mil turboprop vs. civ jet experience

[skywiz]

For anyone who wants to take a shot...

I was wondering for future reference if there is a possibility that minimums might change for getting into the majors. For example, instead of 1000 hrs pic turbine, could it change to 1000 hrs pic turbine jet time?

Reason I ask is that with this recent explosion of the CRJ / ERJs and more "regional guys" getting experience with EFIS / Glass panels / jet time, would it hurt guys ex military guys who have pic time in C-130s, P-3s and E-2s?

If mins did change and majors required glass experience and jet time, are ex mil turboprop pilots supposed to go get nickel and dime wages at a regional prior to getting picked up at a major?

 

[klhoard]

Military Turbo-prop time. . .

I doubt it.


What they're looking for is trainability. . . As a military pilot you're a "known quantity" no matter what you flew on active duty. . .

 

[pilotyip]

P-3/c-130

We find no difference in training Mil 100K+ TP pilots in the DC-9, hard to tell difference when compared to jet pilots out of B-52's, C-141, and KC-135's. In the hiring boom up to 2001, C-130/P-3 was as competitive as jet guys were. In fact down low a light wt P-3B was faster than a DC-9. But you have to watch out if some uninformed person in the HR dept makes a decision about the quality of the TP time. I applied at Midway Airlines back in 1996; they wanted those with 1000 hours of jet time only, so I never got a call. (Which may have been good, considering), but two years later I meet the Midway recruiter at an Air Inc job fair, I asked why they would not accept P-3/Electra flight time. He said they hired C-130 guys out of Pope. I explained my situation and his response was you should have called me. So if you get turned down go to someone who understands what the various airplanes do.

 

[enigma]

If mins did change and majors required glass experience and jet time, are ex mil turboprop pilots supposed to go get nickel and dime wages at a regional prior to getting picked up at a major?

Excuse me, but what's that supposed to mean? Are you too good to fly an regional jet? Do you have some God given RIGHT to going straight to a major?

If you ever struggle to understand why civilian trained pilots sometimes look at you with disgust, I suggest that you look back at this conversation. We civilians DO understand that you guys are darn good pilots, well educated, proven, trainable, etc. I for one don't begrudge you anything, except your attitude.

Brother, I know too many military trained fighter pilots who started out their civilian career at the regional/commuter level to have any sympathy for you.

Why do I feel that I've been suckered and that this post was just flame bait?

enigma

 

[tubelo]

Originally Posted by skywiz
"If mins did change and majors required glass experience and jet time, are ex mil turboprop pilots supposed to go get nickel and dime wages at a regional prior to getting picked up at a major?"





I am currently counting my nickels and dimes at a regional. In my class were 2 C-130 drivers, a Harrier driver, an F-14 driver, and myself a helo guy. The rest were very experienced civilian pilots, many coming from another regional. If you are lucky to go straight to a major, than good for you, but the times, they are a changin. Good luck.

 

[ThisistheDream]

Any quality (PIC) military time will help you out 100x times over the quality (PIC) civilian pilot. It could navy king air, C-130 or f-16. The big airlines SWA, FEDX, UPS will take more military pilots anyday. Just look at the numbers of current interviews at those airlines with military exp. vs. not.

 

[pilotyip]

Take the regional job

Any mil aviator who gets out and waits for a major to hire them could be waiting a long time. Being out of flying position for a long time makes it harder to get hired, this particuarily true in lean hiring times. So take any flying job you can get and start shopping. It takes a flying job to get a flying job. Recruitersgo, if you like to fly so much, how come you have not flown in the past year?

 

[BRA]

It sounded like to me that he would fly an RJ....he just wants to be paid respectably. 20K-25K first year is tuff.

 

[SWA/FO]

NO, no difference

 

[dudemize]

I think you would be better off to keep flying military. If you are separating and need a job, try and get a good reserve job somewhere and just fly for them until you can get the job you are looking for. I think maximizing your PIC time in the military will be much better than logging SIC at a regional. Plus you'll get paid a lot better. I don't see any reason why you couldn't go direct to your airline of choice.