KLB
Well-Known Member
I had to oppurtunity to meet to JCer's. I met 777forever and I cant remember the other guys screen name (show yourself!). Both were pretty cool guys.
I got to talk to every major in the industry with the exception of Delta and American. I just ran out of time. I did talk to some of there pilots though.
Heres a little something that is going at some of the airlines from the information that I gathered. Everything is pretty much from a 135 perspective since thats what I'm doing.
UPS-They are starting to hire again and the Transoceanic experience requirement is going to be lifted. They like 135 pilots!
FedEx- Pretty much the same old same old. They are not really hiring at this time.
Continental- They had the biggest booth there since they were sponsoring the event I believe. They are hiring like crazy! I saw a guy that I met at a NIFA flight team competition about six years ago. He went to Daniel Webster if I recall. He was just getting his commercial then and now he is an FO at continental. He spent only two years at TSA before getting hired at Continental. The recruiter kind of insinuated that 121 time is more heavily weighed as compared to 135 time. She went even further and said that single pilot 135 TPIC time is weighed lesser than 2 crew 121 time. I never really asked what was so special about 121 experience. I'd figure I pose that question here later. I felt a little insulted by that but if thats what they want.
This was not be the last carrier I heard this from. I later talked to a pilots from there and got mixed bunch answers to that. Some said stay where I am and get the TPIC. Others said bail and go to a regional. I think I'll take the first 1.
American-They are starting the get there flow through rolling because they've gone through the call back list.
JetBlue-They are hiring and were looking for 121 experience also. The pilot I talked to was a really cool guy and told me to not let it discourage me and apply anyway.
Airtran-At this time they are looking strictly at 121 PIC time. The recruiters sayed that it's subjet to change very soon.
Alaska-They were actually holding interviews at the convention! From what I hear. They really wasn't interested in single pilot 135 PIC time.
United-They will be hiring again in the near future.
US Airways- They were there buy there are not hiring.
Astar Air Cargo- They fly DHL. Minimums were 1500hrs, but they were talking about 5 years as an SO on the panel!
anic:
FlexJet- They love freight pilots!
Airnet-They are giving anybody and everybody those ride alongs! They really digging to pilots. Pilots waiting to get 1200 hrs is becoming a thing of the past.
Just about all of the regionals were there. I even saw Chuck Colgan and his HR staff in person. They were interviewing pilots today I believe.
So what I did gain from this? My time may not be as golden as it has once been. But (a very big BUT) I enjoy what I do, I get payed decent to do it, and I am going to do it for at least another 1.5 years. As far as getting hired by a major goes....I'll cross that road when I get there. They may say that I wouldn't be the most favorable candidate now, but that may not hold true for the future. My goal is to try to get a couple of type ratings out of Amflight and a free ATP ride.
If the majors don't want me, the fractionals and corporate world would love to have me. I can definitely live with that.
I got to talk to every major in the industry with the exception of Delta and American. I just ran out of time. I did talk to some of there pilots though.
Heres a little something that is going at some of the airlines from the information that I gathered. Everything is pretty much from a 135 perspective since thats what I'm doing.
UPS-They are starting to hire again and the Transoceanic experience requirement is going to be lifted. They like 135 pilots!
FedEx- Pretty much the same old same old. They are not really hiring at this time.
Continental- They had the biggest booth there since they were sponsoring the event I believe. They are hiring like crazy! I saw a guy that I met at a NIFA flight team competition about six years ago. He went to Daniel Webster if I recall. He was just getting his commercial then and now he is an FO at continental. He spent only two years at TSA before getting hired at Continental. The recruiter kind of insinuated that 121 time is more heavily weighed as compared to 135 time. She went even further and said that single pilot 135 TPIC time is weighed lesser than 2 crew 121 time. I never really asked what was so special about 121 experience. I'd figure I pose that question here later. I felt a little insulted by that but if thats what they want.
This was not be the last carrier I heard this from. I later talked to a pilots from there and got mixed bunch answers to that. Some said stay where I am and get the TPIC. Others said bail and go to a regional. I think I'll take the first 1.American-They are starting the get there flow through rolling because they've gone through the call back list.
JetBlue-They are hiring and were looking for 121 experience also. The pilot I talked to was a really cool guy and told me to not let it discourage me and apply anyway.
Airtran-At this time they are looking strictly at 121 PIC time. The recruiters sayed that it's subjet to change very soon.
Alaska-They were actually holding interviews at the convention! From what I hear. They really wasn't interested in single pilot 135 PIC time.
United-They will be hiring again in the near future.
US Airways- They were there buy there are not hiring.
Astar Air Cargo- They fly DHL. Minimums were 1500hrs, but they were talking about 5 years as an SO on the panel!
anic:FlexJet- They love freight pilots!
Airnet-They are giving anybody and everybody those ride alongs! They really digging to pilots. Pilots waiting to get 1200 hrs is becoming a thing of the past.
Just about all of the regionals were there. I even saw Chuck Colgan and his HR staff in person. They were interviewing pilots today I believe.
So what I did gain from this? My time may not be as golden as it has once been. But (a very big BUT) I enjoy what I do, I get payed decent to do it, and I am going to do it for at least another 1.5 years. As far as getting hired by a major goes....I'll cross that road when I get there. They may say that I wouldn't be the most favorable candidate now, but that may not hold true for the future. My goal is to try to get a couple of type ratings out of Amflight and a free ATP ride.
If the majors don't want me, the fractionals and corporate world would love to have me. I can definitely live with that.
The course is more focused towards the 250-800 hour pilot. I'm going to use it as an oppurtunity to stick my face around their headquarters and get noticed!
