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A regional aircraft taxiing on the tarmac. Photography courtesy of Nicole Lund.
Pilots all across the country are experiencing a similar trend. They have hit the requirements to become an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and cannot land a job. Regional airlines across the United States are experiencing an abundance of first officers and a lack of experienced captains to staff flights. This is leaving many pilots that are qualified to become First Officers for a regional airline to be without a job. Here is what you can do to improve your application and your chances of being called by a regional airline or low-cost carrier.
Join cadet programs
In the current hiring market, cadet programs are one of the easiest ways to get hired by a regional airline. In addition, there are many perks to being a cadet. Some programs give flight benefits to cadets while they are time building, opportunities to fly a full-motion simulator, first pick at aircraft and base, financial incentives, and the ease of getting an interview when compared to candidates that are not cadets. Some cadet programs require contracts, while others come with no strings attached. It is best to join the cadet program for the airline you want to fly for. It doesn't hurt to join as many cadet programs as you want if there are no contracts required. Signing a contract and not fulfilling the terms could lead to owing the airline money. However, if there is no contract, sign up for as many as possible. This can only help the chances of being hired by a regional airline.
Get involved in aviation organizations
Aviation organizations such as Women in Aviation International (WAI), the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA), Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), and Professional Asian Pilots Association (PAPA) are great organizations to be members of and volunteer for. These organizations have annual conferences where regional and major airlines have booths in the exhibit halls. Attending these conferences is a great way to meet future employers. In addition, pilots can ask questions and find the best-fitting airline for their needs.
Purchase an application review
Application reviews are a great way to get a step ahead of other candidates. It is proven that applications that have been professionally reviewed are more frequently pulled for interviews. Application reviews find spelling errors, inconsistencies, and missing information that applicants may not have known they needed to include. This service is an investment but can help you land a job quicker than the competition.
Interview preparation
Most companies that review applications also offer interview preparation. These professionals help applicants answer difficult questions, reword answers to flow better, and familiarize applicants with popular questions asked during airline interviews. Interviews where an applicant can answer questions thoughtfully and on the spot can make the applicant stand out. Perfecting this skill can be done through interview prep courses.
Rack up multi-engine time
Many regional airline applicants are low on multi-engine time. The requirement for most regional airlines is 25 hours because an additional 25 simulator hours in the airline's training footprint can go towards the Federal Aviation Association's (FAA) minimum requirement of 50 multi-engine hours. To stand out on an application, the more multi-engine time an applicant has, the better. Brownie points if it happens to be turbine multi-engine time. Familiarity with similar equipment is important to hiring committees and can help applicants stand out.
The current trend of regional airlines reducing the hiring of first officers is making it harder to get an interview. The best way to get an interview is to follow these tips. Applicants need to stand out if they want to be called for an interview. Building your resume up will help you put your best foot forward and potentially a foot in the door of a regional aircraft.