New JetBlue Mins - Hope for Helo bubbas?

[Hacker15e]

Apologies for linking something I saw on another board, but over at APC there is a post that indicates B6 will be changing their mins and allowing helo guys to include that into their total time. Could be a real watershed for military rotorhead types. I bet they are loving it over at APTAP.

I don't have any outside verification of this -- single source only.

From the VP of flight ops a few days ago...not sure what the exact #'s will read, just check the job listing on 2/1/08 @ jetblue.com if we're still around then and not bought/merged by then...

"I am pleased to announce that effective February 1st, we will eliminate our PIC and turbine time requirements, our aircraft weight requirements, and accept turbine helicopter time as part of the Pilot Candidate's total flight time.

With the changes to our First Officer minimum requirements, we will still base our selection process on competitive qualifications. As of today, candidates being offered an interview tend to have the following ranges of experience and often well above the published minimums:

* Greater than 2,000 hrs total time

* More than 1,000 hrs PIC

* Experience in aircraft utilizing "glass cockpit" technology, Flight Management System (FMS)

* Recency of flight experience considered

* 4 year college degree


It is important to note that although our minimum requirements are being changed, final selection will still be heavily scrutinized. For example, we wanted to be able to consider an applicant who has limited PIC time because he/she has been at a carrier for many years as a First Officer, yet unable to upgrade because of limited growth. Pilots with military helicopter time have extensive experience with “glass cockpits”, FMS, and GPS navigation systems. We felt that eliminating pilots from consideration in the two above examples would be eliminating some potentially outstanding candidates."

[Low_Level_Hell]

Wow, and just like that I am now a qualified applicant with a CMEL and 275 hours fixed wing.

Not too sure how wise it is to consider "glass" time in military helo's though. As far as the Army, goes other than a small number of CH-47s and UH-60Ms which are still not fielded, the only two helicopters with glass cockpits are the AH-64s and OH-58s both of which never go IFR. For all the millions they cost the only approved flight navigation instrument on the AH/OH helo's is an ADF. For the AH the glass displays are almost never up flight symbology, we use that thingy stuck to our eyeball.

Considering people with the same fixed wing times as me are getting hired to fly jets any way, the military helo time would be a huge advantage regardless.

[kellwolf]

Look.....a 4 year degree requirement.


Two more classes and I qualify for jetBlue, too.....

[Velocipede]

Hopefully, most helo pilots are too smart to sign on with a scumbag non-Union outfit.

[wheelsup]

The shortage is happening at the LCC's too - instead of raising pay and attracting folks away from other flying jobs they just lower the requirements.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

Hopefully, most helo pilots are too smart to sign on with a scumbag non-Union outfit.

Typically helo guys aren't that bright, but they usually have good survival instincts.

[Velocipede]

Sadly, Ian, SJS will probalby strike hard. At least it would in the Navy helo community. Too bad MOST military aviators don't have a clue about WHY Unions are REQUIRED in the airline business.

Most of the current crop of B6 pilots are finding out, though. And that, in itself, is a good thing.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

Sadly, Ian, SJS will probalby strike hard. At least it would in the Navy helo community. Too bad MOST military aviators don't have a clue about WHY Unions are REQUIRED in the airline business.

Most of the current crop of B6 pilots are finding out, though. And that, in itself, is a good thing.

Ahh, I was just joking around.

The same would be true of the Army community. Most don't know a thing about airlines, unions, or anything. If they happen to be fixed-wing rated they'd probably unknowingly jump on this.

[SkyCougar]

Originally Posted by Ian J

Typically helo guys aren't that bright, but they usually have good survival instincts.

I disagree with you Ian. 3 of the brightest minds on here are former helo pilots - you, Velo, and Staplegun.

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by SkyCougar

I disagree with you Ian. 3 of the brightest minds on here are former helo pilots - you, Velo, and Staplegun.

"I must warn you, young lady. I am susceptible to flattery."

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by SkyCougar

I disagree with you Ian. 3 of the brightest minds on here are former helo pilots - you, Velo, and Staplegun.

Well I'm certainly not stupid enough to believe that!

[OldTownPilot]

Originally Posted by SkyCougar

I disagree with you Ian. 3 of the brightest minds on here are former helo pilots - you, Velo, and Staplegun.

Suck up

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Look.....a 4 year degree requirement.


Two more classes and I qualify for jetBlue, too.....

JetBlue hires people without a degree occasionally. AirTran also claims that a degree is "preferred," yet I got hired without it. You just have to have the internal recs. Even SWA hires without a degree sometimes.

[Velocipede]

For years, SWA's main criteria was a 737 type rating. That's why I didn't apply there...too cheap to spend $8K for a ticket.

[jtrain609]

Sometimes, pedestrians get hit by cars and walk away from the scene of the accident.

I wouldn't exactly take bets on it, though.

[Velocipede]

Good point, train. Not having a degree will still pretty much get your resume roundfiled.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Sometimes, pedestrians get hit by cars and walk away from the scene of the accident.

I wouldn't exactly take bets on it, though.

Agreed. I just don't want the experienced pilots without degrees to think that it's hopeless. It can be done. Don't just give up.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Sometimes, pedestrians get hit by cars and walk away from the scene of the accident.

I wouldn't exactly take bets on it, though.

Wow! That could be used in the next kung-fu movie where the teacher is speaking to the "grasshopper".

[jtrain609]

To me, a good pilot is good at risk management.

If the chances of success are extremely low without the degree, hedge your bet and get the degree no matter your personal opinion on the matter is. If you can't or won't, accept the consequences of your actions and realize that as Velo just said, you will most likely get your resume in the circular file.

It's no more than a risk vs. benefit analysis. There's NO WAY I'd get into this career unless I had the deck stacked in my favor to succeed. As far as I'm concerned, any other path is reckless with the amount of money that has to be invested into this career to have any kind of a pay out in the end.

[Ian J]

Hey hey hey! Let's not let this thread stray from two things we love and hate:

JetBlue & Helicopters!

(You can decide which is loved and which is hated.)

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by Ian J

Hey hey hey! Let's not let this thread stray from two things we love and hate:

JetBlue & Helicopters!

(You can decide which is loved and which is hated.)

Can I hate both of them?

[jtrain609]

Man I'd love to do my rotorcraft add-on. Helicopters look like a ton of fun to me!

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Can I hate both of them?

Yes!

Or love them both. No matter what, Jet Blue is a pretty good ride as a passenger.

(Sorry, I try not to think these evil thoughts but can't help it!)

[Velocipede]

That way madness lies!

[BobDDuck]

I dunno... We had a Jetblue jumpseater out of Huntsville. There was no way I was going to let her on because of all the preaching that Velo has been doing here, but then she bought the whole crew hot dogs so she got a ride. What can I say, the captain and I were willing to take a bribe.

(and yes, I'm kidding, she would have gotten on either way... I'm not THAT militant)

Actually, I sort of felt bad. About 30 seconds after we pushed back she got a call from scheduling (I guess she didn't have her phone off... shame shame shame) that she had been pulled off her trip the next day due to IOE. So she had to ride all the way to CLT and then run to the gate with the flight going BACK to HSV (that left about 4 minutes after we got in) and try to get back home. I say bad luck, I'm sure other's here would say karma.