FlyCRJ.com

It’s tough.

But I think there is going to be some changes in 2011 and in the airline industry, and for the better.

Now I hear a lot of rumors in the airplane flight deck and crew room. And with any rumor, you have to take it at face value. It could be true or it could be a total fabrication.

But one thing I truly believe is that in 2011, I think we are going to see an upward trend in hiring at some of the regional airlines and that soon after that we will see an upward trend in hiring at the majors airlines.

Virgin America, Air Tran Airways, and Delta Airlines are hiring right now.

But why do I say this?

Because, at the current flying levels throughout the United States, with current manpower as it is, it is impossible to maintain the projected level of flying that is currently be demanded of the regional airlines.

Some airlines have to cancel flights because they have a shortage of pilots. Heck, I haven’t been able to get a day off in several years. Every time I put in a request, it is denied because of insufficient manning.

Furthermore, all those pilots that had a stay of retirement because the FAA age 60 rule was changed to 65, those pilots are now going to be retiring, leaving room for upward movement in the pilot ranks which will result in hiring.

So what does this mean to you?

It means that soon, the hiring departments are going to start spinning up their hiring teams, which means the airlines are going to need first officers, and first officers that have been sitting in the right seat for 3 to 5 years, maybe longer, are going to start seeing upgrades.

So if you have been a flight instructor for what seems a long time now, your chance to interview and get hired at a regional airline may be near.

But you will only get hired if you start now and get all your paperwork in order.

Now here are a few things that I recommend you do:

1. Get Your Resume Up-To-Date With Your Current Flight Times And Information – If you have submitted your resume electronically or filled out an online application at an airline, you should go out and update it.

2. Update Your Logbook – Take a good look at your logbook, page-by-page, and make sure that that it is neat and that everything is filled in correctly and that the page is signed. I’ve seen interviewers say “bye bye” to an applicant because their logbook pages weren’t signed.

3. Update Your Electronic Logbook – If you don’t have an electronic logbook, you better. It is a great backup, helps you sort out ALL your flying time instantly, and is really easy to maintain. I use Logbook Pro.

4. Make sure that you can pass a First Class Medical exam – If you have some over-riding medical concerns, have them looked at now. Personally, I keep track of every doctor visit I go on and get a copy of their medical reports.

5. Make Sure There Is Nothing Damaging In Your Background – There is a terrific book called “Reporting Clear” that will help you look for and find then fix anything that could be damaging.

6. Study and Take Your Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Written – There are two reasons for this. First, it looks awesome on your resume. Second, you will most likely have to take an ATP-like written exam during your interview. My favorite study material has always been Gleim and ASA products. Very thorough. If you already have your ATP, then even better! Here is link to those flight training tools:

- Gleim ATP Written
- ASA ATP Written

7. Get Some Flight Time – One of the things the airlines are looking for is recent flight experience in the last six months. If you have gotten out lately, you need to. I would refresh myself on Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) procedures, specifically ILS approaches, holding, and go-arounds. Also check out, Instrument Proficiency Series by Pilotworkshop.

8. Get Your FCC Radio Telephone License – Again, this looks good having it on the resume plus you will need it if you fly international. For a small fee, you can get your FCC Radio Telephone License here.

9. Get a Passport – Again, this looks really good on your resume if you have it and it is current. To learn more about getting a passport, click here.

10. Brush Up On Your Interview Skills – There is a great book from a good friend of mine, Lisa B Marshall, that can help you with that. Click here to learn more about “The Public Speaker’s Guide to Ace Your Interview.”

Wow! There is a lot to do, isn’t there? Well you better start now because when the time comes, you don’t want to be left behind. Remember, the airlines are all about seniority. The sooner you get your seniority number, the better off you are going to be. It’s all about timing, and your time to get into the airline business as a first officer is coming soon. But only if you are ready.

To Your Flying Success,

Jeffrey

P.S. Don’t forget to Tweet this entry or email to a friend. Any if you have any tips or insights about getting an airline job, please, leave your comment below.