heavymetal101

Has anyone received an interview date for end of March or April recently? Conducted meet and greet virtually a few weeks ago and waiting for interview date currently, as indicated by meet and greet. Just trying to gauge the timeline for applying and interviewing. Thanks!

C340

I attended the PDX MTC mid/late January and was recommended for the interview and have not heard anything yet at all. Doesn’t seem like anyone here has, from what I’ve been following. There was some rumor around here somewhere that interviews would start up again in March.

BTSniper

Hello all, there should really be an introduction thread here somewhere for us long time lurkers to post their first posts. Figure since I am potentially looking to get an interview with AS I'll post here.

I'm attempting to get back into the airlines after a long absence and now seems like a great time to get hired. I have potentially 20 years left for this career. I am attempting to make a wise choice with who I apply yet trying not to be too picky about who may actually offer me a position, or at the least an interview. Alaska is high on my list as I am a lifelong resident of Oregon and the potential of driving to work would be worth it. I realize there will be some commuting and PDX is fairly senior. I spent 6 years commuting between PDX to SLC and a bit to ORD so I know what the life is like. I have also read all the recent posts to others here seeking advice about AS..... I know the legacies are hiring, I know DL has a base in SEA with short upgrades, but my situation is a little bit different then everyone else's.

My times are high with over 7500tt, 5500 multi engine turbine, and 1500 PIC turbine, representing an 8 year stent at Skywest.

I fall short of Alaska's "preferred" experience in that I have an associate degree and have zero flight time in the past 12 months. I have scheduled a biannual flight review and an instrument proficiency check at my local airport for next week just to show my intention and strong desire to get back in the cockpit. This will give me just a couple hours towards recent experience and possibly a few more hours that I may be able to afford thereafter.

Queston #1

I have read posts on the forums here of pilots getting back into the career and hired with little to no recent experience. Would the flight time and experience (and lack of recent experience) I have listed above warrant an invite for an interview here at AS?

Question #2

I would actually feel pretty good about my chances if it was just the numbers listed above. Heck I would have been back in the industry long ago if it was only a matter of recent flight experience but....... just to make it more challenging for myself...... my next question.... what are the odds of Alaska (or any airline for that matter) considering a pilot with these numbers and a "hiccup" on their record. This hiccup wasn't enough to cause any damage or injury but enough to lose a job over and get the FAA involved. Hiccup is not even on my record anymore but the 15 year absence from the career will be impossible to explain without bringing up the reason for my absence. I know I have read of other airlines recently that have hired pilots with "hiccups" on their record but what about Alaska?

For those that just need to know... In the summer of 2008 Skywest was fat on pilots and the economy was in the tank, this was not a good time to make any mistakes no matter how big or small, not to mention lack of union representation (sure Union might not have even mattered but I wouldn't know). There are no excuses for my mistake, but I have more than learned my lesson and have served my time and feel I am a better person now having faced such challenges. I want to fly again and make a steady paycheck, a position here with Alaska would be like a second chance at life again for me. This may sound poetic or cheesy but imagine the challenges faced in life over the last fifteen years after a career like ours had been pulled out from under us. I made it work, raised a family and am still married, but an indoor 9-5 job or even running a business of your own from home, I found to be just as difficult if not more so than some of the toughest days I had working for an airline.

Question #3

I don't want to miss the hiring wave as we all know a seniority number means everything and I realize my chances to get hired may require a drastic need for pilots, which I feel is a scenario many of the airlines are experiencing right now but like anything, I also realize the hiring boom will not last forever. I have been advised by fellow pilots to consult an aviation consultant service, obviously good advice. I checked on the one that was recommended, and the first available opening was late next month, a little longer than I care to wait if I don't have to, but of course I realize that being prepared may be more important than being early????

So... there is a meet and greet with Alaska next week I could attend. I assume a meet and greet is a chance to get answers to the questions of my qualifications. Would I be wise to attend the meet and greet at this time?

I briefly considered the direct entry CPT at the east coast regionals with the large sign on bonuses but a two+ year stent of awful commuting to an even longer possible stent of reserve, I'm not sure they could pay me enough.

Thank you for your time.

BT

rickair7777

It's in Hangar Talk, at the top.

BTSniper

Seems to be a snafu with the intro thread in hanger talk. Can't seem to post new comments. This is the reply I get.

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I am interested to hear more about AS hiring, MTC events and anyone's opinion here about an applicant's chances in today's aviation market with a long break from the industry and a previous black mark on their record (see my long-winded post above).

Thanks

BT

ImperialxRat

Greetings,
I’ll give my opinion, although it is just an opinion.

I don’t think that having a hiccup in this environment will be a deal breaker, depending on what it is and as long as you’re honest about it. I do think that the recency of experience will be a hurdle to tackle.. absolutely do the flight review and IPC and then try to get some time. If you have a CFI current, maybe try and get a weekend gig flight instructing, or try to do banner or pipeline on the weekend, reach out to any friends with planes and try and get some hours in the book. The meet and greet can never hurt, and just explain that you’ve been out of the industry for years and are trying to build some recent experience but wanted to get your name out there. Apply to every major and ULCC, or even regionals if you want back in badly enough. Once you get hired somewhere, then getting hired at Alaska will be easy. With your times and owning up to what happened before, I think you can get on with Alaska initially or down the road.

rickair7777

You'll probably need currency for the second tier and ULCC majors, but it doesn't hurt to attend any informal meet the chief type events available to get a conversation started. But absolutely do get professional advice *before* you apply to any majors, or even attend an event... you need to address your issue correctly without stepping on your crank.

If you're who I think you are (rather famous situation from that era), I suspect that you should be able to overcome the hiccup and get a major job, possibly even a legacy job with some currency. Again it all comes down to how you handle the discussion.

Also, I'm pretty sure that OO would take you back right now. You'd get full longevity for pay and bennies for your eight years, and they'd probably let you go in as a DEC if you wanted. That will be a bit challenging, but people do it. It would be easier if you went back on the airplane you flew previously, assuming that's the CRJ. But in your shoes, you really can't afford to try DEC and then fail to complete training, that would just be one more black mark, so probably safer t go in as an FO and then upgrade in a few months if needed.

BTSniper

Thanks for the replies and advise. It is all helpful and even a bit calming for me during this crazy time.

Always figured OO wouldn't rehire a previous employee in my situation and hadn't heard they were offering any longevity deals like the AA regionals. It certainly would be great if they did, and I would certainly consider it. I guess all I can do is ask/apply and see.

There are not many regionals operating out west. Not sure how Horizon is doing. I'll look into it.

I'm set for my biannual flight review and instrument proficiency check so I can at least get the ball rolling again towards recency.

I'll continue to research my options, certainly look into some professional advice.

BT

Jet J

I know a guy who was fired from OO years back, apparently they were very close to a CFIT in IMC. Ending up having to take a fed ride just to keep his atp. He passed it flew corporate a couple years and was hired at southwest last year.

I honestly don’t know what would be disqualifying these days.

You should be fine after you get some currency.

Flyfast10

Any word on what the class sizes have been recently or will be in April? I have a class date in April and was wondering how often they are running classes.