Long time listener, first-time caller here.
I’m looking to make a career change from the IT field to the airlines and am hoping for a review of my plans and feedback from this community. A bit about me:
Age: 44 (I’ll just be turning 46 when I go to a regional.)
Hours: 1651 total (1597 PIC); 44 multi; 978 instruction given; ** 319 X/C **
College: BS in Communication (1996) & MBA (2001); 49 aviation credit hours in the 1990’s while working on my BS in Communication with no aviation degree received
My flying “career” has been on and off. I actively flew 1992-2000 as a student, instructor, and jump pilot. I took off 2000-2014 due to work & life. I flew again 2014-2017 as an instructor. Life got in the way again the last half of 2017 but I’m actively flying again now. I’m planning to apply at a regional late May 2019 (gotta get the 2-year mark at my current job first due to relocation assistance).
My plan to get to get to a regional in May 2019 is:
- Fly X/C flights between now and then to get to 500+ hours (no instruction)
- Do a bit of studying towards ATP (I feel my private / instrument / commercial knowledge is up to par due to recent instructing)
- Loose weight to get under 30 BMI for general health reasons (ok, so that’s a personal goal - current 280 pounds at 6’0")
My questions:
- Would getting an MEI (and in effect boost my multi hours to 50+) be necessary?
- Is it fine to do personal flying for the 180 X/C hours or would it be better to get most of that time volunteering for Angel Flight / Pilots for Paw / other charities?
- Do I even need that 180 hours X/C given the college courses I took (remember - no aviation degree)? Regardless, I have to fly actively during the next 15 months anyway.
- What else am I missing or what else should I do in the next 15 months?
Edit: corrected year to apply to 2019.