SWA/FedEx competitiveness

[GasPasser]

Am I competitive w/o having been an IP? Any Military guys (AD/ANG/RES) get interviewed lately that were not IPs? Any success stories w/o IP status?



I am a "guard baby"; never did AD time other than for training or activations. I've had a non-flying civilian career ('real job') since before I went to UPT, I try to keep the impact to my employer due to time off for military duty to a minimum. So I have turned down the opportunity to upgrade to IP numerous times. Is this going to hurt my chances of being called for an interview? I feel I can address the 'why aren't you an IP' question to their satisfaction in an interview, but I need to be called for one to address their concern (if they are concerned).



FYI: FE written very current, 737 Type soon to come! Nearly 2,000 ME Turbine PIC.



Thanks in advance for you help!

 

[Creamer]

It will definately help if you are an IP. Most military types have been an IP at some time and the assumption the interviewers make will be that you are really a slugo if you are not. I know SWA likes IP and EP experience. It shows normal flying progression.

It sounds like you have made the decision to be an airline pilot as your primary profession. If that is the case, then it is probably time to go to Altus and get your IP stamp. Your 737 type will cost about 8K, but you can earn that much by getting paid at IP school. If you do both it will greatly increase your chances.

Good luck to you.

 

[kelbill]

Without the 737 type done yet, don't expect SWA to call. Not required, but then again, if the guys you are competing against have it, it kind of is required. With 3000 hours, sounds like you have been in the Guard quite a while, since you weren't AD. If I understand this properly, you want to LEAVE your current employer/real job, but you won't upgrade to IP because you don't want to burden him/her. Doesn't make sense to me. You are shooting yourself in the foot if you plan to leave to come to the airlines, as yes, we expect you to be a full time airline pilot (except for the guard) should you get hired. Get off your butt and get typed and go to IP school. Let your Guard boss know you plan to go to the airlines, but will continue to fly for at least 3-4 years. Most guys leave the guard after a few years in the airlines unless you live real close by the unit. Helps with the pay cut initially, and lets face it, guard flying is more fun. Good luck.

 

[GasPasser]

living with my choices

I'll admit, for the # of years I've been flying with the Guard, I'm later than most to try my hand at the airlines. I've been the one pilot, (sometimes 1-of-2) in the unit with a non-flying civilian career. Me, and of course all the part-time booms, and Navs (remember them). For many years, I did not have an interest in an airline career, now I do. I recognize that I am not on the traditional military path to the airlines.

I can't turn back time, and hindsight is 20-20 and all that, so I have to live with my choices. For me, keeping the mil leave to a minimum, has allowed me to be just as productive at work (as my peers), and not brought negative attention to myself. I have survived more “downsizings” than I can count, and have been promoted three times by my civilian employer since I returned from UPT. I’ve done pretty well, but seniority means nothing in the management ranks. I have to produce, if I don't I could be out on my ass the next time they decide to 'get costs in line with revenues'. No one does my work for me when I'm out. I pay for time off by working harder before, and afterwards. Imagine if your passengers/boxes were stacked up waiting for you when you returned from some time off from work. Basically, that happens to me, only its work and other people are counting on me to produce. So while I would have liked to have taken a trip every month, and upgraded to IP, I've have to think of the job that pays the bills and puts food on the table.



Regardless of my reasons, I'm now seriously trying to make flying my profession, rather than just a fun thing I do with the Guard in addition to my civilian job. I'll do the Altus IP upgrade sooner rather than later if I have to, but I have to wait for a class date. I'd like to know, after I get my 737 type next month, do I still have a chance of getting a call for an interview w/o my IP ticket? Or will it not happen until I fill that square? On the FedEx side, I've got a sponsor, and several internal LORs. But from what I have read in other threads, I'm a "risk" because I'm not an IP. Based on that, I may not get a call until I get my IP square filled. In the meantime, I have to hang on to my job to pay the mortgage, feed the family and all that. But since I plan to leave anyway, I'll take the 6 weeks of mil leave to upgrade. I'm not as concerned about shielding my employer now that I have decided to leave. Previously, I was.



I'd like to hear if any Mil guys got called for an interview (in the last year) for SWA or FedEx without having been an IP. Thanks.

 

[iflyfred]

FWIW, I personally know about ten Air Force guys that have interviewed in the last year and all of them either are now or had been an IP at one time. Good luck!