Glider Time and The Interview

[Goose Egg]

Hey guys,

I think we just got done with a healthy debate about college degrees and airline interviews, and we probably beat that one to death (through no fault of my own, wink, wink...) Anyway, I have a question that has the potential to turn into another hot one.

I am currently working on my commercial glider add-on, and shortly thereafter I'll be working on my CFI-G add on. I am thrilled about this opportunity because it is something that I have always wanted to do.

Anyway, I have heard some various things about airlines and glider time; that they don't count it as total or "real" time, and that they want you to leave it off your resume. Now, these are just some wild rumors from my fellow instructors, but I wonder if there is any substance to them.

I'm just sort of wondering how some of you guys who are "dialed in" to the airline/charter/corporate hiring process feel about it. I'm not at a crossroads, however; I've wanted to do this for a long time and I'm darn well going to do it.

Thanks in advance,
Goose

 

[Vik]

I know one airline whose minimums page always has a mention about glider time and thats Skywest, check it out.

http://www.skywest.com/career/pilot/minimum.php

Pilots that have come to learn how to fly pistons from a glider background have excellent stick and rudder skills. Some of that experience should be counted.

 

[bobbysamd]

Glider time

Glider time, in and of itself, is undoubtedly valuable for airmanship, but may not count much toward your paper qualifications (where "TJPIC," of course, is the sole and ultimate determinant ). But, glider time can really help during an interview. It is a great conversation piece that can create rapport opportunities with your interviewer.

I had an instructor colleague at ERAU who was a glider instructor. He was called in to interview with Express I in Memphis. It turned out that his interviewer was also a glider pilot. He told us they started talking about gliders, they hit it off, and guess what? The "rest of the story," as Paul Harvey puts it, is he was hired.

Airmanship aside, for that reason alone I would do it. Good luck with soaring.

 

[Goose Egg]

Thanks Vik, Bobby.

I'd actually really like to work for SkyWest because that'd take me back home. In fact, the college where I got my degree has some sort of loose connections with the airline, but I ended up moving to the east coast because of a local glut of flight instructors post 9/11. And now that I could go back and be employed, I have too good of a job here to up and leave. So, I'm hangin' out for now. Let's hope that the regionals, SkyWest in particular, keep up the hiring pace for enough time to let me get a few hundred more hours. I guess we'll have to see what happens--some completely different opportunity might open up in a completely different place.

-Goose

 

[Goose Egg]

I have a question that has the potential to turn into another hot one.

Or not, apparently.

-Goose

 

[Steve]

This subject was discussed a few months ago. try a search