121 Retirements

Some of the international captains I see in the terminal and on the crew bus make me wonder if congress has already instituted an "Age 95" rule but I missed it.
 
ClarkGriswold said:
Go to an airline that has quicker upgrade potential and potential to do things outside of flying to build the resume. Some places have 0 opportunity to do things unless you are in a tight knit group or super senior. Just my 2 cents.
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I've said it once, I'll say it a million times.
1. While upgrade time should be a consideration it should not be the only consideration.
2. Current upgrade times do not equate to future upgrade times.
3. Upgrade times are not linear. What do I mean by this? At an extreme hypothetical. Say a company has an 8 year upgrade time, but did not hire for 8 years and suddenly starts hiring again. Well, there is an 8-year gap in hiring which means new hires may suddenly find themselves in the left seat. On the other side I've seen pilots chase the upgrade and get stuck in the right seat for 5+ years when they thought it would be 1 year.
 
Blackhawk said:
I've said it once, I'll say it a million times.
1. While upgrade time should be a consideration it should not be the only consideration.
2. Current upgrade times do not equate to future upgrade times.
3. Upgrade times are not linear. What do I mean by this? At an extreme hypothetical. Say a company has an 8 year upgrade time, but did not hire for 8 years and suddenly starts hiring again. Well, there is an 8-year gap in hiring which means new hires may suddenly find themselves in the left seat. On the other side I've seen pilots chase the upgrade and get stuck in the right seat for 5+ years when they thought it would be 1 year.
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There were 2 parts to my point, upgrade was just one. The other is HUGE in this hiring environment. Chasing upgrade and getting PIC time can most certainly work as well as participating in other functions. BTW when I made my lateral it was a 4 year upgrade but I made a calculated decision and it luckily paid off, ended up being 2 years for me, some others? 6 months. You're right current upgrade time does not equate to future upgrade times, they can go down ALOT but it takes time and research to figure out where that can pay off the most. With all that said I always encourage people to look for quick upgrades but also go somewhere they can be happy if it doesnt pay off. My last airline LOVED hiring FO's as sim instructors, is that something most other regionals can say? No way, you need to be a senior Captain. Not a bad way to be stuck in the right seat and make an additional $20 per hour.
 
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GypsyPilot said:
Heck, I'm 38 with all the boxes checked, working at this crazy career for over ten years, and will probably never move past my current position as a regional CA.
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Curious as to why you think you're stuck in your current position? Can't take the pay cut to move to a major? (That's the only thing I could think of)...
 
staledog said:
Curious as to why you think you're stuck in your current position? Can't take the pay cut to move to a major? (That's the only thing I could think of)...
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I'm just not sure I'm going to get called...

Delta and American are mostly flows/enhanced hires/military, and I can't get United to notice me either. Not sure why, I've got a clean background, 4 year degree, no checkride failures, numerous LORs, volunteer, etc.

I'm trying everything I can, but then I see people with less experience (a lot less in some cases) get the call. But I can't let it bother me, so if I'm stuck here that's ok too. My life doesn't revolve around work, it's just a means to a paycheck and days off to do what I really want. I live in base, and am left alone. Could be worse... A lot worse.
 
GypsyPilot said:
I'm just not sure I'm going to get called...

Delta and American are mostly flows/enhanced hires/military, and I can't get United to notice me either. Not sure why, I've got a clean background, 4 year degree, no checkride failures, numerous LORs, volunteer, etc.

I'm trying everything I can, but then I see people with less experience (a lot less in some cases) get the call. But I can't let it bother me, so if I'm stuck here that's ok too. My life doesn't revolve around work, it's just a means to a paycheck and days off to do what I really want. I live in base, and am left alone. Could be worse... A lot worse.
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Where are you now if you don't mind me asking? 121? 135? 91?
 
Kingairer said:
Unless you have skeletons in your closet, it'll happen, eventually.
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I'd agree with this.

I'm not sure what "enhanced hires" are, but the airlines you named are going to need a LOT of pilots over the next 10 years, and they will run out of flow throughs and military. If you're a regional CA, I'd bet your number will be called in the next 1-4 years. Keep updating your apps. If you want it to happen, it will happen.

By the way, I'm in a similar boat. 38 years old, been flying mostly Learjets in the 91/135 world for the last 11 years. Never flew 121, don't have any major internal hook ups.... Had my app in with SWA, FEX, and AA for a while. Finally got the call, and had my interview at SWA two weeks ago. If it can happen for me, it will happen for you. @GypsyPilot
 
staledog said:
I'd agree with this.

I'm not sure what "enhanced hires" are, but the airlines you named are going to need a LOT of pilots over the next 10 years, and they will run out of flow throughs and military. If you're a regional CA, I'd bet your number will be called in the next 1-4 years. Keep updating your apps. If you want it to happen, it will happen.

By the way, I'm in a similar boat. 38 years old, been flying mostly Learjets in the 91/135 world for the last 11 years. Never flew 121, don't have any major internal hook ups.... Had my app in with SWA, FEX, and AA for a while. Finally got the call, and had my interview at SWA two weeks ago. If it can happen for me, it will happen for you. @GypsyPilot
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That's awesome, congrats!

Enhanced hires are the preferential interview programs out there, however they work. Better than off the street at any rate.
 
staledog said:
I'd agree with this.

I'm not sure what "enhanced hires" are, but the airlines you named are going to need a LOT of pilots over the next 10 years, and they will run out of flow throughs and military. If you're a regional CA, I'd bet your number will be called in the next 1-4 years. Keep updating your apps. If you want it to happen, it will happen.

By the way, I'm in a similar boat. 38 years old, been flying mostly Learjets in the 91/135 world for the last 11 years. Never flew 121, don't have any major internal hook ups.... Had my app in with SWA, FEX, and AA for a while. Finally got the call, and had my interview at SWA two weeks ago. If it can happen for me, it will happen for you. @GypsyPilot
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Good to hear about a non 121 guy getting a shot.
 
GypsyPilot said:
No, and that's a big problem apparently. I think it's complete crap these have become mandatory, but I'm planning on attending at least one or two this year.
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They are miserable sausage fests. But we always made the best of them and met up with old friends the night prior and partied :) nothing like standing in line for hours on 4 hours of sleep
 
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