The Best time to get into majors?

[Lindbergh]

What kind of time is better to get into a major? 135 pic in a chartercompany or 121 sic in a regional?

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

121 pic any airline.

 

[trip]

What lighting said, about 4000hrs worth.

 

[MachPi]

The best time to get into the majors was about 1968.

 

[Steeler Fan]

The best time to get into the majors was about 1968.

That's a top 10 nominee.

 

[AA717driver]

1968? No way. 1962. '68 hires at TWA and PAA were FO's forever. At the time, those were the only two majors to be at--the others were bottom feeders...

Of course, if all you wanted to do was party and get laid on layovers, then '68 was a great year... TC

 

[typhoonpilot]

The best time to get into the majors was about 1968.

I think you would have done better with 1964/65. When I interviewed at TWA in 1988, they were just upgrading guys hired in November 1968, 20 years to Captain. Yikes !!

1984/5 would have been a good years for American and not bad for United either, although they did have that little strike around then. Piedmont and USAir were 1978 to 1982, with hires up to early 1985 doing okay until recently.


So Lindy, what type aircraft are you getting the PIC in ?

Take a look at the websites to see what the min quals are for the different airlines. I think they specify 121 PIC these days, at least a fair number of them do. Personally I think you'd be better off getting the 1000 PIC at the 135 outfit and then going to a supplemental carrier. The upgrade times at regionals are slowing down and it would suck to be stuck in the right seat of an RJ for 5 or more years when you could be flying captain on a whale if you play your cards right.

Take a long hard look at upgrade times at any carrier you are thinking of going to. Be detailed and get the specifics on growth and then calculate the upgrade for yourself. Just because airline X is upgrading guys in two years today doesn't mean you will upgrade in two years as well. You can't ever be sure, but at least you can have a decent idea if things go according to plan. Never trust what the airline recruiters tell you. Always check and verify the numbers yourself.


Typhoonpilot

 

[MachPi]

I should've known better than to randomly pick a year to represent the long ago in a forum full of people with long memories.

 

[General Lee]

The best time to get into the majors was about 1968.

Soooo true, at least that is what most retired Delta pilots tell me, and the top 10 thousand Delta stews currently flying........ I haven't seen a stew younger than 50 years old in years!!! Hey Dave Griffen, is your wife one of those?


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[michael707767]

best time to get into the majors? When they are hiring.

 

[91100 100 set]

The best time to get into the majors was about 1968.

Thats the first thing I thought of too (even though a specific year didn't pop up).

 

[CapnVegetto]

Nowadays, what you need more than time is CONTACTS. Forget about CA if you don't know somebody. UPS and FedEx REQUIRE internal recommendations, and they won't even talk to you without them. Once you have the contacts, the time is a lot easier. I personally know a guy that knew the right person at UPS, and a few days after he turned 1000 PIC in a Citation, got called for the interview. If you know the right people, time requirements are minimal, and it doesn't matter what it's in. Of course, there are exceptions, (SWA won't take recommendations at all until you're AT the interview). In that case, it's going to take a lot more multi-turbine PIC to get called, preferably in heavy jets under 121. But you never know.

It really just depends on how bad they need people. Pre 9/11, they were hiring 1900 drivers with no PIC, and hiring corporate and 135 drivers with no 121 at all, and very little PIC. Right now, there is very little hiring, and you somehow have to put yourself above the other 10,000 hour 5 type rating guys out there that are looking for jobs. Not an easy thing to do. Again, the best way to do this is CONTACTS. Meet people, get recommendations. That is just about the only game in town these days unless you've got space shuttle time.

 

[IHaveAPension]

Just an informal sampling... How many of you would leave your current job for a job at FedEx or UPS? I'm curious because back in the "good ole days", if you couldn't get a job at a "real" major then you would probably put your stuff in at FedEx and UPS. But now with those two being the only profitable airlines without needing outside assistance (fuel hedges in the case of SWA) they seem to be near the top of most peoples list. Is FedEx and UPS the current hot place to get on with and stay for a career or if you go on at either, would you leave as soon as the "real" majors start hiring again?

 

[CapnVegetto]

I doubt I'll ever leave corporate for the airlines. I know I won't go to cargo, b/c I just don't want to fly on the wrong side of the clock. The ol' ticker isn't quite wired that way. I just don't function well at night. As far as the legacy carriers, I'd consider it, but I doubt it. I just don't like the lifestyle.

 

[blzr]

The Best time to get into majors?

After your wife leaves you, and Before you buy that big house!

 

[Flyingdutchman]

General -

BA and KLM are hiring. So if you want to see some young blond stews in their 20's on long haul flights send in your stuff!!

FD

 

[mnalpha]

never,
go back to school and be a dentist. Sorry My GF is being ahuge btch right now, and I am thinking about how life would be better without her sht.

(boooo,hoooo, your never home) get over it, your not the one that comutes (2 legs)

 

[capt. megadeth]

Is FedEx and UPS the current hot place to get on with and stay for a career or if you go on at either, would you leave as soon as the "real" majors start hiring again?

I am curious about that too.

 

[dudemize]

It always happens, people can't help but chase the current hot ticket. I'm sure everyone knows someone who left SWA for United, or Fedex for US Air. It will happen again, it always does.

 

[rvsm410]

2015, when airtran , jet Blue and Southwest are the majors of that day...who knows really, majors today are what you make of the place your at...careers in aviation will never be the same as they were...got to be flexable..