duece12345

Why? He is right. I know many mil dudes that think they are shoe ins for the airlines. They often tell me how they are going to put in an app and go right to DAL,FedEx,UAL, etc. only to be suprised the phone dosent ring, or even worse they bust the interview. I have seen it first hand.

And I am a mil dude that is ****ed his phone won't ring (smiley face thing)!

ShyGuy

As if LCA is supposed to mean much? Gone are the days the airlines will grill you on an approach plate or technical interviews. They learned long ago by the time a pilot gets to a major airline interview, they can probably fly and can read approach plates. The biggest factor is personality. You can have space shuttle landings, 10,000TPIC but if you are arrogant and act like an interview is a fomality, you won't get the job. Maybe FOs are getting hired because they really want the job and interview much better than someone who is arrogant and thinks the job is his.

Grumble

True statement. I can't tell you how many guys have come to me asking about what they need to do to prep for the exit with 5-6 months before they separate. A lot of guys think they just need an ATP and the phone will ring the next day.

It's not all their fault however. Most mil guys didn't come up through the civilian ranks, they don't quite understand the competition or the industry. They've excelled at most everything they've ever done (especially academy guys, but not all) and haven't experienced being a number on a piece of paper, or have never had to network their ass off just to get an interview. While being a 2000 hour fighter guy is a stellar accomplishment, you're no more qualified than a guy with 2000 hours RJ PIC for the job you're competeing for and some just don't get that, yet.

Time for Albie to chime in...

duece12345

Shack. Sucks, but it is true.

Saabs

This. They aren't around to see the thousands of us that have been trying to get out for a long time. They should have no problem getting on with a regional if unsuccessful at a major right away.

EMBFlyer

I wonder how many also blow off the very important, but seldom emphasized "third aspect" of the interview process.

CarolinaAngler

LCA used to mean something and it still does. Southwest wouldn't even look at you unless you were a check airman. Guys at 9E were becoming check airman just to mark that box on the app. Since when did mainline really grill anyone on approach plates anyways? LCA means more than just technical knowledge. If you are constantly teaching you are constantly learning. I can't tell you how many check airman I talk to at 9E who have said the same thing since the integration of 3 pilot groups. I don't disagree about the personality thing, but to say LCA doesn't matter is silly to me.

Tee1Up

Apologies. I clearly was not clear. I was merely commenting on how in my experience on here, a comment like that turns the thread into a mil vs. civ ****ing contest for awhile. I don't disagree at all. I was just planning on pulling up a chair until the storm passed.

Purple Drank

I'd urge the mil guys not to be discouraged by a couple of haters here.

Sure, a few have busted the interview. Most of the mil guys I know got picked up at SWA, DAL, UPS, FedEx with start dates during their terminal leave.

Mil pilots are getting fewer and fewer in numbers. The majors will be salivating over IPs, EPs, 4-ship leads, etc.

ShyGuy

And that's where the problem lies. Guys who have no business becoming a LCA doing so ONLY to check off a box on an application. The good LCA are the ones whose heart is really into it, they are genuinely interested in teaching, and enjoy this aspect of the job. The ones you are describing out of necessity are also the ones struggling to get hired when they don't pass an interview and can't figure out why. Like that guy I did one of my last trips with before leaving 9E: "I didn't work 8 years here and be checkairman to end up at a place like Spirit or Virgin." <------ This is the kinda guy who becomes a LCA to check off a box and get resume time, then gets dumbfounded when he doesn't get hired at Delta or United.