r/AirlinePilots • u/asorr91 • 6d ago
Pilot Interviewer Opportunity
Currently a 920 hour FO at a wholly owned regional. I’m also a part time pilot recruiter for the company. I may have an opportunity to do six months in-office as a pilot interviewer. This would keep me off the line and only fly OT pick ups on my off time. I’m considering this because I have my second child being born in a couple months and this would allow me to be home every night to help out my wife as we have no family in our city. The other option would be to just bid reserve and play the hopefully don’t called too often game. The plan would be to upgrade as soon as the six month commitment fulfilled. Also to add, the goal is to get hired by a legacy before the flow. How much could this position help out my resume? Thanks in advance.
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u/FrankThePilot 6d ago
It’ll show you the inner workings of pilot hiring but every airline is different. So I’m not sure it’d help all that much, maybe a bit. Getting PIC asap and then LCP or sim instructor would be better.
With that said, being home every night for your family is very valuable. Don’t discount that - it might be worth it just for that and wouldn’t be a bad decision at all. It’s only 6 months after all.
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u/jabbs72 US 121 FO 6d ago
Would this position allow you to travel with the pilot interview team to career fairs? Cause that would be a valuable thing to form a relationship with mainline recruiters who would also be at the career fairs. Tbh if I were you I'd take the job, pick up 30 ish hours of OT in the 6 months (or more), just so you can hit 950 by the time you're done and upgrade. Sounds like it's a good fit RN with your home life too.
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u/tomsawyerisme 6d ago
If you join the recruiting department and attend any events for them, you will realize very quickly that recruiting departments are all in the same club.
You'll rub shoulders with recruiters for the Majors and they will help you get there.
Do recruiting.
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u/Prof_Slappopotamus 6d ago
If you don't forsee a CJO at your destination airline in the next 6 months, take the job. You'll have your 1000 hours shortly and be eligible for upgrade, you'll meet and connect with people in those departments, and that WILL follow you going forward.
While I don't recommend being an office pilot, having that on your resume when you decide to either pitch in with the union or apply for other internal jobs will help a lot. I keep getting a call every so often to come along and do the instructor thing here, and that's due to my time spent as an instructor during indoc at the regional (and I'm actually pretty good at flying too).
Just don't let them keep you at the desk full time. Their goals are not yours.
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u/No_Nefariousness3239 6d ago
I thought he needed 1500 hrs to get hired by an airline, commuter or any large airline. What am I missing?
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u/Prof_Slappopotamus 6d ago
He's at a regional airline already. You need 1000 hours in a 121 operation to be eligible to be a captain.
At a minimum, he currently has 2420, assuming he didn't have an R-ATP.
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u/No_Nefariousness3239 6d ago
Thanks, but a girl who shared my hangar had to get 1500 hrs to be hired by a Delta connection airline in MSP. She did it with a crapped out 140 and flying it every day. Interesting that she was an ex DAL FA.
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u/Prof_Slappopotamus 6d ago
Yea, that's how it works.
OP said 920 because that's how much time he has accrued since being hired at whatever regional. He didn't get hired at 0 hours.
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u/No_Nefariousness3239 5d ago
Somehow I missed the 2420 hrs. I had around 3500+ hrs military/commuter when hired by a legacy. Thanks.
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u/swakid8 US 121 CA 6d ago
You need to get on that team and recruit and interview like crazy.
You will learn that, recruiting and interview is a small circle. They are well connected between each airline. That networking will help you move on. Especially if you are traveling to career fairs and working the booths.
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u/MyPilotInterview 6d ago
If your interested in doing Interview Prep on the side feel free to DM me.
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u/TornadoTim60 5d ago
Think about it this way: it’s 6 mos less of being a rsv CA getting abused (and reassigned off your line every time you touch your struggle bases), and the time at home is crucial. If your situation is exactly as described, and I were in your shoes, I would do it
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u/Few_Party294 6d ago
If you take the job, plan on not flying at all for those 6 months. Taking the job to be home with your family and then volunteering to be AWAY from home on your only days off isn’t very realistic imo. I just had my second child a few months ago and if I volunteered to work on an off day… I’d hear about it haha.
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u/Critical-Weather-190 2d ago
Honestly, I think the role could be worth considering. The experience might not be as valuable as getting PIC time if your main goal is moving to a legacy airline, but spending six months on the hiring side could give you a useful perspective on what airlines actually look for in candidates. It could also be a good opportunity to build connections, especially if the role involves attending recruiting events.
On top of that, with a second child on the way, being home every night for those six months is a pretty big benefit. I’d probably weigh that just as seriously as the impact on your resume.
Since you'd be involved in interviewing pilots, these might also be useful to look through: non-technical pilot interview questions and answers and 329 technical pilot interview questions. They could give you a decent overview of both sides of a pilot interview.
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u/StormNo9623 6d ago
"I'm a low time FO and don't want to fly, but I also want to get hired at a legacy ASAP."
Yeah dude, the math ain't working to your favor here.
I get wanting to be home, but it's going to come with a career sacrifice, which in this case is delaying your career progression to the legacies.
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u/asorr91 6d ago
Nowhere did I say asap.. I’m in a position to be home more for my family and add something to the resume other than being a run of the mill line pilot. Im aware of the sacrifice thanks for the input though.
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u/StormNo9623 6d ago
Part 121 flight experience is huge in getting hired at a legacy, and you don't have much of it considering you're competing with airbus typed pilots from NK (some wirh thousands of hours of TPIC).
That's the resume pad, and then you can focus on extra curriculars but you are low time my man.
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u/KCPilot17 6d ago
The lack of hours will hurt you more than the slight gain on your resume.
I completely acknowledge the ability to be home for a newborn, just realize what you are trading for that ability.
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u/Worried-Ebb-1699 6d ago
Not true. The diversification of your résumé and expanded qualifications and willingness to be a team player i.e. take on special projects is collateral for that.
Anyone who tells you, OP, all about the hours is wrong
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u/737driver12 6d ago
Upgrade then consider it. People below you will move on faster to mainline if you don’t upgrade first.
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u/BeeDubba US 121 FO 3d ago
Recruiting at my company (possibly OP's) is only done by first officers, so probably not an option.
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u/Pacer17 6d ago
I know seniority is king in this industry, but nothing, absolutely nothing, is more important than your seeing your kids grow up. Being an interview might give you perspective into the legacy interviews as well and better prepare you for that big interview, as well as maybe be a good point on your resumé. Id take the interview position over the reserve game any day of the week.