Shot at a legacy

[spitfire1500]

Do the jobs no one else wants to do, live in the places no one else wants to live and in a couple of years folks will talk about how you "lucked" into a great job.

Exactly.....

 

[Dan Roman]

I thought HA emphasized hiring only locals; is that just a false rumor?

Totally false, being local is certainly a plus, but I would say most of the new hires I fly with are from the mainland. There simply is no set demographic.
I can't tell you the exact numbers, just the new hires I fly with in the AirBus.

 

[dougdrvr]

Ooops, I thought, with the title of this thread, that it would be about gun control?

 

[ROSWELL41]

I would say 121 experience is important along with time in a Boeing, Airbus or Douglas. Those things would be more impressive than time in a 1900 or BE99. Much of the advice guys give is very 1980's/1990's hiring. We haven't seen much hiring in a while and HR is much more in control than in years past. Jet time and glass time are also must haves.

 

[cfi_greg]

Here's a question, been sitting right seat in an rj for 6 years 5k plus hrs there, took the upgrade in the brasilia getting some great experience and some turbo prop pic, should I transition back to the jet or does it matter where the pic time comes from since I already have a ton of rj time?

 

[SXMp2c]

Here's a question, been sitting right seat in an rj for 6 years 5k plus hrs there, took the upgrade in the brasilia getting some great experience and some turbo prop pic, should I transition back to the jet or does it matter where the pic time comes from since I already have a ton of rj time?

Get the TPIC

 

[SWAdude]

Get the TPIC

I would agree.

Then if you can without taking a big QOL hit, transition back to the RJ as a Captain.

And there is some guess work these days since hiring hasn't been happening for largely 5 plus years. But some things never have seemed to change through the years like networking and burning bridges. You can know 100 people that will love you, but the one that doesn't can trump the other 100.

 

[eaglesview]

Here's a question, been sitting right seat in an rj for 6 years 5k plus hrs there, took the upgrade in the brasilia getting some great experience and some turbo prop pic, should I transition back to the jet or does it matter where the pic time comes from since I already have a ton of rj time?

Doesn't matter.

 

[check six]

Thanks for all the comments. Checked the box for:
1. Not a db
2. 400 SIC turbojet
3. College degree (not meant as flamebait)
4. ATP

Also, latest at Gojet is capt upgrades in 3 months.

Check Six

 

[cfi_greg]

But it's Go Jet, don't chase the upgrade, in the end you never win.

 

[General Lee]

There is no problem with Gojet. Most interviewers are Captains or HR people. Most of them have no idea what other pilots think of Gojets, and they themselves have probably never heard of it. The big deal is to not get into trouble with the FAA. 1000 hrs PIC at Gojets is just as good as other PIC in the minds of most interviewers.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[SXMp2c]

no gojets

for the love of god, no gojets

 

[ROSWELL41]

Focus first on networking. Networking can overcome any other shortfalls on your resume presuming you meet the basic minimums where you are applying. If you are thinking in terms of only 'where can I get TPIC?' or 'where can I get jet time?', then you are way behind the power curve. I can't emphasize the networking part of this equation enough.

 

[dollacrackho]

I don't know about networking anymore. You're sending your app off to some company that inputs your data into a computer which then scores you based on the attributes they're looking for and then gives them a bunch of names. The fact that your neighbor used to play tetherball with a check airman at fed ex doesn't impress the computer. Unless you personally know a head honcho that can circumvent the screening process your data goes in like everyone else's. Once you do get the interview though networking can probably help.

 

[inline]

I have recently learned some things about the decision process at both Hawaiian and Alaska. One thing that has happened in the last 5 years is that the HR departments at both respective airlines have gained an even stronger hold on the hiring process. Aside from the degree, time mins, already mentioned here, both of these airlines like to see VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE time. There are hundreds if not thousands of pilots applying out there right now with 5,000 hours JET with 2,000 PIC jet, so now they have to differentiate, and the high scorer right now is volunter/community service.

Just tell these HR liberals you volunteered for ACORN and you'll be in the next class.

 

[GogglesPisano]

I don't know about networking anymore. You're sending your app off to some company that inputs your data into a computer which then scores you based on the attributes they're looking for and then gives them a bunch of names. The fact that your neighbor used to play tetherball with a check airman at fed ex doesn't impress the computer. Unless you personally know a head honcho that can circumvent the screening process your data goes in like everyone else's. Once you do get the interview though networking can probably help.

That computer also awards points for internal LOR's.

 

[Dash Power]

I don't know about networking anymore. You're sending your app off to some company that inputs your data into a computer which then scores you based on the attributes they're looking for and then gives them a bunch of names. The fact that your neighbor used to play tetherball with a check airman at fed ex doesn't impress the computer. Unless you personally know a head honcho that can circumvent the screening process your data goes in like everyone else's. Once you do get the interview though networking can probably help.

I have had 11 flying jobs in my career and I would have not had any of those if I didn't know someone inside, I think.

Networking is your single best asset. And don't ever leave anything other than positive. In other words, if you make the wrong enemy, and you never know where they are going to show up, you can be toast in maybe more than one company.

 

[igneousy2]

I don't know about networking anymore. You're sending your app off to some company that inputs your data into a computer which then scores you based on the attributes they're looking for and then gives them a bunch of names. The fact that your neighbor used to play tetherball with a check airman at fed ex doesn't impress the computer. Unless you personally know a head honcho that can circumvent the screening process your data goes in like everyone else's. Once you do get the interview though networking can probably help.

Not true at Alaska. Yes you are ranked, and if you don't "score" high enough, nobody can help you, but somebody going to bat for you presuming you made a cut-off score can absolutely pull your resume off the bottom of the pile.

 

[HA25]

Suck it up get your 1000 PIC Turbine then go park yourself at a good place to wait it out. Watched many guys stay at Ameriflight or Lakes get there time while everyone was running to the regionals only to come to the regionals after them and get they legacy job before them because they could check the box. I didn't do this just got lucky being the the left seat when upgrades were quick and no one was hiring.

Chairman

flew with quite a few captains in their early 40's at Hawaiian who had nothing more than FAR 135 or 121 small turboprop PIC when hired... says a lot.

 

[Dash Power]

flew with quite a few captains in their early 40's at Hawaiian who had nothing more than FAR 135 or 121 small turboprop PIC when hired... says a lot.

When were they hired?

 

[Dan Roman]

When were they hired?

We have always hired pilots that fit that background, even today. Most hired have large jet time, but not all. Quite a few come out of Island Air. FWIW I don't see a huge difference in skill levels relative to background. It's mostly attitude and how serious they are about learning. Over the years I've flown with relatively low time guys here and elsewhere that do an outstanding job.

 

[Dan Roman]

But if you are wondering, the pilots hired about 4 years ago are now becoming junior Captains. A lot of them are ex Aloha, but not all.

 

[Dan Roman]

Not true at Alaska. Yes you are ranked, and if you don't "score" high enough, nobody can help you, but somebody going to bat for you presuming you made a cut-off score can absolutely pull your resume off the bottom of the pile.

That sounds similar to HA

 

[Dash Power]

But if you are wondering, the pilots hired about 4 years ago are now becoming junior Captains. A lot of them are ex Aloha, but not all.

Are those the captains mentioned above that are in their early 40's and "who had nothing more than FAR 135 or 121 small turboprop PIC when hired."

 

[CesnaCaptn]

Neither Hawaiian nor Alaska are typical in the way they find their new hire pilots. It seems they both rely heavily on internal recommendations. For the "typical" applicant who will be one of 1000s applying to DAL, AA, and UA going forward you can't use what works at those smaller legacies.

 

[poor2thecore]

Does Alaska have a TPIC requirement? I remember hearing about some Horizon FO's going over a couple years ago.

 

[Dan Roman]

Neither Hawaiian nor Alaska are typical in the way they find their new hire pilots. It seems they both rely heavily on internal recommendations. For the "typical" applicant who will be one of 1000s applying to DAL, AA, and UA going forward you can't use what works at those smaller legacies.

Very good point

 

[Dash Power]

Neither Hawaiian nor Alaska are typical in the way they find their new hire pilots. It seems they both rely heavily on internal recommendations. For the "typical" applicant who will be one of 1000s applying to DAL, AA, and UA going forward you can't use what works at those smaller legacies.

They are both popular airlines with smaller hiring needs. They have the luxury to be more selective than maybe the larger carriers.

SWA has always relied heavily on internal recommendations and it has worked well for us.

 

[Dan Roman]

Are those the captains mentioned above that are in their early 40's and "who had nothing more than FAR 135 or 121 small turboprop PIC when hired."

No, those would be guys hired in the 90's or early 2000's, from 2001 till about 4 years ago we didn't hire. The pilots upgrading now are typically ex Aloha. Although not all.

 

[Dan Roman]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if some of those upgrading now are in fact upgrading in a large jet for the first time. We have always hired local gen av (135, Island Air, inter island cargo, etc).