give your current company as much notice as possible. Two weeks would be the minimum. I see nothing wrong with resigning a couple months early as long as the class date is firm.

That said, I've seen classes cancelled with very little notice before, so you might keep that in mind as well.

 

^ this. My resignation date from my previous job was a week after my class started.

 

So you were working for two companies at once? How did each company feel about that?

Bad idea in my opinion.

 

I wouldn't do it two months out unless you aren't worried about money/pay. Most folks will get about one months notice (give or take a few days) of their class date. I also wouldn't give less than is customary; that may come back to bite you down the road.

As an anecdotal data point, I was told 21 July or 4 August. I missed both of those and the 11 August class as well. On 17 July, I was called and asked if I wanted a fallout slot in the 11 August class and I said yes since I was currently not working. A few hours later, I was called back and offered a slot for 4 August due to another fallout. Just lucky timing I think to be working with the scheduler when it happened.

One last data point. DAL recently sent out a letter informing CJO folks on a big slowdown in training and that many would have to wait until potentially January 2016 or later to class up. It was due to sim changes and upgrades at their training facilities. It made me think of UAL and their impending TK changes.

I would at least wait until being assigned a class date. No guarantees, but it's better than betting on the come and getting pushed past the anticipated date. With the current hiring push across the board, folks are getting multiple offers and I think that drives some of the volatility in scheduling classes.

 

Why? I did this. I had vacation so why not? It allowed me to give 2 weeks notice where I only had 10 days. Had I only given 10 days then I wouldn't have been paid my remaining vacation nor be eligible for rehire. It's also a legit way to hedge against cancelled class dates while being kind to the scheduling needs of the previous airline.

 

Hi,
Show me a company that guarantees your class date with no chance of cancelling it, then do what you propose. UPS had a class date cancel earlier this year about a week or so before the start date. Several lamented about giving up their previous job with no class date in sight. Talk to those involved and they would tell you to do it much differently from what you propose.

Your happy about an upcoming job that's great. The company owes you nothing. I wouldn't notify my previous employer until your body is in class starting. Look out for number 1...........

 

You never know in this industry. I would do two weeks notice to no later than 30 days notice.

You will be fine in training. Relax.

TEN

 

In the civilian aviation world that I remember, you could very well be let go a day after you gave your 2 week notice. I personally would wait till you are in class before quitting your other aviation job. Your replacement to your current job is "waiting out in the parking lot". There is no loyalty in this business, just a revolving door.

 

Conventional wisdom has always been to NOT be employed by two companies at once. I have heard of people being let go after their new employer (major) finds out they're still employed by a regional while in ground school.

If you want to preserve the option to return to the old employer, I would try to take vacation if allowed. But I'd also discuss with both new and old employers...make sure nobody is going to consider this fraudulent. The military routinely allows this (terminal leave) and airlines are OK with that but I wouldn't just assume the same principle applies to a civilian employer.

Ideally airlines (esp. regionals) would have snap-back policies allowing pilots who leave for another airline to return to their previous position and seniority within 90 days or so if the are involuntarily terminated from the new job. A few regionals used to do this IIRC. Only fair given the way the seniority system is a rigged...you might have to put ten+ years seniority on the line in order to "try out" for a new job.