Boss, I quit...

[OL Patch]

Scoobs it's been years thankfully....just what experience do you have flying regionals and living on reserve pay?

Pls correct me if I've forgotten how old you are/were.

EDIT to clarify. Yes Gearpig that is what I meant. Flying regionals whilst also a member of AF Reserve.

Edited May 25, 2012 by OL Patch

[Kaman]

Sitting on reserve anywhere sucks the big fat one...So, do the regionals...been in the regionals 8 years...

[Chida]

My outlook is this: I have basically one chance to continue flying for a living b/c if I give that up now and go do something else (chairbound), I can't really go back and pick up the flying gig because I'll have lost currency, proficiency, etc. However, if I do the flying gig until it plays out or until I'm tired of it, those non-flying jobs will still be there, or I'll have my own business (more likely). Hell, I would start my own flying business if I thought I would make money (odds are against that, though, so I'll be a flying employee for a while longer).

[Butters]

My outlook is this: I have basically one chance to continue flying for a living b/c if I give that up now and go do something else (chairbound), I can't really go back and pick up the flying gig because I'll have lost currency, proficiency, etc. However, if I do the flying gig until it plays out or until I'm tired of it, those non-flying jobs will still be there, or I'll have my own business (more likely). Hell, I would start my own flying business if I thought I would make money (odds are against that, though, so I'll be a flying employee for a while longer).

I do not know why people think this. I guess it is because they knew a guy that talked to someone whose brother did not get hired because he had not flown in a while. There are people that just got hired at Boeing that had not flown in 5 years. FAA, hasn't flown in 7 years. Alaska, 2 years. I depends on your flying background, why you were not flying, and your personality.

[Cap-10]

I do not know why people think this. I guess it is because they knew a guy that talked to someone whose brother did not get hired because he had not flown in a while. There are people that just got hired at Boeing that had not flown in 5 years. FAA, hasn't flown in 7 years. Alaska, 2 years. I depends on your flying background, why you were not flying, and your personality.

While true, a majority of airline apps ask for number of hours / approaches during the last 6 or 12 months...I've even seen one that mentioned they desire a minimum of 200hrs in the last 12 months....if airlines are asking for that info it's easy to see how potential applicants would want to have recency of experience.

Cheers,

Cap-10

[Butters]

Correct, they do ask for that, and the key words you included were “want” and “desire”, not “must” and “will”. Anyone doing hiring will tell you if you don’t have something that is desired, you better make up for it somewhere else. My point is you do not have only one chance to get a flying job. I would not pass up a great opportunity in a non-flying job, to take a shitty flying job, just to have regency of experience. Most of the senior pilots at the Boeing Company started out in non-flying jobs.

So, if you have not flown in 5 years, your resume should probably include over 5,000 hours (yes, 3K for fighter pilots, they get hired to), other aviation experience, test pilot/weapons/or safety school and a few real degrees never hurt. Oh, and try not to get arrested for fighting with a cop about your 4^th amendment rights.

[Prozac]

Right now there are guys with 6000+hrs and 737 type ratings who can't get an interview. There are a shit ton of qualified pilots out there and the few airlines that are hiring right now have the pick of the litter. I have apps in with Fed Ex, Alaska, Atlas, and a host of others and have yet to recieve so much as a phone call (current/qualified 3500 mostly heavy hrs). This is expected to change some time over the next few years, but right now, the market is pretty tough. Unless you have some VERY good contacts, I'd say the chances are pretty slim that your resume will get to the top of the pile if you've been non-current for a while.

[Butters]

Friend of mine had the same problem. No one would call him. Then got offers from 2 airlines on the same day.

Nothing is impossible unless you want it to be.

[backseatdriver]

Nothing is impossible unless you want it to be.

If you believe it, you can achieve it!

[billy pilgrim]

Your attitude determines your altitude!

[JPStryker]

If you can dream it, you can do it!

[sky_king]

I like turtles!

[Cap-10]

I heart boobs!

[HercDude]

HANG IN THERE BABY!

Edited May 26, 2012 by HercDude

[bagasticks]

Right now there are guys with 6000+hrs and 737 type ratings who can't get an interview. There are a shit ton of qualified pilots out there and the few airlines that are hiring right now have the pick of the litter. I have apps in with Fed Ex, Alaska, Atlas, and a host of others and have yet to recieve so much as a phone call (current/qualified 3500 mostly heavy hrs). This is expected to change some time over the next few years, but right now, the market is pretty tough. Unless you have some VERY good contacts, I'd say the chances are pretty slim that your resume will get to the top of the pile if you've been non-current for a while.

it depends. . . . i personally know two dudes in the last year that got hired at the mins (1 SWA last summer, and one FEDEX, weeks ago). I'm talking 3000 TT, 1000 PIC dudes. I know a chief pilot at delta who says in 2013 (starting), they wont be able to keep up with retirements. FEDEX still requires a sponsor, Atlas should call, and Alaska is a family network of good old boys.. good luck..

[Whitman]

it depends. . . . i personally know two dudes in the last year that got hired at the mins (1 SWA last summer, and one FEDEX, weeks ago). I'm talking 3000 TT, 1000 PIC dudes. I know a chief pilot at delta who says in 2013 (starting), they wont be able to keep up with retirements. FEDEX still requires a sponsor, Atlas should call, and Alaska is a family network of good old boys.. good luck..

Also of note with Fedex, while certain airlines have nepotism clauses against family hiring, FedEx actually encourages it. They've had a lot of success with families of FedEx pilots and there are numerous husband/wife, father/son, brother pilot teams at the company. It helps a ton with getting an interview. Also, your sponsor should be someone you've flown with that can vouch for the kind of pilot and person you are.

[HuggyU2]

I know ...

This phrase is key.

In aviation (and certainly many other career fields), your ability to have a large and diverse network will get you more places... far more... than your resume.

Until you figure this out and capitalize on it, you will be at the mercy of "the number of hours you flew".

And as we all know, while being the easiest way to give some sort of filter on "who is most qualified", "number of hours" is also the least accurate measure of someone's aviation ability.

[Guest]

Word.

[BitteEinBit]

This phrase is key.

In aviation (and certainly many other career fields), your ability to have a large and diverse network will get you more places... far more... than your resume.

Until you figure this out and capitalize on it, you will be at the mercy of "the number of hours you flew".

And as we all know, while being the easiest way to give some sort of filter on "who is most qualified", "number of hours" is also the least accurate measure of someone's aviation ability.

They also look at how many Masters degrees you have...because we all know that is a quality indicator.....

[HercDude]

They also look at how many Masters degrees you have...because we all know that is a quality indicator.....

Planning the squadron Christmas party never hurts either.

[HercDude]

https://www.jqpublic-blog.com/?p=133

Well written, valid points, and no attempt to rip off Drew Carey.

[zach braff]

He says he was on the way to the top, but then says all the OPRs look 90% alike - so how are we to be sure he was a General-to-be and not a "stellar performer" like everyone else?

Good points, but nothing new - most captains could tell you the same thing. That said, if this garners any attention from brass/civilian leadership (not holding my breath) maybe it'll be worth it.

zb

edditeds fer bad speling

Edited March 5, 2013 by zach braff

[Tonka]

so how are we to be sure he was a General-to-be and not a "stellar performer" like everyone else?

I think he was a C-17 Sqd/CC @ CHS. From his intro, he was probably 2 below to LTC.

if this garners any attention from brass/civilian leadership (not holding my breath) maybe it'll be worth it.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of falling on that big of a sword just to draw attention to something you believe in... Some folks do give too much credit to themselves and the impact their "bold" move will have (not that that was what Tony's intention was, and I doubt it was). In my experience, shouting from the trenches tends to fall on deaf ears until someone actually rises up who would rather wield their sword and be forced to go out swinging than hope that someone sees them walking for the exits.

Might as well take a few swings with the sword and see what damage you can do for the folks climbing up behind you.

I actually knew Tony in a former life, good dude... He'll do great things, but we sure could of used him fighting for us.

[WABoom]

That was a pretty good read. We see the same thing on the E side of the house too. We do not promote the right people with the right focus and that's why we will continue to get more E-9's than Chiefs. Careerism is IMHO one of the biggest problems for the AF. We had a Chief at the KC-135 FTU give the same new class day speech to booms, and something he would say has always stuck with me. He said "at some point another country(s) would have the same technology as us, the only thing that would separate us would be the skill of the operator. The skill set and knowledge that we gain in tech school and beyond would carry us to victory because we were the most prepared to deal with the situation". So I paraphrased a little but you get my point. We need to be focused on the mission of fighting and winning, and if we aren't doing that then lets look at what can be dropped and lets get back to basics. I am not sure what it will take to make this happen, but maybe sequestration could be the catalyst to a well needed culture shift.

Edits for grammar, spelling, and generally incoherent rants late at night.

Edited March 5, 2013 by WABoom

[MooseDriver1]

I think he was a C-17 Sqd/CC @ CHS. From his intro, he was probably 2 below to LTC.

This.

TC was one of the good Sq/CCs that you're jealous of your bros who get to be in his Sq while you're stuck Box Checker CC. He had a prior life outside of aviation, tactical (WO) experience and knew how to deal with people. When he dropped his papers, it definitely was a shock as he was on the path. I'm positive that this wasn't an attempt to blow up the system, he just didn't want to play the game anymore and is looking forward to moving on with the rest of his life. Excellent article BTW