Question: My son was just turned down by an airline he interviewed at. He spent the past three years earning his certificates and building his time as an instructor. He applied when reached 1,500 hours. The interview went well, so the rejection came as a surprise. Is there something else the airlines are looking for these days?
Answer: Airline hiring has slowed down considerably from the days of the requirement being something along the lines of “apply with 1,500 hours and a pulse.” According to anecdotal information gathered from various airline recruiters, as well as CFIs trying to make the transition to the airlines, a glut of applicants is allowing the carriers to be more selective.
While the application minimums may be 1,500 hours total time and meeting ATP minimums, to be competitive you may need 2,000 hours (or more), and it would really help if some of that is turbine time. There are also some applicants who pay out of pocket for type ratings to make themselves more hireable.
