Part 135 to major....

[k2774]

I know that anything is possible, but how frequently do you think majors hire individuals from a pt 135 operation?

 

[dojetdriver]

I know that anything is possible, but how frequently do you think majors hire individuals from a pt 135 operation?

I would say not often. And if a guy is hired from 135 to a major, there were probably a couple things involved. 1. Highly connected, lots of recs or a rec from somebody high up 2. Extremely qualified, lots of time as well as large 135 time. Like a G4/5 or Global Express flying international 3. Both. The job market is tough. Demand for the labor of skilled pilots is relatively low, supply of skilled pilots is high.

Airline will hire from a broad spectrum, Military, prior 121, 135, ect. But one thing has ALWAYS been true. Airlines like to hire airline pilots.

I know, somebody will chime in with "I know a guy that got hire be XYZ and all he ever flew was a kingair."

 

[frmrBUFFdrvr]

I know that anything is possible, but how frequently do you think majors hire individuals from a pt 135 operation?

The answer is mixed because there is no standard part 135 operator. If you are flying for an operation that only flys piston twins or single engine turbine, I would say your odds are very low. But if you are with an operator who has larger turbine ME aircraft, your odds are much better. Being an Ameriflight pilot, I know our stats best. And I know several guys who have gone to major airlines. All the ones I know have been flying SA227 or E120 aircraft.

No matter what, the comment on the previous post about lots of recs is going to be true no matter what you are flying. Considering how many technically qualified pilots there are, who you know becomes much more important.

 

[Sgt. Hartman]

Companies like AirNet and Ameriflight are a completely different breed of 135 operators versus your local FBO with one CJ2 on a charter certificate. Now I'm not saying that one set of pilots are better than the other(<----- that's my disclaimer) but companies like that are pretty much like flying 121 without having to contact "ramp tower".

Bottom line is that pilots are pilots and I don't think that one group is better than another as a whole. Individuals may be better than other individuals but that is a discussion for a whole other time that most people (myself included) really don't want to get into.

 

[brokeflyer]

I was offered a job with NWA flying 135 but they couldnt match my salary.

 

[RedDogC130]

I started my flying at a 135 operator flying Lears. All of my time execpt about 10-15% is with that company. I went to fly in the Guard on the C-130 but that only accounts for about 500 hours max. So minus the little mil time I have, I would say it is possible to go from a 135 operator to a big airline. Another guy in my class here at SWA was from Flight Options and nothing else. He is a great guy and that is why he got the job, not the aircraft he was flying. An airline can teach a person to fly the plane the way they want but they can't teach someone not to be an a-hole.

 

[kilroy]

A buddy of mine I wrote a LOR for got in to SWA with zero 121 time all 135 nothing else.

 

[texarkana]

Get time in turbine equipment then make some important friends

 

[CMI]

I would say not often. And if a guy is hired from 135 to a major, there were probably a couple things involved. 1. Highly connected, lots of recs or a rec from somebody high up 2. Extremely qualified, lots of time as well as large 135 time. Like a G4/5 or Global Express flying international 3. Both. The job market is tough. Demand for the labor of skilled pilots is relatively low, supply of skilled pilots is high.

Airline will hire from a broad spectrum, Military, prior 121, 135, ect. But one thing has ALWAYS been true. Airlines like to hire airline pilots.

I know, somebody will chime in with "I know a guy that got hire be XYZ and all he ever flew was a kingair."

haha! Regional sucker. Airlines like to hire good pilots with internal recommendations. No one gives a Fu*k where you got your turbine time. I have run into guys at majors that were 91 corporate, 135 cargo, and a lot more were military. I know four guys that were freight dogs that just got hired at Spirit. Seems the chief at Spirit use to be a freight dog.

 

[dojetdriver]

haha! Regional sucker. Airlines like to hire good pilots with internal recommendations. No one gives a Fu*k where you got your turbine time. I have run into guys at majors that were 91 corporate, 135 cargo, and a lot more were military. I know four guys that were freight dogs that just got hired at Spirit. Seems the chief at Spirit use to be a freight dog.

Wow dude, you sure read alot into that. I never said it can't be done, just not all that common for a guy with ABSOLUTELY no connections to get a job at a major flying 135 ONLY. Especially if it's a 135 that is small and relatively unheard of. A well known fractional, sure. A large 135 cargo outfit like Amflight, sure. Like I said, the supply is huge, the demand is low. If you were to do a rundown of the "majors" new class demographics, how many 135 only guys are in there? Yeah, a few. But not as many as guys with 121/military time. I never said a 135 guy is less of a pilot than a 121 pilot.

Is Spirit considered a "major".

Switch to de-caf, "sucker".

 

[Hawkster54]

But I though there's a rule that in order to accomplish anything worthwhile in the aviation industry you have to fly 121? (sarcasm)

 

[CMI]

But I though there's a rule that in order to accomplish anything worthwhile in the aviation industry you have to fly 121? (sarcasm)

Only if you are 121 dumbjetdriver. :laugh:

 

[dojetdriver]

Only if you are 121 dumbjetdriver. :laugh:

Wow, good one! Keep them coming! Name calling, always the sign of upmost maturity. Read what I wrote again. I never put anybody down, just stating some realities of the job market.

Again, educate me. Is Spirit classified as a major?

http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2006/bts029_06/html/bts029_06.html#table_07

First quarter only shows $114,800,000 for 2006. Seriously doubt they bridged the gap to 1 billion in the following quarters. Not picking on Spirit, but you brought them up.

That was the original question. 135 to major.

 

[DrProc]

Wow, good one! Keep them coming! Name calling, always the sign of upmost maturity. Read what I wrote again. I never put anybody down, just stating some realities of the job market.

Again, educate me. Is Spirit classified as a major?

http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2006/bts029_06/html/bts029_06.html#table_07

First quarter only shows $114,800,000 for 2006. Seriously doubt they bridged the gap to 1 billion in the following quarters. Not picking on Spirit, but you brought them up.

That was the original question. 135 to major.

Well, if you are going to classify a major like that, then yes a lot of people have gotten into Skywest, Comair, AE, which are all majors by your definition. I think the original poster meant companies like Southwest, FedEx, Delta, Continental. What bean counters consider majors are not necessarily what pilots consider majors.

 

[RightTraffic]

Two guys just left my company for Spirit and one guy left to Florida West (767s) and none of them had any jet time. All part 135 SA227 and SF340. It really comes down to who knows you!

 

[dojetdriver]

Well, if you are going to classify a major like that, then yes a lot of people have gotten into Skywest, Comair, AE, which are all majors by your definition. I think the original poster meant companies like Southwest, FedEx, Delta, Continental. What bean counters consider majors are not necessarily what pilots consider majors.

It's not MY defintion, it's what the DOT classifies as a MAJOR. If what his name had a friend get on a Spririt from 135, great for him. I'm happy. DOT doesn't classify Spirit as a major, would you?

 

[Freight Dog]

By DOT definition, American Eagle is a major. I think we'd all disagree with notion considering Eagle a major airline.

I think it's more along the lines of equipment/pay/work rules/retirement.

 

[DrProc]

It's not MY defintion, it's what the DOT classifies as a MAJOR. If what his name had a friend get on a Spririt from 135, great for him. I'm happy. DOT doesn't classify Spirit as a major, would you?

No, Spirit isn't a major but it is a step up from Eagle or Skywest most pilots would agree, although you and the DOT don't agree.

 

[landlover]

happens all the time, jet pic is the trump card!

 

[dojetdriver]

happens all the time, jet pic is the trump card!

Careful, some guys flying 135 turbo prop on here might get their fragile ego's bruised. Then resort to calling you names like "dumblover" or something.

 

[starchkr]

I'll throw my card in the mix...

hired with Frontier a year ago (yes it's a major, by my and the DOT's standards)...

here's the kicker...absolutely NO recconmendations, and only 135 time, sure it was with Airnet in the lear for a couple of years, but it goes to show anything is possible...oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt i spent 3 years bugging the crap out of them for an interview.

 

[Windsor]

happens all the time, jet pic is the trump card!

Why else would we put up with the crap of flying 135.

Southwest hires guys with straight 135 time. Happens more than you might think.

 

[FR8dognit]

Why else would we put up with the crap of flying 135.

Southwest hires guys with straight 135 time. Happens more than you might think.

90% of my time was pt 135 (Cherry Air)....in the three classes after me 3 more of my buddies from Cherry made the leap (2 were not straight from there; but they worked there at one point). None of us had anything but Part 135 time. I don't know about all the other airlines but it seems as if you have the time you are qualified.

Get the interview, smile, and impress them and I would say you have as good a shot as anyone else with us.

To give you an example...the day I interviewed there were 17 of us....3 got the job. Not one of us were former pt. 121 drivers. (2 Air Force and me)

Get into the left seat of something that burns Jet A...don't waste your time with anything else if you want to go to a major. If all else fails you have the time and you can find a corporate or fractional job. SOMEimp: of those places aren't bad at all and would make for a good life.

 

[cherry20's]

We have had three go to SWA in the last two years? I'd say thats says something about 135 time. I actually think some companys like the time because its real flying. Night, hard IFR, cold and hot weather ops, international flying. But then again there are some that frown at 135 time too.

 

[cherry20's]

Damn, you posted right before I did. That proves something, like I said.

 

[CMI]

Careful, some guys flying 135 turbo prop on here might get their fragile ego's bruised. Then resort to calling you names like "dumblover" or something.

I would say not often. And if a guy is hired from 135 to a major, there were probably a couple things involved. 1. Highly connected, lots of recs or a rec from somebody high up 2. Extremely qualified, lots of time as well as large 135 time. Like a G4/5 or Global Express flying international 3. Both. The job market is tough. Demand for the labor of skilled pilots is relatively low, supply of skilled pilots is high.

Airline will hire from a broad spectrum, Military, prior 121, 135, ect. But one thing has ALWAYS been true. Airlines like to hire airline pilots.

I know, somebody will chime in with "I know a guy that got hire be XYZ and all he ever flew was a kingair."

Ok dumbjetdriver AKA "Regional Sucker". I like my 135 jet job it rocks! No bruised egos here, just you sounding like a dumb a$$. Now go drink a beer, and realize you got owned.
:beer:

 

[dojetdriver]

Ok dumbjetdriver AKA "Regional Sucker". I like my 135 jet job it rocks! No bruised egos here, just you sounding like a dumb a$$ saying only airlines hire airline pilots. Now go drink a beer, and realize you got owned.
:beer:

Um, yeah, sure. Whatever dude. Owned? How old are you? I never said there was anything wrong with a 135 job. Are you sure that you don't have some sensitivity issues?

I never said airlines hire ONLY airline pilots. I just said that they are more of a known quantity than a small/unheard of 135 operator. Not as much as a mil guy is a known quantity, but along the same lines. If you could show me the breakdowns of newhires at "majors" proving that the majority had ONLY 135 time and nothing else, I would admit being at fault. I don't think I'll be admitting anything too soon. Like I said, if you took a snapshot of newhires at FedEx/UPS/DAL/CAL/SW, ect, I'll bet that most are prior 121, supplemental/ACMI, or military.

Go ahead, tell me that the majority of new hires had ONLY 135 experience and only 1 or 2 was 121 or mil. Come on, I'd like to see the data.

Click here, I'm sure that CAL isn't the only one;

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=88528&highlight=CAL+Newhires

Or here;

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=94341

Or for UPS, click here;

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/showthread.php?t=9841

Or for a rough idea on FedEx, click here;

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=84377&highlight=FedEx+Newhires

And more name calling, did you have anything intelligent to bring to the conversation? Again, Owned?

 

[hydroflyer]

Um, could the fact that airlines hire more 121 pilots be due to the fact that a very large majority of pilots at 121 carriers are trying to move up in or stay in 121? Many pilots who go to 135 do so to avoid the regionals and are actually looking to move onto corporate or fractional. In order to make a fair comparison, you would need to compare the number of people who actually got onto a good 121 operator versus those who tried from both 121 and 135 backgrounds. From what I have seen, I doubt those ratios would be a whole lot different. I'll bet the majority of new hires come from 121, and I'll bet the majority of applications sitting in HR at any major 121 company will be from 121 pilots.

 

[dojetdriver]

Um, could the fact that airlines hire more 121 pilots be due to the fact that a very large majority of pilots at 121 carriers are trying to move up in or stay in 121? Many pilots who go to 135 do so to avoid the regionals and are actually looking to move onto corporate or fractional. In order to make a fair comparison, you would need to compare the number of people who actually got onto a good 121 operator versus those who tried from both 121 and 135 backgrounds. From what I have seen, I doubt those ratios would be a whole lot different. I'll bet the majority of new hires come from 121, and I'll bet the majority of applications sitting in HR at any major 121 company will be from 121 pilots.

Um, good point. But that has nothing to do with the orgiginal poster's question. For the 100th time. I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT WHO WAS BETTER! If a 135 only guy wants to go corporate or fractional, great. Get the job you want and be happy. That has nothing to do with the issue of a guy with 135 experince only trying to get on at a 'major".

Make sense?

 

[starchkr]

Hydroflyer is correct in saying that those who go to the 135 operators wish to avoid the regionals(in a lot of cases)...I know i did, why should i fly for free(practically) when a company will actually pay me well to build my time to move onto a major carrier...i never understood the whole "i want to fly for a regional thing"...oh well, for some i guess they believe that is the only way to move up in life. To each there own..

Also, i still believe 135 pilots are superior to those in the current 121 scene. Skills deteriorate when you come to fly these computers we operate now-a-days...again though, who am i, i am just a past 135 guy now flying 121...what do i know right. So there is my argument for you guys, fire away.