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From "Zero to Hero" (Student to Airline Pilot)

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Over the last few weeks, I have been in the process of buying a house with my partner.  Once our offer was accepted, it was time to get the bank to send our lending request to the underwriters.  This is where I found out what seems pretty normal to the airline pilot, is completely abnormal to everyone else.  So, in an effort to help future pilots understand the pathway to a major airline or give you something to copy and paste when the lender ask, here is how this works... Speaking in generalities, there are two pathways to becoming a professional pilot: military or civilian. Though I was in the military for nine years, I was not in aviation at the time and did not start flight training until I was discharged from the Navy.  I completed my flight training at a civilian university (you can substitute a university program for a Part 61/141 non-degree program in the example outlined below).  My path has a pretty standard career progression. While in flight training at the university, as m
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What Airline Pilots Pack

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Anyone that knows me will say I am a bit OCD when it comes to organization.  With this comes the ability to pack smartly and be able to live on the road for a week or more at a time.  When a pilot is on reserve, they could easily be gone for five plus days at a time.  For those of us who hold lines, or are on reserve flying international, we could be gone six or more days at a time.  Packing is key to survive and be comfortable. For starters, most airlines allow crew members to have a total of three bags.  This includes a roller bag (carry-on style suitcase, 22 or 24 inch), a second bag such as a flight kit, and a third bag such as a lunchbox.  I will cover all three. Lets start with the easy stuff... FOOD! I carried the  Stealth Premier Cooler from Luggage works.  This has a good size top section for dry items and a large section for cold items, as well as a front pocket for utensils and side pockets for sauce packets. I started out meal prepping but found it was hard to keep things c
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Humbled and Honored

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 Stars & Stripes:  https://ww2.stripes.com/sponsored-content/cal-aeronautical-university AOPA:  https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/march/25/cau-graduate-and-navy-veteran-aaron-hepps-shares-his-journey
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The Delta Pilot Selection Process

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 Unlike most of my blog entries, this entry is specific to Delta Air Lines (Yup, "Air Lines" is two words for Delta!) I have had my application in at Delta (via airlineapps.com) since I finished initial training at Envoy Airlines.  I knew they would not select me that soon, but it made it easy to just keep updating the application until one day I had what Delta wanted.  I recommend doing the same. At the time of selection, here is what I had: Regional Airline First Officer LOSA Pilot for Regional Airline TT: 2000 Part 121: 1010 Masters Degree Military Service 5000 Volunteer Hours University Professor To prepare your application, take a look at the video below.  This hour long video will explain the in's and out's of your application.  The majors are looking at the details, and it is very important to ensure your application has that attention to detail. The Application  (if this link does not work, please email me) Once my application was selected by Delta, I received
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Prep for Airline Training? What should I study?

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One of the most frequent questions I see on mentorship pages is future airline pilots asking what materials they should study in order to be better prepared for their upcoming class at their first [regional] airline.  My answer, NONE! Now, much more goes into that answer than simply doing absolutely nothing, so I will attempt to provide some guidance. Airline training is very specific.  Many airlines fly multiple different aircraft and often you do not know which you will be assigned until the first day in your class.  However, others award your aircraft type prior to your class date.  Regardless, the guidance remains the same. Airlines have spent hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars, to create their training programs.  The programs are very structured (even more so than Part 141 training) and are proven to provide their trainees with the best possible opportunity for success.  After all, it takes $30,000+ to train a single pilot for their airline job- and one things the air
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Vaccine (Covid) Required

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 The Covid-19 Pandemic has forever changed the face of our planet.  Its profound affect on the airline industry has lasting damage that will take years to recover.  Regardless of your stance or political opinions on the Covid-19 pandemic and the Covid-19 vaccine, airlines are taking no chances. Every airline requires applicants to be fully Covid-19 vaccinated.  From majors to regionals, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination.  Without such, you will not be extended an interview and/or complete the hiring process.  For those requiring boosters (per CDC guidance), you must have boosters as well. Pilots currently employed at an airline may not be subject to this mandate per their contract, but will be unable to gain other airline employment (for example, regional pilot wishing to apply to major’s) without the completed vaccine series. Additionally, they will be bared from certain (most) international flights as a requirement of the destination and re-entry to the USA.
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Airline Applications

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For those students wishing to join a regional, the application process is something that can take time.  Many students only have experience with minimum wage or entry level job applications and do not understand just how detailed and involved the airline application can be.  Majority of airlines use www.airlineapps.com. One great feature about airline applications, regardless of the site, is that you can start the application and "publish" when you are ready. Regional airlines will often give a CJO (conditional job offer) to flight students whom are within six months to a year of meeting the minimums to be an airline pilot.  Therefore, I tell students that you should start applying to those airlines you are interested in about six months prior to being able to go.  But I also tell students, give yourself 2-4 weeks to make your applications, edit your application, and have it reviewed prior to submitting. Though the regionals are not looking for perfection, the major airlines
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New Hire: Pilot Contracts

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This is from an aviation lawyer. I’ve seen it happen, even at the airlines. Don’t let it happen to you! ——- *** Danger***  This long email is necessary and coming to you because of the number of pilots reaching out to me and colleagues of mine regarding litigation over terms of employment/training contracts they have signed.  (I’m an attorney and a professional pilot).  There is one outfit in particular that is a repeat offender, but this is good advice nonetheless. All of us get excited about new job opportunities and employers that are going to pay for recurrent or even initial types.  However, you MUST read the contract put in front of you. A couple things to note: 1) When offered a job, ask them to send you all required contacts for review. Be up front, you don’t want to move your family and be presented with a new or different contract on the first day.  2) If you are offered a job, you move, get ready for first day/training and at the last minute, a new contract is thrust before
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Airline Pilot: Schedules & Pay

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Once someone decides they want to be a professional pilot, they often ask me about my schedule.  How often do I work? How long am I away from home? What is an airline pilot schedule like? The easy answer... There is no answer! Schedules... The schedules at the airline not only differ from person to person, but company to company. Passenger airline pilot's often have a similar way in which their schedules work, and cargo airline pilots have another.  I do not know too much about cargo other than many of them work 14-16 days on, then 14-16 days off.  Yes, 14-16 days straight, away from home. For passenger airline pilots (I am going to use what I know, mostly based on my company which works like most), our schedule does not work like that.  We have federal laws that require us to have so much rest in a given day, week, month, year.  These rules don't apply (mostly) to cargo operators. Each month on the 15th, a "bid package" comes out (see picture one below).  This packag
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