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Importance of Flight Currency when Searching for a Job

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As long as you can show that you are bettering yourself, in aviation or out. I really don't see why the timing of the move would matter at all. So what if you left preemptively, as long as you can make a coherent case of bettering yourself. Which includes job stability BTW. Then whats the problem?

Is this some airline specific union thing, I'm not airline nor union. In Corporate aviation and yes we've hired folks that have been out of the game before.
 
the old adage still applies, "It takes a flying job, to get a flying job" been there done that
 
So is this why when someone resigns for personal reasons they are usually 86'ed by the airline they were working for?? They feel you did it once you will do it again?? I have found that there is NO excuse good enough for a company to consider you again in the future.. even if its been 10 years!..

The practice seems arcaine(sp?) to me and unreasonable consider the myriad of things thsat can happen to somone over their working life..

You're missing the big picture.

There's no "practice," arcane, or otherwise.

If you're not current, you're not competitive. Nothing to do with being penalized for not being in the cockpit...but if you want consideration for a flying position and must compete for that job against someone who is current and active, you've got a disadvantage. It's that simple, and there's nothing "arcane" about it.

As long as you can show that you are bettering yourself, in aviation or out. I really don't see why the timing of the move would matter at all. So what if you left preemptively, as long as you can make a coherent case of bettering yourself.

It's not about "bettering" yourself.

It's about being the most attractive to an employer for the advertised position. It's about being competitive. Being employed as a pilot is a big advantage when seeking employment as a pilot.

You don't get a chance to "make a coherent case" unless you get an interview, first.
 
As long as you can show that you are bettering yourself, in aviation or out. I really don't see why the timing of the move would matter at all. So what if you left preemptively, as long as you can make a coherent case of bettering yourself. Which includes job stability BTW. Then whats the problem?

Is this some airline specific union thing, I'm not airline nor union. In Corporate aviation and yes we've hired folks that have been out of the game before.

this is wrong. We as pilots don't make the rules- and if I did- I'd want the pilot passionate enough to stay in the flt deck. If you want to make some money on the side and fly less at your company- knock yourself out- but I wouldn't want to hire a fair weather pilot career wise any more than I would want a fair weather pilot, weather wise.

Too many of us have had to nut up during down times to consider the guy unwilling to do the same.

Maybe not fair or smart- but it is what it is- after 9/11- I remember saying to friends- well.... We're going to see who really likes to fly now... If you're goal is a regional or corporate gig- you can get away with some time off- most majors-ESP the well paying ones left- doubtful- it is what it is. But I do applaud you checking your options and being willing and able to do something else
 
That being said-
I'd PM Albie- or call emerald coast- they're the experts
 
You want to be a pilot you stay in a cockpit. It is 1982, there no jobs, it was as bad or worse than today. I have had three jobs in the last five years. So I start my own business. I stay current in the P-3, ck airman, now hiring starts again in 1985, I am 42, who gets hired, the 35 year-old guys in my reserve P-3 unit, less flight time. By the time my age is again attractive, I have been promoted out of the Naval Reserve flying and the airlines tell me I am not current in big airplanes. So I go to a work for a commuter, it goes out of business and the 1992 lay off period has started. Not being current in anything but a SEL hurt my chances in the late 80's to get on at a major. BTW I am also going to bet the airlines have seen a higher turnover in pilots who dropped out and now want to come back, because if you don't like flying airplanes, this job can suck.
 
You want to be a pilot you stay in a cockpit. It is 1982, there no jobs, it was as bad or worse than today. I have had three jobs in the last five years. So I start my own business. I stay current in the P-3, ck airman, now hiring starts again in 1985, I am 42, who gets hired, the 35 year-old guys in my reserve P-3 unit, less flight time. By the time my age is again attractive, I have been promoted out of the Naval Reserve flying and the airlines tell me I am not current in big airplanes. So I go to a work for a commuter, it goes out of business and the 1992 lay off period has started. Not being current in anything but a SEL hurt my chances in the late 80's to get on at a major. BTW I am also going to bet the airlines have seen a higher turnover in pilots who dropped out and now want to come back, because if you don't like flying airplanes, this job can suck.
Wow. A post from YIP that I agree with 100%.

I think that happens like what, maybe once a year? ;)
 
Thanks for all the insight everyone. That is exactly what I was looking for, real-world examples of this type of thing happening. Don't get me wrong, I am one of those who absolutely loves flying and I would really miss it if I had to get out for a few years, its just the thought of making basically no money for the next three years until things turn around that has me considering other options. Looks like I'll stay grinding it out in the Beech waiting for clearer skies. Thanks again guys.
 
If you look at the industry as it is right now, there are thousands of unemployed pilots. Is someone suggesting those thousands are now completely unemployable? Albeit many are furloughed, so they may or may not have a job if and when they are recalled. Then you have the masses that either the company went belly up or flight department just phased out. Again, all of them are unemployable as well?

As stated, the most difficult issue will be getting that interview. Does that mean it is impossible? I don't think so, things happen, it all starts with the opportunity to interview. Not getting too far off course, may of the interviews in the last hiring spree was less on what you knew (technical or otherwise) and more on who you were as a person. They know you can fly a plane, they were more interested in the type of person you are.

I do agree though, if you take the break, it needs to be worthwhile and reasonable. Taking a break due to family issue's or to enhance your education looks better than taking a break to work at Wally world.

The reason airlines want your last 6 months of currency? They don't want to have to retrain you to fly in instrument conditions. Ironically, at one company I worked for, they hired a guy who was current. VFR current, he had not flown instruments in years. It took him 15 sessions in the sim to get his proficiency back. So, being current is subjective at best and a astute recruiter knows that.
 
No one's saying they're unemployable.

What we're saying is that, compared to someone who IS current, the airlines are going to give preference to the guy/gal who stuck with it and stayed current versus someone who VOLUNTARILY bailed when things got rough. This has been proven time and time again.

The furloughed people with recall RIGHTS are a completely different story. The airline HAS to retrain those pilots. If it takes 15 sim sessions because they are completely instrument non-current for 2 years, well, that's the price the airline pays for furloughing someone. Too bad, so sad, airline eats the $6,000 per sim session.

The people whose carriers went under who went non-current? Yeah, for the most part, unless they're carrying a Letter of Rec from the CEO or V.P. of Flt Ops? Yeah, they're going to get passed over in favor of the RJ Captains who are current and qualified. It's just the way the recruiters work. Always has been...

Once the pool of experienced RJ Captains has dried up (and that's going to be a LONG, LONG time), they'll look at the 2-3+ YEAR non-current pilots more, but again, the stigma of VOLUNTARILY leaving a flying job for a while is pretty bad.

But like the previous poster said, don't take my word for it. Give Albie a shout over at Emerald Coast. He'll likely answer your question free of charge, and you won't get a more accurate assessment of hiring issues.
 

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