thoughts on extended break from flying

GOOP

GOOP

New Member
Well, here's my million dollar question that needs some advice/guidance.

I have 3377 total hours, 2200 as PIC (military).
multi-engine land, PPL, CL, IR
Mil Instructor qual
Mil Evaluator qual

By the time I retire it will have been 7+ years since I've been in the cockpit, assuming I'm unable to get another flying tour.

How will this break in recent hours affect my chances at an airline career post retirement?

What is the best thing I could do to mitigate?
 
I interviewed with a guy at American Eagle in your situation. He was an F-15 driver, retired from the Air Force, but hadn't flown a jet in a few years (he owned a 182 that he kept current in). Southwest, FedEx, CAL, nobody would touch him until he got current again in a jet.

So he went to Beagle, said he'd get current and then head somewhere else!

Then the bottom dropped out.

You may be in the same situation.
 
There's a good discussion of this exact topic over at Airline Pilot Central from someone in a similar situation (can't link it right now since my current 'net connection has APC blocked).

Like what Train posted, the majors all seem to place a good amount of weight on currency in the hiring process.

The most common answer has been to temporarily find a job anywhere that will hire you in order to regain currency, and then go shop your resume around to where you'd rather have employment.

Naturally, in the current conditions it will be difficult to do either of those!

The best answer, of course, is to get yourself back to a VT somewhere before you retire/separate.
 
GOOP said:
Well, here's my million dollar question that needs some advice/guidance.

I have 3377 total hours, 2200 as PIC (military).
multi-engine land, PPL, CL, IR
Mil Instructor qual
Mil Evaluator qual

By the time I retire it will have been 7+ years since I've been in the cockpit, assuming I'm unable to get another flying tour.

How will this break in recent hours affect my chances at an airline career post retirement?

What is the best thing I could do to mitigate?
Click to expand...

For a regional, get a Biennial flight review, fly a few hours and get an ATP and your good. You are over qualified imho. Could be a stepping stone and you could bail ASAP and no one would blame you.

Majors- You should be able to get on any major that is hiring with those hours, as a Naval aviator. You need an ATP. To get ready I would get in a flight club on base, get some recency hours cheap. Ddo the gleim ATP computer course and get the written and then do a inexpensive 737 type course with an ATP ride.
Also, you could sign up for airline interview gouge site, and prep like heck for the interview. Also, network like heck. Don't know about the VAW community, but I keep in touch with my facebook buddies. Those that stayed past department head, all have the same prob, but I think it is not a big deal.
Bear
 
welcome to JC.

Take my advice with a grain of salt because it is only what I think, not necessarily the truth and reality of the real world.

I was out of aviation for 2-3 years and it did not affect me. While it was more difficult to land the job, I still found one.

Like others stated, just go out and fly a bit when you can to regain your currency. From there it's networking networking networking.

Good luck
 
Hacker15e said:
The best answer, of course, is to get yourself back to a VT somewhere before you retire/separate.
Click to expand...
Not bad advice at all, but if he is retiring and it is all commissioned time, he probably would be past the XO/CO Year Group. GI bill could pay for an ATP course if he is eligible. Navy post o-4 department head doesn't have a lot of flying opportunities unless you are a skipper of a squadron or a CAG. I know the AF is different.

Get the ATP!
 
I've been furloughed for over a year now. I have flown about 5 hrs. in the past 6 months and about 14 hrs. in the past year. I'm obviously not current in the jet I flew, but I fly just enough GA to stay 90 day and instrument current. I also got my ATP last spring.

I really haven't had any issue as far as getting interviewed with 121 carriers because of the lack of flight time in the past 12 months, but when it came to 135 operators and other jobs, I definitely saw a concern from the employer. If you are looking at 121 carriers, you shouldn't have much of an issue. You have a good amount of experience and I think if you would get at least 90 day current and definitely instrument current it should help somewhat. Some carriers require X amount of hours flown in the past 12 months, but in this economy they might give you a break.
 
All great advice. Much appreciated. By all means, if there's more out there, keep it coming.

Now I just need to figure out how to get recurrent in GA and land that all ellusive post DH, non-screen C12 tour w
 
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