NG rotary or straight to regionals?
05-02-2018, 04:43 PM
#1
New Hire
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Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 5
NG rotary or straight to regionals?
I'm currently an 15Q (ATC) in the Florida national guard and a student pilot. My plan is to work my way through the airlines, but I also have a strong urge to fly rotary. My unit would sign me up for warrent if I want. Where I'm stuck is once I finish my college degree in about 2 years I should have enough flight time to go into regionals, or I could go warrent, take a year off for that training, maybe pay off some loans and THEN go Regional.. Thoughts?
05-02-2018, 05:19 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Position: Swimming, or drowning, depends on the day.
Posts: 106
If your main goal is to fly for a major, then go to the regionals as soon as possible. Get the 121 jet time for a few years and you'll be well positioned to fly for a major. That's just my opinion, I'm sure rotor pilots will have good info for you regarding that route.
05-02-2018, 05:30 PM
#3
Covfefe
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 3,001
Seniority is everything. Do whatever you can to get a seniority number the quickest. Maybe go get a seniority/flow number at Envoy/PSA/PDT, then go screw around in helos in the guard...mil leave allows for you to not lose your spot to flow I believe. And while helos are kind of fun, the army makes even the most fun things in life very unfun. Just my opinion, everyone’s situation is different.
05-03-2018, 09:37 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: Retired NJA & AA
Posts: 2,013
The "Big 3" major airlines have retirements peak out from 2023 to 2026, then they drop down quite a bit. At the peak around 800-1000 pilots per year per airline.
So you want to have the quals to get on with a major ASAP.
Here's an interesting article from last summer about the pilot shortage and retirements:
The U.S. will face a staggering shortage of pilots
So you want to have the quals to get on with a major ASAP.
Here's an interesting article from last summer about the pilot shortage and retirements:
The U.S. will face a staggering shortage of pilots
05-04-2018, 12:47 AM
#5
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Joined APC: Apr 2017
Position: A shack in Kailua
Posts: 36
I'm currently an 15Q (ATC) in the Florida national guard and a student pilot. My plan is to work my way through the airlines, but I also have a strong urge to fly rotary. My unit would sign me up for warrent if I want. Where I'm stuck is once I finish my college degree in about 2 years I should have enough flight time to go into regionals, or I could go warrent, take a year off for that training, maybe pay off some loans and THEN go Regional.. Thoughts?
05-04-2018, 07:18 AM
#6
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,406
Agree with everyone else. Go to the regionals ASAP. Then go on EAD for WOCS/flight school. You would be protected by USERRA and the regional would have to keep your job and your seniority number for you. This is assuming you're set on Army rotary/warrant; with a bachelor's degree and prior enlisted, you have options. The Navy/USMC/USCG don't do reserve pilots unless you were an AD pilot first, but you could go air guard and fly fixed wing. They are hurting for pilots like everyone else and if you've got the education to go commissioned air guard, just another option to consider.
But what's different today is that regional upgrades are coming so fast that the limiting factor is going to be your mandatory 121 experience. So while your regional seniority is going to accrue while you're at mil training, you'll still need about 18-24 months in the seat to qualify for 121 upgrade. Holding regional seniority while doing mil training will improve your QOL when you return, it's not going to help you upgrade much faster at most regionals.
Because of that, the mil training is going to set you back about two years in your regional career. Will that delay you from reaching your ultimate airline jobs? Having mil wings will be a good box to check, and will move your app up higher in the stack so it might be about a wash. Approximately. Hard to know for sure.
05-04-2018, 11:03 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2017
Posts: 470
For what it's worth, I'm a 1700 hour OH-58 guy and the last thing I want to do is try and learn a new Army airframe, unit, and mission while also trying to start an airline career. It takes a lot of focus and work to be a successful Army Aviator and while I haven't been through airline training, I assume it's an all-in type of commitment while you learn the ropes your first years flying jets/turboprops. That's a lot to juggle if you want to excel at both.
That said, I'm sure there are plenty of guys who do both rotary guard and airline flying who can better illuminate the path ahead for you.
That said, I'm sure there are plenty of guys who do both rotary guard and airline flying who can better illuminate the path ahead for you.
05-04-2018, 11:43 AM
#8
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,406
For what it's worth, I'm a 1700 hour OH-58 guy and the last thing I want to do is try and learn a new Army airframe, unit, and mission while also trying to start an airline career. It takes a lot of focus and work to be a successful Army Aviator and while I haven't been through airline training, I assume it's an all-in type of commitment while you learn the ropes your first years flying jets/turboprops. That's a lot to juggle if you want to excel at both.
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