135 Flying to the Majors

K

Kmaceri

Well-Known Member
Was curious to know if it's possible or common that pilots with 135 in a jet to skip the regionals and go straight to the major or legacy airlines?

I've heard several comments from people about how these airlines won't take pilots with 135 experience and hours and require/prefer the 121 experience.

So my main concern is do I need 121 experience to advance into those bigger airlines?
 
You're final question is asked with an absolute.

No, you do not need 121 experience to advance into those bigger airlines.

However, most people (unsourced, just going off of experience and knowledge of the industry) have some form of 121 experience. However, I am also aware of some folks who have no 121 experience who have managed to get hired at one of those bigger airlines.
 
Okay great! I like working for my current company and have aspirations to move to the bigger guys down the road. I fly a lot, go international, fly into small to big airports, etc. All around good experience for me.

Thanks for your input.
 
Kmaceri said:
Okay great! I like working for my current company and have aspirations to move to the bigger guys down the road. I fly a lot, go international, fly into small to big airports, etc. All around good experience for me.

Thanks for your input.
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You're fine. Your current experience will serve you well for the majors.
 
Yup they can make it. I met a United Pilot a couple weeks ago that was hired directly from AMF. It can be done.

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Maurus said:
Yup they can make it. I met a United Pilot a couple weeks ago that was hired directly from AMF. It can be done.

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Just out of curiosity, did they have check airman/managerial experience at AMF?
 
Anything is possible but the odds aren't in your favor. In my new hire class of 20 at airways we had no one who had corporate experience only. And from what I hear that is pretty much the norm.


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Maurus said:
No manager stuff. No idea about Check Airman.

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Ahhh.

I was going to say, in my opinion if one is at a 135 or 121 place for that matter, try to get into the training department as soon as possible. Even if you are teaching a basic indoc class it will set you apart whether it be for the recruiter at UAL/AA/DAL/Jetblue/Alaska/Virgin/SWA/Spirit.
 
mikecweb said:
If you can afford to goto a regional, do it.
Yea the phone might ring but you are severely handicapping yourself by having no 121 time. Ask me how I know?
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It's sad to hear if I can afford it. Yes I have prepared myself if I were to go to the regionals. No debt, single, etc...


Just out of curiosity, why do you say I will be severely handicapping myself? Will not having previous 121 experience make me unprepared? Are you coming from an operational standpoint?
 
Seggy said:
Ahhh.

I was going to say, in my opinion if one is at a 135 or 121 place for that matter, try to get into the training department as soon as possible. Even if you are teaching a basic indoc class it will set you apart whether it be for the recruiter at UAL/AA/DAL.
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Definitely can't hurt.

At AMF they are typically hurting for training captains and check airmen for most types of aircraft. If someone would choose to go that route it wouldn't be a bad idea to do that.

Actually joining the training department in BUR could be a way to make enemies. Super arrogance is required for that job.

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Kmaceri said:
It's sad to hear if I can afford it. Yes I have prepared myself if I were to go to the regionals. No debt, single, etc...


Just out of curiosity, why do you say I will be severely handicapping myself? Will not having previous 121 experience make me unprepared? Are you coming from an operational standpoint?
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I'm speaking from an HR screening prospective.
 
mikecweb said:
I'm speaking from an HR screening prospective.
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Sadly this is the perspective one must take these days. Apparently only having outside experience is considered a negative unless it is military. Even then I have seen military guys have some trouble that were single engine fighter guys. IMO most HR peeps don't seem to understand the aviation industry when it comes to hiring pilots.
 
learhawkerbe400 said:
Anything is possible but the odds aren't in your favor. In my new hire class of 20 at airways we had no one who had corporate experience only. And from what I hear that is pretty much the norm.
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This doesn't surprise me much with Airways. I've applied unsuccessfully in every window for the last year and half. Through talking to my references (who have talked to Chief Pilots and people on the hiring board), a must have for Airways is 400 hours in the last year (except military). I left the right seat at a regional for the left seat at a 91/135 and thought that the PIC time would help me get to the next step. Unfortunately, I'm flying about 250 a year and the goal for the plane is only 350 so I'm not sure I will ever get picked up based on their current requirements.
 
The last person that I heard went to Continental (and I imagine this WAS the last person that wen to Continental) directly from Amflight was a training captain, check airman and base chief pilot, and they also had family that worked up at CAL.

There was one guy that went to Southwest, not sure what his connections were.

It was common for a time for Allegiant to take Amflighters.

But I'd say most folks got their PIC time at Amflight and then came over to a regional.
 
I did my 1000tpic in the 135 world and went 121 fwiw. It just seems to me that generally speaking, it was possible but unlikely to go straight to a legacy. Its already difficult to get on, why make it harder?

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Maurus said:
Yup they can make it. I met a United Pilot a couple weeks ago that was hired directly from AMF. It can be done.

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How old was this guy?
Times change, then change again. The question I'd ask is are people who have spent x years doing 135 currently getting called. Anything more is a crystal ball.
 
eightballfreight said:
How old was this guy?
Times change, then change again. The question I'd ask is are people who have spent x years doing 135 currently getting called. Anything more is a crystal ball.
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Not too old. In his 30s perhaps? He was hired by Continental back around 07 I believe. Times do change and hiring environments shift. Not always for the good unfortunately.
 
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