Expert: D. Norkus - 11/28/2007

Question
Hello Dottie,
I would like to become an airline pilot.  I am 36, have a college degree, have a Private ASEL and about 150 TT.   
I think I understand the realities -- I need higher licenses and ratings, more time, specific training would help, and then I face an entry-level job in the right seat of a small airliner somewhere at a starting pay that rivals Burger King.  
But, I love flying, and the longer-term prospects for me, if I can fly another 20 to 25 years, could be good.  I think.
Here's the first question:  Are there any ab initio programs that do graduate pilots who have reasonably good chances of stepping into an airline job?  
I assume that if I go through a specific school targeting commuter airline jobs, I'll graduate with maybe 300 - 400 TT, Ccommercial MEL, Instrument, and perhaps a very few hours of turbine and airline-type simulator time.  
Second question:  Is that going to be sufficient qualification that I might get entry-level pilot employment?
Third, one hears about a pilot shortage looming.   Do you know if there are there any airlines that might pay my way (full or partial support) through a program?
Regards,
Jerry

Answer
Jerry-

1)
Yes, there are. It is now very common to hire academy graduates with 250-400 flight hours while the requirements for those who do not seem to inch lower and lower every few months. What has happened in this industry in the past 2 years has made my head spin. There are even two airlines who now interview pilot candidates with only their comm, ME instrument plus 250TT!  

Regional airlines minimum hiring requirements:
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/resources/job_search_resources/regional_hiring_mi...


Personally, I don't know any grads that have been hired from such programs except ATP Flight School or Mesa Pilot Development but I am sure there are others with good placement records. I heard there was a new hire at regional placed via ATP that has a mere 240TT with 140 ME! I suggest getting specifics about academy placements from others that attended or may be enrolled at them here:

http//forums.flightinfo.com
http://forums.jetcareers.com

You could easily fly another 100-150 hours with a school such as ATP and find yourself in a regional interview a 2-4 months from now with 250-300 hours if you trained full time. BTW, there is also a mentor message forum at ATP where you can ask questions from past grads with regional jobs.

Of course you could also rent some more time, get your commercial, ME & Instrument (and maybe CFI too) for about $15K-20K then fly till you get 250TT, a job (skydiving, banner tow, traffic watch, CFI) then work until you meet the 500 hour minimums too.

2) If you attend an academy program and graduate with the experience you mentioned above, you will get an interview. That is the key selling point of such places- they guarantee grads interviews when they pass their training programs. While it is not a job offer, most all pilots seem to do well in their interviews and are then offered pilot positions, according to the schools anyway. Some thing else to inquire about at the pilot forums above.

3) Pilot shortage looming? It has arrived and it is being felt accutely at the regional level where flying is being cut and flights even canceled due to lack of crew.
"The U.S. major airlines are projected to hire more than 50,000 pilots during the next 12 years, or more than twice the 20,000 pilots now employed by the regionals." -
http://www.fltops.com/article.asp?ID=6787&Gateway=Industry

From that same article:
"American Eagle has begun interviewing pilots who have 400 hours of total time and 100 hours of multi-engine time and offering to pay for simulator time to help some reach their minimum requirements, said Andrea Huguely. "If we get someone in the door and they need some hours, we will help them out," said Huguely. "It depends on the (candidate's) hours and the interviewing. It's done on an as needed basis. Certainly we don't have to do that with every case." She said the airline is picking up simulator costs through its bridge programs with flight schools, including one run by Flight Safety International.

That is the only instance I have heard of an airline picking up flight training costs or any sponsorships for a training program. That isn't something that is done here in the USA, although it is common overseas (and once hired pilots are obligated to pay back their training "loans".)

Hope this helps.
Good Luck!
Dottie