"My LOR said that my PIC time was on the low side, but I have stacks of SIC on two different jets, mostly international. Seems like everyone is going the SWA way in these times of competition.That's not surprising considering the number of times I have been laid off and had to start over. It's kinda of hard to accumulate lots of PIC time when you have been unemployed long term and no one has responded to your many efforts.
I wonder how it was possible to have gotten hired for a FO in all my previous jobs and then gotten the ratings - all without increase in my PIC time. I believe this is where the key is and also that ATA have hired a number of furloughed, yet current captains with 10k+ who are obviously more competitive.
And I thought that it's not always those who are technically more qualified than you that get hired. Must have been reading the wrong book........I'll keep dreaming."
My PIC time consists of 1025 hours on a Beech 1900 6 years ago, my last captain time.
My LOR came from a classmate of mine from college whom I've never flown with. He mentioned nothing about flying in the letter.
I don't think I'm more or less qualified than the 10's of thousands of pilots looking for a job these days. Whether they be furloughed major airline pilots(I am one), "regional" pilots looking for supposedly greener pastures(I used to be one), or military guys/gals who are tired of being shot at(I'm too chickensh*t to be one), there are just waaaayyy more people looking for jobs than there are jobs available right now.
I've had applications in at a few other places, including Jet Blue (I'm typed in the 320 and was flying it every day as an FO when I applied), for a couple of years and have heard nothing from them. It's just the nature of the market now..supply and demand.
ATA does offer one unique opportunity in the application process...the essay questions. These give you the chance to point out what's different about you and why they should interview you over the 7000 other resume's they recieve. No other airline gives you this opportunity, and I think it shows what kind of a company ATA is, they interview people who happen to be pilots, not the other way around. I think Jet Blue, and now SWA hire the same way, but don't pick who interviews this way. How can a computer pick a person? It is probably a cost saving tool for ATA as they hire about 66% of those that interview. Not sure what the percentage is a SWA or Jet Blue but I bet it's a little lower.
Like anyone's, my set of circumstances are unique to me. When answering the ATA essays I tried to paint an accurate picture of who I am, what decisions I've made, and how I've dealt with the consequences of those decisions. I guess they liked the picture.
As it turns out, I think I will be happier at ATA than I would have been anywhere else including where I got furloughed from, but that's just me and my preference for the type of flying/corporate culture that ATA offers.
Good Luck..stay focused.
