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Continental's Low Minimums

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flyf15

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 13, 2004
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548
Continental seems to have very low hiring requirements right now...

  • 1,500 hours fixed-wing total flight time
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing PIC time, or 500 hours PIC time and 500 hours SIC time in a turbojet
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing turbine time
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing multi-engine time (civilian or military) or 1,000 hours single-engine military fighter jet time
  • A current ATP written exam
No ATP certificate is required. No turbine PIC time is required. Essentially, it looks like just about anyone who has been even a regional jet FO for a year or two would meet these. Is anyone actually getting hired with times like these?

And, for a regional FO such as myself... besides meeting these requirements, what is Continental looking for? Obviously a few letters of recommendation would help.. anything else?
 
flyf15 said:
Continental seems to have very low hiring requirements right now...
  • 1,500 hours fixed-wing total flight time
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing PIC time, or 500 hours PIC time and 500 hours SIC time in a turbojet
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing turbine time
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing multi-engine time (civilian or military) or 1,000 hours single-engine military fighter jet time
  • A current ATP written exam
No ATP certificate is required. No turbine PIC time is required. Essentially, it looks like just about anyone who has been even a regional jet FO for a year or two would meet these. Is anyone actually getting hired with times like these?

And, for a regional FO such as myself... besides meeting these requirements, what is Continental looking for? Obviously a few letters of recommendation would help.. anything else?
Click to expand...
A daddy or an internship.
 
Its all 'who ya know.' Internal recs are key, and having someone in the company go talk to the Chief pilot. But yes there have been RJ FOs with no PIC turbine getting hired. Lots of ex-interns, sons/daughters of employees, etc.
 
At CAL it really is who you know, that's it. I got hired with 6K tt, 2600 PIC 121, 3 types, and 3 three letters of rec. However my "sponsors" were new hires themselves and I believe that's why it took well over a year to get the job. In my class there was 1 guy with no PIC whatsoever, older and high tt, but no pic, however he seemed to know the right people.

Anyway, good luck and if you really want a job here, network, that's all you need. It might fell overwheming at first not knowing anybody, but keep trying to meet people. I got to tell you it sure is nice to be here. Less than 1 year reserve on the 75 doing Europe, awesome.. Keep the hope, everybody has been in your shoes at one time or another.
 
How many pilots are expected to be hired through the end of 2006 and into 2007? Any estimates? Where will upcoming newhires likely be placed - 737 or 757 to Europe?
 
Last I heard was 550 pilots between Sep 06 - Sep 07. They go all over, EWR, IAH, 737,757,777.
 
I met a Captain at CAL right before my interview (whom I believe was an ACP), and he asked me "Who was your sponsor?"

It is pretty obvious that it is unwritten in the mins that you need a sponsor, kind of like FEDEX does. Maybe not but I found it an interesting question from someone not involved in the hiring department.
 
Flyby1206 said:
Its all 'who ya know.' Internal recs are key, and having someone in the company go talk to the Chief pilot. But yes there have been RJ FOs with no PIC turbine getting hired. Lots of ex-interns, sons/daughters of employees, etc.
Click to expand...

That's the case at most places -- at some companies it is more evident. That being said there are those of us who make it the old fashioned way -- hard work, grit and determination.
 
accinelli said:
That's the case at most places -- at some companies it is more evident. That being said there are those of us who make it the old fashioned way -- hard work, grit and determination.
Click to expand...

yeah...people who are recommended have done nothing to promote themselves thru 'hard work, grit, and determination'. gimme a break. :rolleyes:
 
accinelli said:
That's the case at most places -- at some companies it is more evident. That being said there are those of us who make it the old fashioned way -- hard work, grit and determination.
Click to expand...


Are you serious.. I myself get jealous sometimes of dudes much less qualified than me getting the in, but maybe the concentration of hard work, grit, and determination shall be directed to what works.

I flew with a tool at my guard base that had 10,000 hours and couldn't get an airline job to save his life, why? Because he was socially inept. He wouldn't hesitate to tell you he was a victim and a hard worker. No one could stand this guy.

In life as much as people hate to hear it, "Rush the Frat..." It's all about who you know. I have sat on interview boards before and trust me, you could be the most qualifed guy, but do we want to hang out with you? I've seen excetionally qualified guys that were total tools.

I guess my point is NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK (with hard work, grit, and determination)
 
I only know of one guy who got the job without turbine PIC. But here's the thing: He's one of the nicest, hardworking guys I've ever met. Add to that he used to work for CAL and is hands-down the most positive outgoing person I've ever known in aviation. I would be honored to throw gear for him someday.

I can understand how some of you get your feelings hurt when you hear of folks with lesser quals than you getting hired, but be careful you don't expend too much negative energy over something you have absolutely NO control over.

Enjoy the journey and the destination will be that much sweeter when you get there. As to what CAL's new hires look like these days, my stats are posted on the left. I wouldn't trade any of the experiences I've had as a professional pilot over the last eleven years for anything.
 
CAL's minimums only seem low because the legacys haven't hired in such a long time. All Legacy minimums are low. United's was the lowest being simply a commercial pilots license and about 100 multi or so. Your chances of getting hired are slim at the minimums but not impossible.
Anyone who meets the mins should apply.

Everyone's gotten used to the LCC minimums which are significantly higher than that of the legacys.
 
Last edited:
Mr Hat said:
CAL's minimums only seem low because the legacys haven't hired in such a long time. All Legacy minimums are low. United's was the lowest being simply a commercial pilots license and about 100 multi or so. Your chances of getting hired are slim at the minimums but not impossible.
Anyone who meets the mins should apply.

Everyone's gotten used to the LCC minimums which are significantly higher than that of the legacys.
Click to expand...

UAL was 350TT pic or sic and a commercial rating and the FE written.
 
flyf15 said:
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing PIC time, or 500 hours PIC time and 500 hours SIC time in a turbojet
Click to expand...

For clarifiation, is this saying 500 Turbojet PIC and 500 Turbojet SIC? Or 500 PIC in anything and 500 Turbojet SIC?
 
500 PIC in anything.....
 
Foties said:
Are you serious.. I myself get jealous sometimes of dudes much less qualified than me getting the in, but maybe the concentration of hard work, grit, and determination shall be directed to what works.

I flew with a tool at my guard base that had 10,000 hours and couldn't get an airline job to save his life, why? Because he was socially inept. He wouldn't hesitate to tell you he was a victim and a hard worker. No one could stand this guy.

In life as much as people hate to hear it, "Rush the Frat..." It's all about who you know. I have sat on interview boards before and trust me, you could be the most qualifed guy, but do we want to hang out with you? I've seen excetionally qualified guys that were total tools.

I guess my point is NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK (with hard work, grit, and determination)
Click to expand...

Great post Foties (even if you did go to Humpty Diddle). Especially the part about "rush the frat." I agree 100%. Some people will just never get it. It isn't 100% about being qualified. Networking is what gets you the interview at most jobs...and your skills/personality are what gets you the job.

Now enough about that unimportant stuff...when do I get my "foties" from you? I'm waiting!

-Neal
 
accinelli said:
That's the case at most places -- at some companies it is more evident. That being said there are those of us who make it the old fashioned way -- hard work, grit and determination.
Click to expand...

So when you got your current flight attendant job, who did you know, and how did you get hired??
 
Foties said:
Are you serious.. I myself get jealous sometimes of dudes much less qualified than me getting the in, but maybe the concentration of hard work, grit, and determination shall be directed to what works.

I flew with a tool at my guard base that had 10,000 hours and couldn't get an airline job to save his life, why? Because he was socially inept. He wouldn't hesitate to tell you he was a victim and a hard worker. No one could stand this guy.

In life as much as people hate to hear it, "Rush the Frat..." It's all about who you know. I have sat on interview boards before and trust me, you could be the most qualifed guy, but do we want to hang out with you? I've seen excetionally qualified guys that were total tools.

I guess my point is NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK (with hard work, grit, and determination)
Click to expand...

You can network all you want, but you can't network a daddy or mommy.
 
...

More power to the folks who have a father or someone else on the inside to help 'em get a job.

If you had the family connection, your telling us you wouldnt use it? Right.....
 
Yes. There are some that wouldn't.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are, but if they are trying to get on at a major and CAL is willing to give them a chance then why wait? So they can get more experience just to get on with a major?
 
JohnnyP said:
More power to the folks who have a father or someone else on the inside to help 'em get a job.

If you had the family connection, your telling us you wouldnt use it? Right.....
Click to expand...

Of course you'd use it.That isn't the point here. You should still be qualified for the job. If the employer doesn't want to employ the most qualified candidate then that's their loss.

Some people network and some people take leadership jobs at the company (check airman, union, ect). It's too bad when people take leadership jobs to advance their career instead actually doing a good job or caring about the people they represent.
 
I know what you are saying but that is just life. I've felt the same way over the years but finally realized that having a flawless checkride record, getting along well with others and operating an airplane safely and on-time didn't always get one the job. You have to get somebody to help you out at just about any carrier. Continental is getting beat up now because we are the only legacy(I hate that word) hiring. I remember Delta's hiring in 2000-2001 and some of the stunts going on there with female's and interns and sons/daughters of pilots. In fact a female pilot at COEX who hadn't even applied to Delta met Plato at a hiring event where she was representing COEX(WIA). He asked her if she had applied to Delta. She answered no. He asked why and she told him that she wanted to work for Alaska. He offered her an interview anyway and a job a month later. Didn't even pay the ripoff UPASS fee the rest of the applicants had to pay. Point of the story, it happens. It is going to happen again. You can either let it jade you whole outlook on the career or fight to get your name to the top of the stack at your favorite carrier. It sucks for white males who did not intern somewhere bit your day will come. It finally came for me and I still see people younger than me being hired with thousands of hours less time than I had when I was hired. Good for them. I would have taken a job as well if I were in there shoes.

IAHERJ
 
IAHERJ said:
I know what you are saying but that is just life. I've felt the same way over the years but finally realized that having a flawless checkride record, getting along well with others and operating an airplane safely and on-time didn't always get one the job. You have to get somebody to help you out at just about any carrier. Continental is getting beat up now because we are the only legacy(I hate that word) hiring. I remember Delta's hiring in 2000-2001 and some of the stunts going on there with female's and interns and sons/daughters of pilots. In fact a female pilot at COEX who hadn't even applied to Delta met Plato at a hiring event where she was representing COEX(WIA). He asked her if she had applied to Delta. She answered no. He asked why and she told him that she wanted to work for Alaska. He offered her an interview anyway and a job a month later. Didn't even pay the ripoff UPASS fee the rest of the applicants had to pay. Point of the story, it happens. It is going to happen again. You can either let it jade you whole outlook on the career or fight to get your name to the top of the stack at your favorite carrier. It sucks for white males who did not intern somewhere bit your day will come. It finally came for me and I still see people younger than me being hired with thousands of hours less time than I had when I was hired. Good for them. I would have taken a job as well if I were in there shoes.

IAHERJ
Click to expand...

Take a guess what airline didn't hire "that" girl?

BTW she's working at Atlas after having been in class at Alaska and Yo-nited.
 
IAHERJ said:
I know what you are saying but that is just life. I've felt the same way over the years but finally realized that having a flawless checkride record, getting along well with others and operating an airplane safely and on-time didn't always get one the job. You have to get somebody to help you out at just about any carrier. Continental is getting beat up now because we are the only legacy(I hate that word) hiring. I remember Delta's hiring in 2000-2001 and some of the stunts going on there with female's and interns and sons/daughters of pilots. In fact a female pilot at COEX who hadn't even applied to Delta met Plato at a hiring event where she was representing COEX(WIA). He asked her if she had applied to Delta. She answered no. He asked why and she told him that she wanted to work for Alaska. He offered her an interview anyway and a job a month later. Didn't even pay the ripoff UPASS fee the rest of the applicants had to pay. Point of the story, it happens. It is going to happen again. You can either let it jade you whole outlook on the career or fight to get your name to the top of the stack at your favorite carrier. It sucks for white males who did not intern somewhere bit your day will come. It finally came for me and I still see people younger than me being hired with thousands of hours less time than I had when I was hired. Good for them. I would have taken a job as well if I were in there shoes.

IAHERJ
Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that Delta STILL required everybody to have 1000 turbine PIC to get interviewed, regardless of connection.

Unlike CAL.

Also, unlike CAL, they had a no nepotism policy for years that wasn't lifted until 2000. Could you imagine if CAL had the same policy?
 
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