airlines after air force?
09-13-2008, 08:28 PM
#1
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Posts: 48
airlines after air force?
I'm thinking of joining the air force but I would also want to fly comercial airlines. I know that in the airlines they promote based on seniority. Is that also true coming from the air force or do they make an exception?
09-14-2008, 01:07 AM
#4
Banned
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 540
Whoa Trigger! Yes, you will have to start at the bottom, that is how it works in unions. First, however you need to make it through pilot training in the military and the ensuing career. Who knows what the commercial industry will look like 20 years from now.
09-14-2008, 08:30 AM
#5
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,044
There are no provisions for military pilots to start with higher seniority at any given company...this would be grossly unfair since airlines are commercial operations, ie everybody is in it to make money and they do not have military affiliations (except some contract flying). The only way this could happen would be if the airline industry was re-regulated to the point that airline pilots became government employees, like military pilots.
However military pilots do get a seniority benefit of sorts because US airlines are roughly divided into two groups, regionals and majors (there are some that are kind of in the middle too). Regionals fly smaller airplanes usually on a contract basis, and the pay and benfits are less than majors.
Most civilian pilots will work for 5-10 years at a regional before meeting the requirements to get a better job at a major. Military pilots usually (but not always) can get hired directly by a major when they leave the military. Military pilots usually have about a ten-year obligation so they can get into the majors in their early thirties...about the same as a regional pilot.
The decision to stay military beyond 10 years to reach retirement at 20 will cost you seniority, QOL, and pay in the airlines...but you get the stability of a military retirement check. That's a personal choice.
Of course there are many hurdles to finishing a military career, but if you complete initial training and work hard you will most likely make Major (Lieutenant Commander in the Navy/USCG) and be allowed to serve the 20 years needed for retirement. This assumes there are no large force cutbacks between 5-15 years...that's a matter of luck.
09-14-2008, 01:57 PM
#6
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Posts: 48
The real answer is yes and no...
There are no provisions for military pilots to start with higher seniority at any given company...this would be grossly unfair since airlines are commercial operations, ie everybody is in it to make money and they do not have military affiliations (except some contract flying). The only way this could happen would be if the airline industry was re-regulated to the point that airline pilots became government employees, like military pilots.
However military pilots do get a seniority benefit of sorts because US airlines are roughly divided into two groups, regionals and majors (there are some that are kind of in the middle too). Regionals fly smaller airplanes usually on a contract basis, and the pay and benfits are less than majors.
Most civilian pilots will work for 5-10 years at a regional before meeting the requirements to get a better job at a major. Military pilots usually (but not always) can get hired directly by a major when they leave the military. Military pilots usually have about a ten-year obligation so they can get into the majors in their early thirties...about the same as a regional pilot.
The decision to stay military beyond 10 years to reach retirement at 20 will cost you seniority, QOL, and pay in the airlines...but you get the stability of a military retirement check. That's a personal choice.
Of course there are many hurdles to finishing a military career, but if you complete initial training and work hard you will most likely make Major (Lieutenant Commander in the Navy/USCG) and be allowed to serve the 20 years needed for retirement. This assumes there are no large force cutbacks between 5-15 years...that's a matter of luck.
There are no provisions for military pilots to start with higher seniority at any given company...this would be grossly unfair since airlines are commercial operations, ie everybody is in it to make money and they do not have military affiliations (except some contract flying). The only way this could happen would be if the airline industry was re-regulated to the point that airline pilots became government employees, like military pilots.
However military pilots do get a seniority benefit of sorts because US airlines are roughly divided into two groups, regionals and majors (there are some that are kind of in the middle too). Regionals fly smaller airplanes usually on a contract basis, and the pay and benfits are less than majors.
Most civilian pilots will work for 5-10 years at a regional before meeting the requirements to get a better job at a major. Military pilots usually (but not always) can get hired directly by a major when they leave the military. Military pilots usually have about a ten-year obligation so they can get into the majors in their early thirties...about the same as a regional pilot.
The decision to stay military beyond 10 years to reach retirement at 20 will cost you seniority, QOL, and pay in the airlines...but you get the stability of a military retirement check. That's a personal choice.
Of course there are many hurdles to finishing a military career, but if you complete initial training and work hard you will most likely make Major (Lieutenant Commander in the Navy/USCG) and be allowed to serve the 20 years needed for retirement. This assumes there are no large force cutbacks between 5-15 years...that's a matter of luck.
09-14-2008, 04:31 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: B717 FO
Posts: 210
I retired from the US Navy not too long ago. One of the continuing benefits of military retirement is healthcare coverage for me and my family at VERY low prices. If I ever I get furloughed, we'll always be covered. The check helps a lot too.
C9
C9
09-14-2008, 07:02 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 737 right
Posts: 755
Why not have the best of both worlds and go guard/reserve and have an airline job on the side. Yeah sure it's not the easiest thing to pull off, but if you have what it takes to be a military pilot then go the extra length and try to get into a guard/reserve unit. You'll probably be turned down by a lot of units, but if you have the stats to get an Active Duty slot then you'll eventually get picked up by a guard/reserve unit as long as your not a d-bag.
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