N6724G

That is not exactly true that I have never wanted to be a pilot. You dont know my life story but I'll tell you in a quick paragraph.

My original goal SINCEhigh school was to be a career Air Force officer and pilot. I wear glasses so it didnt work out. I went to an Army military college. Graduated and enlited in the Army National Guard. Took flying lessons in 1994 at the local military flying club. My instructor sucked and I left. Went to another club. Soloed in 1996. Ran outof money. Enisted in the active duty army. Went to basic and AIT so was out of flying for a year. Got stationed in Hawaii. I ws an Infantryman which meant deployments. I flew in Hawaii WHEN I had the chance and was not in the woods doing my job. Got to the point of ready to get my PPL and my enlistment was up and I returned to my hometown. Went back to my oriiginal CFI and at the same time was going through National Guard OCS which took up a lot of time. Got commissioned in 2000. Went to Officer Basic at FT Benning, The day I graduated I was activated to go to Bosnia. Trained up in 2000-2001 deployed for six months (keep in mind I am not flght training during this time.? Came back from Bosnia right after 9/11. Ha a lot of money and flew everyday. Got my PPL in Dec 2001.
Went to work on my Instrument rating. I dont have the money to go to one of those facny flight schools and couldnt get a Sallie Mae loan. I dont come froma family wher epeople co sign for loans. SO I had to pay for all tis on my own at my own pace. Got my IR in Aug 2003. Had to work some moe to get enough money to start on my commercial Got my commercial in May 2004. Out of money again, had to go back to work. I became a police officer. Simultainiously My National Guard unit activiated us again for Iraq. STarted training for Iraq in Dec 2004. Deployed in 2005 and came back in 2006. Got my Comm Multi in June 2006. Had to go back to my police job that takes a lot of concentration. I quit this past January to work on my CFI full time.

So, its not a matter of me not wanting to be an airline pikot. Its a matter of I am paying for my training on my own. Honestly I rarely go up and fly just for kicks. I cant afford it. Most of my flying is for training purposes. I have some money saved from Iraq which is why I was able to quit my poice job abd concentrate on flying.

I know what I need to do though. I need to shoot more approaches and get up to speed on IFR stuff.

I think the fact that I have served my country for 17 years speaks to my dicipline, dedication, teamwork and leadership. I am willing to learn the airline biz.

N6724G

You are correct. I would have the CFI to fall backon and thats ok. I am not one of these guys that wants toinstruct just to build time. I actually enjoy teaching and sharing my love of aviation with others. I have always said that if the airlines dont work out for me, I would either go into law enforcement aviation or teach aviation full time at Prdue or Aizona State or UND.

The key question to your post though is how long wil this hiring surge last? The airline industry is very fickle. They want 500/50 now. In six months it may be 1200/200. But Ihear what you are saying. Get the experience and that is important. No sense in getting an interview and washing out. I dont gothat route.

YAKflyer

The majors are just now regaining their health and are about to increase their raids on the pilot ranks of the regionals. Additionally the regionals have lots of planes on order for delivery over the next five years. I think the hiring boom will continue for at least the next couple of years. Even if it takes 6-12 months I think you will be in great shape.......

Airsupport

6- 12 months??? try 6-12 years. 9-11 didn't just hurt the airlines, it also deterred a great deal of people from going to school or learning to be a pilot. i was a flight instructor on 9-11. I went from 12 students to 3, and it stayed that way for year or so. Then it slowly recovered, but was never at the pre 9-11 levels. I honestly believe there will be a major shortage in pilots in the near future. I am not saying that it will be just at the majors either. Like we have seen the pilot pool is so dry that airlines are picking people up right out of college at 250 hours, and even while doing that they aren't able to fill the classes we need.

Airborne

There is no shortage of pilots; the pay scales reflect that. There is a shortage of experienced pilots willing to work for 20-30K a year though, but plenty of low timers out there myself included. Being a low timer I am still not sure about making a living on that low of pay. Once again though, overall there is no shortage of pilots.

SkyHigh

Please,,,, You and I are friends so I hope you will accept my advise. Just go out and get the job. Go to a sim prep just prior to the interview and then take a little sim time just before ground school. The regionals are hiring low time guys they do not expect you to be a Chuck Yeager at 500 hours. You would be wasting valuable time and money to do anything else. Seniority is everything. Get the job now and don't worry if you are good enough. You will do just fine.

Skyhigh

SkyHigh

Even so the majors will make a small dent in the regional ranks. Over the last 5 years we have had zero hiring so now that a few are getting in it seems like a "boom". Since 911 the majors have shrunk, LCC's and regionals have swolen to fill the ranks. There will be hiring at the majors but they will never recover to where they were and at best upgrade will be slow, pay will continue to decline in response to the LCC threat and the future of Legacies uncertain.

It will take thousands upon thousands of new hires at the majors to have much of an effect after half a decade of nothing. To the one or two guys who get hired it will be great though.

SkyHigh

N6724G

Thanks SkyHigh. I actually appreciate that. Never thought i'd hear that from you, but thanks.

directbears

Sorry for hijacking N6724G's thread, but I have a question for those of you who had calls from ASA where they asked about your recency of experience.

Let me say that I'm not judging you or trying to flame you with this question, but are you folks that received this call relatively low time (i.e. 500 - 1000 TT) or higher time?

I ask, because I'm interested in applying to ASA. I have been out of flying for 1 1/2 years, but want to return to the industry. I have several years of 135 and 121 jet experience, but lack recency of experience. While I'd prefer not to have to shell out cash to regain my currency, I would rather rely on my not so distant flight experience to get me back into the industry.

I've already been shot down by one airline (not even an interview op), but I hope they don't all look at the lack of recent experience instead of my prior 121 jet experience and 6000+ TT.

Thanks in advance.

kbalch

No offence taken.

I have 1040TT, 90 ME, 200 IFR (w/117 actual). Until a week or so ago, I hadn't flown since last May. I feel as though I have a lot to offer an airline, as my 1000 hours have been anything but simple, around the patch, one hour a thousand times type flying. Real (transcontinental) cross countries (VFR & IFR), flight testing of homebuilts, aerobatic flying (and, briefly, instructing), warbird flying, and about half a dozen emergencies successfully survived with no injuries and no bent metal. Unilke a lot of low-timers, for whom the notion of how they'd react in an emergent situation is nothing but an abstraction, I KNOW what I'll do when it all hits the fan.

ASA still wants me to show 50 hrs. within 90 days. That seems excessive to me, all things considered, but I'm out there punching holes in the sky (and burning money I don't have) nearly every day. Another 2.6 today.

Ken