Getting Hired At 20yrs. Old

[flyinhigh21]

I've noticed that some airlines have a min age of 21 listed in the qualifications for first officer positions. Do any airlines go below this?

 

[Crzipilot]

I think PSA recently had a 20 yr old, 400hrs....

 

[PCL_128]

Some of the airlines that list 21 as the min age will still hire someone if they have recommendations or went through some sort of "bridge" program that they use. Other regionals don't even have the min age requirement. I wouldn't worry about it. I flew with plenty of FOs at Pinnacle that were under 21 even though we listed it as a minimum.

 

[knewhigher]

PSA has 19 year olds. I got hired at Mesa when I was 20, but after they blasted the SJS out of my system I went to another regional. I, like many others I'm sure, wish I would have instructed a few more months to get the time to go to a more reputable company right off the bat. Don't be in a hurry. There is nothing worse than being in a hotel in Midland, TX on a Friday night when your friends are out partying.

 

[5ontheglide]

Unless your a really really good pilot with awesome skills.

 

[Frap]

There is nothing worse than being in a hotel in Midland, TX on a Friday night when your friends are out partying.

Damn, talk about hyperbole. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on the "nothing worse" blast.

Where were/are you spending your Friday nights at your new regional? Where do you think you'll be spending your Friday nights at your next airline? Saturdays? Holidays? Especially New Year's Eve while your friends are out partyin'?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

At 20 you should be at a college keg party finishing up your liberal arts degree.

 

[flyinhigh21]

Well the reason I ask is because I am thinking of doing the CFI program at ATP and then instructing there. The thing is that I don't turn 21 until the end of April 2008. I would like to instruct at ATP because multi time is scarce around home, but I don't really want to instruct there from now until next April. That would burn the crap out of me. I also have a good friend who is a 2nd year FO at Pinnacle who will definately give me a rec letter, and that is my number 1 choice due to bases (I want DTW). That rec, coupled with the rec I could get from ATP if I do their free RJ course might be enough to get me in at less than 21, you think?

 

[flyinhigh21]

I'm working right now and getting a degree online.

 

[knewhigher]

Damn, talk about hyperbole. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on the "nothing worse" blast.

Where were/are you spending your Friday nights at your new regional? Where do you think you'll be spending your Friday nights at your next airline? Saturdays? Holidays? Especially New Year's Eve while your friends are out partyin'?

The point I was trying to make is that I was in such a hurry to get to a regional that I brushed off the fact that I would be missing out on a lot of fun times that come with being this age.

But I will say, I've been more places and seen more things than any of my friends ever have or will. Its a definite tradeoff. I'm not sure if I would do it again the way I did it if I knew what I knew now.

 

[Flex81]

Well the reason I ask is because I am thinking of doing the CFI program at ATP and then instructing there. The thing is that I don't turn 21 until the end of April 2008. I would like to instruct at ATP because multi time is scarce around home, but I don't really want to instruct there from now until next April. That would burn the crap out of me. I also have a good friend who is a 2nd year FO at Pinnacle who will definately give me a rec letter, and that is my number 1 choice due to bases (I want DTW). That rec, coupled with the rec I could get from ATP if I do their free RJ course might be enough to get me in at less than 21, you think?

You new guys need to remember that a lot of pilots on this board had to instruct 2+ years before we were qualified for a Regional job. I instructed over 2 years and the only regional that would call me back was Great Lakes (and I was lucky). Many others had to do the 135 thing before they could move on to the barbie jet. Therefore, you will not get any sympathy from most folks on this board. If you want pinnacle, then do what you have to do to get pinnacle. Time will go faster than you think. Plus you will become a better pilot by instructing for 400+ hours and you will get more respect from your future captains. You will still have life by the balls if you start at pinnacle at or near your 21st birthday. Good luck in whatever you do.

-Flex

 

[EatinRamen]

Well the reason I ask is because I am thinking of doing the CFI program at ATP and then instructing there. The thing is that I don't turn 21 until the end of April 2008. I would like to instruct at ATP because multi time is scarce around home, but I don't really want to instruct there from now until next April. That would burn the crap out of me. I also have a good friend who is a 2nd year FO at Pinnacle who will definately give me a rec letter, and that is my number 1 choice due to bases (I want DTW). That rec, coupled with the rec I could get from ATP if I do their free RJ course might be enough to get me in at less than 21, you think?

Yeah I'm so tired of hearing people bitch about having to instruct. Like was said before, we all had to pay our dues, and we instructed for at least a year before moving on. You really learn about flying once you do it. And you know what, I'm still in my 20's and am all the better for having gone that route.

 

[crashpad]

The difference between you and your friends, young Padiwan,...is that they will be living life....and you will be having it slowly sucked from your core as you run like a hamster pulling a little roll-on suitcase as a slave-driven regional airline pilot.
I'm shocked how many jumpseaters I get who have now been with regionals more than 8 years. That's more than just a career...it's a sentence!

 

[CoAlpha]

I've noticed that some airlines have a min age of 21 listed in the qualifications for first officer positions. Do any airlines go below this?

go to college (4 year)

 

[Frap]

The point I was trying to make is that I was in such a hurry to get to a regional that I brushed off the fact that I would be missing out on a lot of fun times that come with being this age.

Understood. I probably would've leaped at the chance for a seniority number myself as soon as I could, not knowing how rotten this industry is.


But I will say, I've been more places and seen more things than any of my friends ever have or will. Its a definite tradeoff. I'm not sure if I would do it again the way I did it if I knew what I knew now.

Agreed. Everything in aviation is a tradeoff; financially, aerodynamically and personally. In hindsight, as much as I still love flying (I'm 37 now), I would've traded the sights out of town for more of the sights at home--especially weekends at the lake.

 

[PCL_128]

go to college (4 year)

He can do that at the same time. I did.

 

[CoAlpha]

online? I meant go live on campus, drink beer, and hit on the new freshman crop of girls that arrive every fall (a good reason to make a 4 year a 5 year). How could you fly 121 and still do that?

 

[PCL_128]

online? I meant go live on campus, drink beer, and hit on the new freshman crop of girls that arrive every fall (a good reason to make a 4 year a 5 year). How could you fly 121 and still do that?

No, I did the distance learning thing, and I don't regret it a bit. Drank more than enough, and saw plenty of freshman girls that were on spring break when I was based in FLL and MIA. When my high school friends were sitting in a classroom bored to death between parties, I was on a 15 hour layover in Nassau at the casino. Like the previous posters said, there's tradeoffs either way. All in all, I'd do it all over again the same way.

 

[flyinhigh21]

Don't yell at me for not wanting to pay my dues in aviation. I do. You have no idea how many people I have tried to educate on the subject of not buying jobs. You have no idea how hard I have tried to make a professional, "old-school" impression on those around me. I don't want to instruct AT ATP for more than 6 months or so. I would be fine instructing for the FBO where I got my ratings, but there is no multi time to be had. I have serviced lavs and scrubbed bugs from the leading edges of bizjets since I was 14 years old. I got my PPL when I was 17 because I was motivated and worked hard. I am one of the biggest proponents of flight instructing you could find at my age. I quit my plans of going to a major aviation college just so I wouldn't always have to be around the "greater than thou" attiudes and SJS people. I don't have SJS. If a 1900 operator had a base in DTW, you bet your behind I would eventually apply there first. Don't put words into my mouth, please.

 

[pilotyip]

Not required

At 20 you should be at a college keg party finishing up your liberal arts degree.

No college degree required to be hired at 18, 19, or 20. Only quality flight time.

 

[lowery21]

19 year olds dude.

 

[Cardinal]

You new guys need to remember that a lot of pilots on this board had to instruct 2+ years before we were qualified for a Regional job. I instructed over 2 years and the only regional that would call me back was Great Lakes (and I was lucky). Many others had to do the 135 thing before they could move on to the barbie jet. Therefore, you will not get any sympathy from most folks on this board. If you want pinnacle, then do what you have to do to get pinnacle. Time will go faster than you think. Plus you will become a better pilot by instructing for 400+ hours and you will get more respect from your future captains. You will still have life by the balls if you start at pinnacle at or near your 21st birthday. Good luck in whatever you do.

-Flex

Hehe, what Flex81 meant to say was that Lakes is more than willing to hire pilots under 21.

I hit Lakes just after turning 21 and a year of CFI'ing. Upside? Hired at a major before turning 26. Wads of cash pumping into 401k. Laker buddies. No college-related STDs.

Downside? No college stories, no college experiences no college buddies. Learning to drink while bound by a 12hr rule. Grunting through online courses in the middle of summer on every day off. Balancing college age hooliganism with safety, human life, paying passengers, and career advancement. Never backpacked Europe, never did the Appalachian Trail.

The orginal poster may have seen "major airline at 26" and stopped reading, but I hope this is not the case. Talking to my classmates, we all feel the same way - excited, thrilled, and priveleged to be here, but wondering "what's next?" in the back of our mind. Big picture, meaning of life stuff.

I saw that same post-partum depression (bad comparison, I know) after getting hired at my first airline. When you set out just one goal in life - becoming an airline pilot, climbing Everest, getting married - what happens when you achieve that goal? It's very disorienting, you will feel lost for a while. Many descend into fits of negativity from which they never emerge. The guy who is bitching in his probationary year is that guy.

To make a long story short, don't lose track of your goal. Yet don't lose track of the legitimately important things in life. Yes, career and money is important, but so are people, so is learning, so is spirituality, so is health. I've blown off good friends to go to work. Over and over again. Even when I didn't have to. I've let this career change me in negative ways, let it affect my integrity and my morality. I have sunk to "their" level. I have watched uncaringly as good women walk away because I could only focus on the flight time, the training, upgrade, the interview, or whatever the hurdle of the moment happened to be. Should we be in such a hurry to join the ratrace? Keep careful eye on your priorities.

Would I choose this career again? Absolutely. Would I be in such a galdarn hurry? No.

 

[Garritto]

Distance learning? Getting hired at 19, 20, 21? Why would you want to do this to yourself? Why are there so many people trying to avoid going to college full time, with dorms, girls, and beer? There was a 20 year old in my new hire class that had no college experience and now, 6 months later, he's wiped out from flying regional 121 and wants to change careers. I did the 4 years of college, flight instructed for a year, and got to my regional at age 23. I still have 42 years of flying (age 65) so what's the rush???

 

[Papps]

I've noticed that some airlines have a min age of 21 listed in the qualifications for first officer positions. Do any airlines go below this?

Everyone knows that 20 year olds can't fly. The day you turn 21 the FAA mails you a packet with all the "real answers"

Just make sure after you read it you don't go rack up a DUI with your new found bar privilages.

 

[Lear70]

If a 1900 operator had a base in DTW, you bet your behind I would eventually apply there first.

Ever heard of Mesaba?



5 of the best years of my 4-year degree were spent in college partying almost every night. On the boat on the lake with either sorority chicks or strippers. Both if it was a really good weekend.

There are some fun, young PCL F/A's you can land but, for the most part, college was more enjoyable.

Watching some guys get hired into a major at 27 definitely is hard on the ego when 9/11 delayed so many of us by 4-5 years and we didn't get on until our early 30's, but so the hell what... the memories are worth it, and the 5 type ratings by 30 makes it easier to land on your feet when your airline (or the entire 121 industry) tanks.

p.s. Take a closer look at Garritto's avatar and ask yourself how often you think you'll see that sight on a PCL overnight? Hint: it's a hell of a lot less often than in college.

 

[CoAlpha]

Ever heard of Mesaba?



5 of the best years of my 4-year degree were spent in college partying almost every night. On the boat on the lake with either sorority chicks or strippers. Both if it was a really good weekend.

There are some fun, young PCL F/A's you can land but, for the most part, college was more enjoyable.

Watching some guys get hired into a major at 27 definitely is hard on the ego when 9/11 delayed so many of us by 4-5 years and we didn't get on until our early 30's, but so the hell what... the memories are worth it, and the 5 type ratings by 30 makes it easier to land on your feet when your airline (or the entire 121 industry) tanks.

p.s. Take a closer look at Garritto's avatar and ask yourself how often you think you'll see that sight on a PCL overnight? Hint: it's a hell of a lot less often than in college.

If I could

1. go back to a REAL 4 year college again and spend it drinking and fornicating for 5 years with some of the best friends I will ever make.

or

2. PFT and not get a real education, and brag about seeing chicks that they never interacted with then getting to a "major" faster (is there even such a thing now days)

I would choose 1 and live my life on campus hosting keggers and skipping class, for the rest of my life.

The guys that argue with theses statements never did this, and are rationalizing this to them selfs by trying to clown on it.

*** and unfortunately this is well evident by the way some of you interact in the cockpit, with a lack of people/social skills. That could of been learned around a keg/breaking in hot young freshman***

 

[Papps]

Jesus H..... if you have the chance to go to a real college do it. (that means a real college with girls and football...not ERAU) I can almost guarantee you that college will be the best years of your life. I love flying, but the airlines are very boring....they are a job. College is a cool fantasy land where the beer flows like wine, and girls making out with each other has strangely but thankfully become a huge fad.

 

[pilotyip]

Everyone knows that 20 year olds can't fly. The day you turn 21 the FAA mails you a packet with all the "real answers"

yea the average bomber pilot flying out of England in 1944 was 19 yrs old and we know they could not fly.

 

[relief tube]

this job isnt going anywhere.

go to a real college and enjoy the best 4 years of your life.

then when youre done youll have more hours so you can get on with a better regional.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

No one ever regrets going to college.

nuff' said.