rickair7777

Most regionals would probably be willing to work with a good candidate, you'd just have to ask them.

lava

Shavetail, I'm in a similar boat staff tour wise. I interviewed with TSA the other day, (prior to terminal leave) and am planning to use their seniority reservation program... I won't do the initial check-in until after I start terminal but think I could have done it while on leave (consult your SJA).

TSA also has a program where they get rusty military guys 10 hours of GA prior to starting the ATP-CTP course. With DEN as one of their junior bases, sounds like it's up your alley.

awakenedpilot

New to the forums. I am a bit different in that I was a mid-level captain who got out early in 2014 during the mass VSP/Palace Chase saga. Convinced myself to try corporate life and here I am making decent money while being overly UNDERutilized. The switch went off that I'm not done flying and due to 4 years out of manned cockpit and no ATP, regionals are the obvious idea here... a few questions..

My husband (also an airline guy) says although I have no recency or ATP, that I should throw in an app for the majors while pursuing the regionals because "you never know". Is there any possible harm in that such as them thinking I'm insane?

My choices are between Compass and SKW because we are near Fresno. I know SKW has a domicile in FAT, but I've heard it's a pretty senior base so therefore I am hearing ORD or DTW is the junior base, which commuting there from FAT would be a nightmare. Compass, on the other hand, has their junior base in LA.. also heard they're currently not hiring but that is "expected" to be short lived. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

I have gotten my hours together and need to do all the other stuff like medical, FCC, etc. The pay cut is scary for me, even though we are dual income. The leap of faith hoping I get called in a decent time from a major is intimidating but it seems as though it has worked out for others. Clean flying record and my hours are just over 2000, with 1700+ being "heavy" (did my last assignment in predators to be w/ my spouse, which could have been better served getting actual hours).

I plan to look into the Emerald Coast program and this site a lot more for interview prep because I do not want to screw anything up. In the meantime I'm just trying to save up as much money as I can with my high paying, yet unfulfilling job since I don't have a retirement coming in.

Am I crazy??

Tester130

Not crazy at all...get the applications into the major, but while you wait for the phone call, get in with a regional to get your ATP and currency. There are lots of stories of people in your situation getting phone calls as early as when they finish IOE. Keep your application up to date and market yourself.

On another note, someone mentioned Air Wisconsin as having a high QOL...maybe in the past, and maybe in the future, but right now they have a pretty low one, especially for junior FOs. With their contract with American set to expire in January 2018 and no new flying announced, they are seeing a lot of pilots leave for a more secure future. This is causing the FOs they have to get their schedules changed a lot and limited time off. They are trying to beef up their recruiting with increased sign on and retention bonuses, but it is too little, too late in many peoples opinions.

All the best

shavetail

Original poster here on the 6 month interview window question. I am stuck with what a hiring timeline looks like and when a candidate would get "hired" or how it relates to CJO/training start date/commitment. This would be a non issue if I was available now but actually don't retire until Feb 18. If my availability date is in Nov 17 and like another reply stated, I would feel very good if 6 months out I knew I had a job waiting (May timeframe). If I apply soonest and get the interview, is it possible to get hired and get it locked in? I am trying to avoid busting the 6 month window where the interview is valid and have to interview twice since I started the process too early. I am trying to understand the rules for hiring and would like to time it right. Thank you!

FlewNavy

If you are trying to get hired in Nov 17, you need to get your apps finished and submitted ASAP. The hiring process takes 6+ months in some cases and I would not expect to even get notified of an interview until inside that window. I would not worry about applying to the regionals until you get within 60 days of your availability date. You can probably get an interview at a regional within 4 weeks of applying and in a class within 8 weeks of the interview. That is all anecdotal evidence from monitoring this board, The Pilot Network etc. Go look through the " Who has been hired" thread and see what their timelines are. Not having a job that equates to your current salary lined up 6 months out from retirement is uncomfortable but also the new normal as there are lots of qualified candidates that can start tomorrow. UAL is probably doing the best job of reviewing highly qualified apps and starting them on the hiring process 6 months out...but you need to be a retiring CC/DO/Safety Officer that is current in a jet to get plucked that early.

jimf15e

Agreed that UAL is good about timeliness, but their recency requirement is no longer a "hard and fast". I got the 6 month letter from United via email while sitting at my desk 1.5 years into a Pentagon assignment. Changed my availability date pretty quick, curtailed my AGR tour, and was at indoc 5 months later (August 2016). Yes, I did fill the Ftr Sq/CC/DO squares and flew my entire career previous to my Pentagon job, but when I started indoc it had been about 2 yrs and 1 month since I last flew an airplane!

After commenting on that fact here on the forums I was told by several others that the 100 hrs in previous 12 months recency requirement was no longer a 100% rule (if it ever was). There is hope for those of us stuck in a non-flying staff gig. Good Luck!


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CLazarus

To reinforce what FlewNavy said: When I hit "submit" to regionals I had my first call with an interview request the next day. Had two more lined up within the next thirty days. Got job offers from all three, first possible class date from the first offer was about 45 days from hitting "submit". The first class available from my top choice regional (the third one I interviewed at, 40 days after hitting "submit") was about three months after hitting "submit". Assuming it is your top choice, TSA's seniority reservation system certainly gives you a good reason to get your app done and interview as early as practicable. But, if Nov 17 is your earliest availability date you've got lots of time to carefully work on and scrub your application. I spent months tinkering with my apps on airlineapps.com before hitting "submit", now is the time to get to work on them so they are airtight when you do.

USMCv22

Along these lines, if someone's availability date is that far out (or even later), but apps are all squared away, is there any detriment to clicking on the "submit" button right now?


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rickair7777

I would only do that if the app has an "availability date" option. Otherwise they'll *assume* that you're more or less ready at any time.

If you submit an app with a clear down-range availability date, airlines might still call you and even interview you, affording the opportunity to lock in a job after your sep date.

But you don't want to have an awkward phone call with a recruiter who's confused about your availability, especially with a major airline.