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Navy Pilots Joining Airlines: From Cockpits to Cabins

Started by KennethATC42 • 1 weeks ago • 2 replies • 63 views
So, I've been reading about how Navy pilots transition to become airline captains at Delta, United, and American. It's kinda interesting that once they finish all the paperwork, they can start flying commercially pretty quickly. But here's the catch: they start at the bottom of the seniority list, even if they've got loads of flight hours under their belts from their military days.

I get that seniority is everything in airlines, but it feels a bit odd that someone with thousands of hours in fighter jets or other military aircraft has to take a backseat to folks with way less time in the air. I guess it's just the way the industry works, but it makes me wonder how these experienced pilots feel about starting over in a sense.

Do you think it's fair that military experience doesn't weigh heavier in the seniority game? And how do you think these pilots adapt to the different flying styles of commercial vs military planes? Anyone here with firsthand experience or know someone who's made the jump?
Yeah, it's kinda wild how military pilots start at the bottom. But seniority rules are a big deal in airlines because they affect everything from schedules to routes. It's a tough pill for those guys, but I guess they adapt. Military flying is pretty different though. More precision and speed in jets, while commercial is all about smoothness and passenger comfort. A buddy of mine made the switch and said it was a learning curve, but his military discipline helped a lot.

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