Alternate ways to gain experience for the major airlines

[no1pilot2000]

Is there another way, other than the regional airlines, that a CFI can use to gain the experience to eventually get a flying job with the major airlines or cargo carriers like FedEx or UPS? My former CFI decided to become a pilot in the Air Force instead of going to the regional airlines. Military flying isn't for everyone, but what are the alternatives to flying for the regional airlines and gaining the important PIC turbine time?

 

[BentOver]

Unfortunately not a whole lot.....

There are always success stories of guys doing the 91/135 route to get there. But unless you are from the military, the next best thing is to be from a regional... Well maybe wide body cargo carrier also, but to get there you usually need some experience also..

Regionals fly a heavy workload, where hours build up very fast. Plus the added bonus of doing routine 121 ops. And then the vast amount of connections and contacts you can utilize s good also.

Back in the day there may have been some that went from places like Ameriflight to SWA or other carriers, but nowadays I'd say that is a very
One shot unless you've got some serious connections...

Fractional to a legacy seems to be doable also. But there are very few Fractionals and currently very very few opportunities at Fractionals. And again the ratio of regional vs. fractional going to a legacy is still in favor of the regional guy.

My best device is gain as much experience as you can from wherever you can. In the end you may have to do a bit of regional flying. But if you supplement that with prior 91/135 you may be able to shorten your time at the regionals. 10 years ago the better regionals were pretty tolerable. It doesn't appear that way any longer.

 

[CX880]

It's who you know, everything else doesn't matter.

 

[wms]

Part 135. Around year 2000 all the guys I worked with at the 135 I worked for went straight to the majors, except me, and I'm still at a regional. I did avoid furlough and upgraded pretty quick, making more money than them the last decade.

Now I would recommended 135 to new commercial pilots. Get 1500-2500 hours as fast as you can and the see what the majors are doing. At that point you may be able to go straight to a major or do min time at a regional. Meanwhile you will have made a lot more money and avoided the spiraling quality of life we are suffering at the regionals.

I even recommend the college kids do this rather than get sucked into the regional agreements their universities are signing. Don't do something that will commit you to instructing at a university and flying for a regional for years when you can find other avenues that may get you to a major much sooner.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

It's who you know, everything else doesn't matter.

Look at you, you work as Hulas's personal goat rimmer/felcher, and now you push a galley cart up and down the aisle.

 

[sniper]

It's who you know, everything else doesn't matter.

Gojets will not get you there for sure

unless you were a pre furlough pilot and get a recall

 

[pilotyip]

Is there another way, other than the regional airlines, that a CFI can use to gain the experience to eventually get a flying job with the major airlines or cargo carriers like FedEx or UPS? My former CFI decided to become a pilot in the Air Force instead of going to the regional airlines. Military flying isn't for everyone, but what are the alternatives to flying for the regional airlines and gaining the important PIC turbine time?

It will take you approximately 10 years to get to a job that will allow you to start making QOL a goal in your job search. Pilots get hired at good places because they have Turbine PIC, you must build turbine PIC to have control over your career. You have to go wherever that job is that gets you turbine PIC. You stay in that job until you can get another job that gives you better turbine PIC, i.e. Bigger airplanes, Turbojet, 121, etc. It is called paying your dues everyone must do it. Some do it in the military, some do it at the regionals, and some do in the on-demand business. Everyone pays his or her dues.

Any one reading this board can make it as a pilot and eventually make it to a point where they can live on what they make, it may not be a "major", but it might be a good charter operation, a good corporate job, or something involving flying airplanes. It is hard, it is lots of moves, you go where the next job is, it is living in flop houses with 4 other pilots and one bathroom down the hall, it not buying any new underwear for one year, it is driving a car that you jump start from the battery you keep in the apt on a charger, it is being 100% subservient to your bosses wishes until you can move to your next job and he gives you a good recommendation. It is saying no to your mom's birthday party, it is saying no to being home a Christmas. Come to think about it, this sounds alot like being in the Navy, except for the underwear part. They made us get new stuff. You need a talent for flying, you need a most gracious personality that focuses on what you can give and not what you can take, and a goal is sight that you will pursue no matter what.

 

[CX880]

Gojets will not get you there for sure

unless you were a pre furlough pilot and get a recall

Oh ok! FO sho

 

[Jon Rivoli]

It will take you approximately 10 years to get to a job that will allow you to start making QOL a goal in your job search. Pilots get hired at good places because they have Turbine PIC, you must build turbine PIC to have control over your career. You have to go wherever that job is that gets you turbine PIC. You stay in that job until you can get another job that gives you better turbine PIC, i.e. Bigger airplanes, Turbojet, 121, etc. It is called paying your dues everyone must do it. Some do it in the military, some do it at the regionals, and some do in the on-demand business. Everyone pays his or her dues.

Any one reading this board can make it as a pilot and eventually make it to a point where they can live on what they make, it may not be a "major", but it might be a good charter operation, a good corporate job, or something involving flying airplanes. It is hard, it is lots of moves, you go where the next job is, it is living in flop houses with 4 other pilots and one bathroom down the hall, it not buying any new underwear for one year, it is driving a car that you jump start from the battery you keep in the apt on a charger, it is being 100% subservient to your bosses wishes until you can move to your next job and he gives you a good recommendation. It is saying no to your mom's birthday party, it is saying no to being home a Christmas. Come to think about it, this sounds alot like being in the Navy, except for the underwear part. They made us get new stuff. You need a talent for flying, you need a most gracious personality that focuses on what you can give and not what you can take, and a goal is sight that you will pursue no matter what.

Like!

But, as a pilot you should be able to get at least five or six years out of a pair of underwear.

My advice is to buy an RV. That way you can save on rent and crash pads.

 

[pilotyip]

Like!

But, as a pilot you should be able to get at least five or six years out of a pair of underwear.

My advice is to buy an RV. That way you can save on rent and crash pads.

That depends on how often you wash it.

 

[skypine69]

That depends on how often you wash it.

The RV or the underwear?

 

[3GRNDWN]

Work at the major airline you want fly for one day while you're working on your ratings i.e. throwing bags, ticket counter, etc. Also, if you're in college, or plan on going, do an internship one semester with one of the majors. After that, build your time at a regional. These alone won't gaurantee a job at a major of your choosing, but I have seen a large number of regional pilots who have interviewed and been hired at the company they once worked for before becoming a regional pilot.
Also, have something that will set you apart from every other pilot out there - a skill, trade, or life experience. It makes for dull conversation on the job, and in an interview, when a pilot can only hold a conversation if the topic is flying.
And like someone said before, it's all about who you know. That has always been true, in any occupation.

 

[TheRaven]

You want to fly big airplanes with people, the best route would be to start out flying smaller airplanes with people....they're often the same people even.

 

[General Lee]

It doesn't matter really where you get the PIC turbine, even Gojets. The people doing the interviews at the Legacies often have no clue which Regional you fly for. The HR person and retired Captain or current Chief Pilot haven't paid that much attention to what goes on within the industry. You either have the mins and plenty of recommendations, or you don't. You do need to Network, and have a clean record to have a good chance in the interview. Being a Capt at Gojets or Mesa or a Corporate job is not a bad thing. Good luck!


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Freebrd]

How'd you make it in Jenny??????

Left yourself open, had to do it. Happy New Year putz!

 

[Jim]

How'd you make it in Jenny??????

Left yourself open, had to do it. Happy New Year putz!

Why don't you ask that question after you make it?

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Why don't you ask that question after you make it?

In Jennie's case "making it" is a computer suite in his mom's basement and "crash pad" in the laundry room, with a bunk bed and mini fridge full of Code Red Mt.Dew to get him through the long TransAtlantic MS Flt Sim sessions. Lucky for him he has his cat, Mr Bigglesworth to work as relief pilot on those long legs. The biggest coup is the Papa Johns pizza guy will hand the pizzas through the basement(DV) window.......Jenny also has a "sweet" mountain bike that he rides on the lawn just like real DAL pilots do.

 

[Flying Ninja]

Hmm...guess I picked the wrong life to be an airline pilot. *smirk*

 

[Jim]

In Jennie's case "making it" is a computer suite in his mom's basement and "crash pad" in the laundry room, with a bunk bed and mini fridge full of Code Red Mt.Dew to get him through the long TransAtlantic MS Flt Sim sessions. Lucky for him he has his cat, Mr Bigglesworth to work as relief pilot on those long legs. The biggest coup is the Papa Johns pizza guy will hand the pizzas through the basement(DV) window.......Jenny also has a "sweet" mountain bike that he rides on the lawn just like real DAL pilots do.

You have a very imaginative fantasy life, don't you? What's to say your description is what your life is really like? Based on his and your posts, I would put way more faith in General Lee being a Delta pilot than you being any kind of pilot. But I don't know you so I'll never make that statement. The obsessions you and others have with General Lee is unhealthy.