What does it take for an interview?

[BaronPIC]

I'm currently a CFI w/ 675TT and 25ME. I read that certain regional airlines have minimums of about 1000TT/100ME to apply. I am also familiar with what is 'competitive.' My flight school just lost a lot of business and I'm after a second job to stay afloat. Good thing I'm able to live at home. I occasionally flew a twin with and MEI on Part 91 for ME time (free).

Do I have ANY chance of getting an interview in several months or later with 1000TT and 100ME? Do very good 4-year degrees, letters of recommendation, age, etc., come into play? I'm trying my hardest to make things work, get hrs whenever/wherever possible, and keep my eyes on the prize. I would not go as far to say I'm the proverbial "whore for hours," but it's starting to feel that way! Lol. Just trying to get realistic about the road ahead.

Any insight and/or advice provided would be fantastic to this down-but-not-out CFI. If anyone can provided info on what guys in ground schools have, etc., that would be great! In advance, thanks VERY much for your time. I've found this forum to be a great source for me. PM me or I can provide e-mail to anyone who cares to go in-depth. Thanks again!

Cheers-
Baron

 

[LAXSaabdude]

Do I have ANY chance of getting an interview in several months or later with 1000TT and 100ME? Do very good 4-year degrees, letters of recommendation, age, etc., come into play?

If you think you will have 1000/100 within the next 4 months, then you should apply to all carriers whose minimums you meet. I'm not sure where you are going to get your flight time, but it sounds like you have a good attitude, so keep plugging away. Regionals are hiring, and the only way to know if they will hire YOU is to apply.

All of those other factors you listed come into play as well. If you lack flight time, use all other avenues available to make yourself more marketable. Good luck!

LAXSaabdude.

 

[upndsky]

Not to bust you bubble, but 1000/100 is not realistic. I don't know of any regional out there, with the exception of Mesa, that's going to hire you with that kind of time. Most mins I've seen are around 1500/300 or 1500/500, and many candidates have more than that. That's not to say you shouldn't apply. All it'll cost you is a few hours typing up resumes and a few 37 cent stamps.

Just don't be under the illussion that you'll land a job with 1000/100. Like the other poster said, you seem to have a good attitude. Keep at it. When you get to 1200 and still don't have an interview, try hooking up with a 135 outfit, maybe flying freight. That's what I'm doing and the airlines love this kind of experience.

 

[wil]

Not to pile on but, I had lunch with a buddy who is in ground school for a very small regional. I went with him back to class to hang out before class resumed and I got a chance to talk with the other students. Furloughed Delta, TWA, USAIR, etc. You get the picture. Good luck. Don't get discouraged but don't fool yourself either- it is a brutal market right now.

 

[relief tube]

a year ago I was in your exact same position, now I'm starting class with a regional in a month. Yeah, 1500/200 is at least what you should look for. But things are only getting better....hopefully. They could get lower.
Here's what you gotta do: DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. Keep safe, and keep sane, but fly as much as you can. Be satisfied with no less than 75 hours a month, 90 or 100 would be great. Be mobile, move to wherever you have to, go to where the weather allows good time building. Dont worry about living at home, move to where you have to and get a night job to help pay for rent. Get to at least 100 multi any way you can, and only get your MEI if you know you can actually find a place to get time using it. Save money, you might have to buy a little multi time. Once you're to part 135 mins, send your stuff to everyone on the raa.org website. Subscribe to jet-jobs.com monthly job newsletter. And when you do meet mins, send your stuff out and keep updating. Keep a log of who, when, and when to update next. Even if you dont meet mins, consider sending it in anyway, just menion in the cover letter that you're aware of the mins and will update when you meet them. Be patient, it might be at least a year, a not so fun year, but right now thats what it takes. And each and every pilot you meet, keep in touch with them, the smallest thing like a walked in resume from some guy you met 2 weeks ago might be the thing that tips the scales.

Hang in there and ALWAYS stay positive. There's 35 year olds with families trying to get the same job you are. It'll happen, it just might be longer than you'd like. You've got the rest of your life to fly for an airline though, have some fun every now and then in the meantime. Send a personal message if you need any further advice. good luck

 

[General Lee]

Beef up on the multi time if you can. Try to get atleast 200 hours. Then build your total time. See if you can get on with Ameriflight or another good outfit that will get you into a beech kingair or something like that.(you might have to start in a single engine Piper flying around the LA Basin---which is fine) Don't give up. You are in the middle of a low cycle, but with the better economy comes more opportunities. Hang in there.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[socalpilot]

Continental Connection / CommutAir

Type of Operations: Passenger.

Fleet: BE1900Ds

Domiciles: Albany, Plattsburgh, Rochester, Cleveland

Minimum Requirements: 900 TT, 100 ME. COMM. INST, RTOP, FAA Class 1

Benefits: JS & pass privileges. Paid as F/O and R.O.N. pay while in training. Company paid medical, disability, life insurance, vacation. Profit sharing.

App Fee: None

Projected Hiring: As required.

You can see an interview gouge and the level of experience of the people who are getting hired at aviationinterviews.com. If you don't know anyone at the company to recomend you the next best thing is to attend an AIRINC job fair that they are attending and sell yourself in person.

 

[Soulfly00]

I don't work for Gulfstream...or colgan either, before you ask. I enjoy the chance I have now because I had to work for it...but I won't start a big old argument.

 

[pipejockey]

See if you can get on with Ameriflight or another good outfit that will get you into a beech kingair or something like that.(you might have to start in a single engine Piper flying around the LA Basin---which is fine)

Bye Bye--General Lee

I have experience with Ameriflight. They won't hire you unless you have Part 135 ATP mins. of 1200 Total time and have the ATP rating, which is the minimum if you fly IFR PIC in 135 operations. Back in the late 90's and 2000 they sometimes hired lowtimers and put you in the Lance in Arizona flying VFR while building time to 1200, but nowadays thats unlikely.

I served as FO in a Metroliner for them in a time building program (they are approved for single pilot ops in the SA227 so I wasn't taking a viable FO position from anybody) and gained 300 hours of multi-turbine time with them and they won't even give me a job flying the lance in Arizona.

And time to the Kingair is close to 3 years, last I knew.

 

[Airspur]

Don't confuse the Part 135 IFR minumums with the ATP minimums.

135.243 states that you need an ATP for passenger carrying operations , but only the 1200TT for other PIC - i.e. cargo.

 

[xdashdriver]

You don't need an ATP for passenger carrying operations under 135 if you're flying a non-jet that has 9 passenger seats or less and is not a commuter operation.

As a result, pilots for the great majority of piston and turbprop on-demand operations out there would only be required to have a Commcercial with the appropriate class rating, per the FAA.

Ray

 

[Bad Santa]

Get that multi time up to at least a hundred. And get your total time up as cheaply as possible. It almost always helps if you know someone to walk in your resume. No matter what your time, start sending out resumes so they know you're interested.
And for the love of god, before you get an inteview keep yourself instrument current. BUY A BLOCK OF SIM TIME AND HAVE SOME ONE WORK YOU OVER. Might not help you get an interview, but you'll thank me when you get to the sim. Keep your head up. It seems like a long way off but it's not as far as you think.