Prior Military

[BrianNYC]

Hello:

My name is Brian, I'm a 17 year old junior from NYC. I'm new to this website but I had a few questions.

Say I went to a college and majored in something like aviation science, took flying lessons and did Air Force ROTC wanting to become a pilot. However I wasn't selected for a pilot training and went into the Air Force in a non-flying job for 4 or 6 years, and then left the Air Force wanted to become an airline pilot at age 26 or 28. Would the 4 or 6 years I spent in the Air Force hurt me when they are considering hiring me since I have been away from flying for several years? Also, would I have a lower salary than a 26 or 28 year old who started flying for the airlines right out of college?

My second question was similar to the first. Say I was selected for pilot training in the Air Force, and I spent 10 on active duty in the Air Force as a pilot. After that 10 years say I decided to leave the Air Force and go into the airlines. Would that 10 years experiance flying in the Air Force be the same as 10 years experience flying for the airlines when trying to get hired? Meaning would you get the same salary and the same oppertunities for advancement (moving from 1st officer to captian, ect)?

My last question was, if your eventual goal was to fly airliners, would flying helicopters in the military hurt you when you are trying to get hired later on by the airlines?

Thank you in advacne for replying.

-Brian

 

[cougar6903]

Hello:

Also, would I have a lower salary than a 26 or 28 year old who started flying for the airlines right out of college?

-Brian [/QUOTE

No need to worry, nobody is getting on with the airlines out of college. Go surv you country and be proud of you job, even if its not the drivers seat.

 

[SuperFLUF]

Brian,

Airline pilot salaries and advancement are not based on qualifications and/or previous experience. That is all seniority based.

Qualifications get you hired. After that, as long as you pass your checkrides every year and stay out of trouble, your pay and advancement move along with your seniority. You get a pay raise every year for about the first 12 or so. A pay raise when your seniority allows you to move to bigger equipment and a pay raise when your seniority allows you to move to the left seat.

Military service is a good qualification to have for any job and military flight training is an especially good qualification for a piloting job. As far as the helicopter thing, I believe most airlines consider it towards your pilot-in-command experience but you need to have at least enough fixed-wing time to meet the other minimum requirements.


Another consideration is that airlines like to hire pilots that have experience in the same or similar operations. Military pilots that have two man crew type flight experience are preferred over single seat fighter pilots....etc. Or if you don't go the military route, "commuter" airline pilots are preferred over cargo or biz jet pilots. All types can get hired but some types of experience can give you an advantage because it makes you easier to train and can save the airline money.

Good luck.

 

[Mogus]

If the airlines are your goal, don't join the military for solely that purpose. You won't be happy.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I did AFROTC, then helos, then jets, then the airlines.

Non-flying time in the mil will hurt you because you miss out of the flying time U otherwise would have gotten, but not because U weren't flying.

Helo time doesn't count for much of anything.

If you want to make the most money/fly the longes at a "good" airline, do NOT go into the military (at leats active duty). Mil guys fly very little. If you want to go mil and fly, go Guard or Reserve. They fly more than active duty, and you can fly full-time for someone else. You can also get PIC time sooner going Guard Reserve than civilian (at least of a large-crew aircraft).

Cliff
DTW
PM me if U have more ?

 

[TR4A]

Would the 4 or 6 years I spent in the Air Force hurt me when they are considering hiring me since I have been away from flying for several years? Also, would I have a lower salary than a 26 or 28 year old who started flying for the airlines right out of college?

First. Seniority is everything in the airlines. The sooner you are hired the better.

I am an ex-USAF pilot, T-38 and C-130, who served eight years. I have been working in the airlines for 14 years. Ten with my current airline.

The 4 to 6 years "Non-rated" will just mean that your career was delayed that much. Pay is based on equipment you fly and how long you have been employeed.

Would that 10 years experiance flying in the Air Force be the same as 10 years experience flying for the airlines when trying to get hired? Meaning would you get the same salary and the same oppertunities for advancement (moving from 1st officer to captian, ect)?

Equipment and seat position you fly and longevity determine pay. Seniority is everything. The experience and training you will receive in the military is excellent. But, you will serve around 10 years.

My last question was, if your eventual goal was to fly airliners, would flying helicopters in the military hurt you when you are trying to get hired later on by the airlines?

Some airlines will not consider rotary wing time like the airline I fly for.

Options:

1. Active duty military, 10+ year commitment.

2. Reserve/Guard military, allowed to work for airlines when you have the experience.

3. Civilian. Expensive, but you could get hired younger than Military.

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