121 time required for United
Posted by notagreatpilot@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 40 comments
Seeing some off topic comments on several forums this week about United requiring part 121 turbine time now. Is this 100% true? Is it safe to assume a NetJet or flexjet guy like myself is SOL for ever trying to get into United?
minimums_landing@reddit
It’s not impossible but UA has been honest at recent conferences that they are focused on 121 applicants. Good news is AA and WN hire a ton of 135 guys
prex10@reddit
Netjets and Flexjet have never been competitive options to get on at any legacy. They want regional guys and military pilots
Do people from 91/135 places get on? Sure. Not in droves though.
aDustyHusky@reddit
This is absolutely wrong. What matters is the candidate and do they come from a structured training program. TPIC with that background is more attractive than an FO driving an RJ just because they have 121 time. The majority of people that leave FJ/NJ go to a legacy.
Now if you're talking a mom and pop 135 with in house SIC rides etc, that's a completely different background. Not all 135s are equal, what matters is proof they can pass a structured training program and the remainder of their application.
Used_Shower3984@reddit
The majority of people that leave Flex/Net may be to a legacy, but that does not mean the majority of people at legacies are being hired from Flex/Net.... that's survivorship bias.
aDustyHusky@reddit
Never said the majority of people getting hired by legacies are coming from NJ/FJ, it's quite literally impossible. You could hired the entire pilot group from FJ this year and still not fill every seat hired by the big 4 (if their hiring projections hold). If FJ/NJ pilots weren't competitive they wouldn't be getting hired, simple as that and they are at a pretty high success rate too, in fact on par with those coming from regional as a Capt.
It is an absolutely misleading and wrong statement to say that someone coming from FJ or NJ isn't a competitive applicant compared to a candidate from a regional, especially a regional FO. Has nothing to do with survivorship bias or whatever other crap you want to spew.
Used_Shower3984@reddit
"misleading and wrong statement to say that someone coming from FJ or NJ isn't a competitive applicant compared to a candidate from a regional,"
It might be a generalization, but if they were thought to be as qualified as a 121 pilot then they would have an easier time getting hired, and the OP wouldn't have to ask this question and regret going to work at FJ would they? Of course there are qualified pilots at Flex/Net/135s in general, but they have a much harder time getting interviews and proving that than Jim from Republic.
aDustyHusky@reddit
I'm assuming here and no offense to OP, but, you don't know anything about them. They mentioned in the comments they had an interview at Delta with 300 TPIC, that means at least on paper they were a competitive applicant. They got the TBNT which says something during the interview process went wrong and likely has nothing to do with their background otherwise they wouldn't have gotten the interview.
Competitive applicants get interviews, good applicants get hired. Maybe OP had a bad day, that happens but it is extremely unlikely that them coming from 135 had anything to do with them not getting a CJO.
Used_Shower3984@reddit
"Do people from 91/135 places get on? Sure. Not in droves though."
"I often wish I had known this before I chose them over republic years ago."
-OP, Notagreatpilot 04/19/2026
aDustyHusky@reddit
Yes, those are quotes from OP, what about them?
Used_Shower3984@reddit
Either you have had one too many fume events or we are having two entirely different conversations. You said I knew nothing about him/her and I pointed out that I knew that they agree with me that its significantly easier/better to get hired at a legacy from 121. Then you act like that has no relevance to this topic? That is the entire point I am making.
aDustyHusky@reddit
First I appreciate the chuckle about the fumes, might not be wrong but we are in the same conversation, I just don't think you're agree with my points which is fine.
I still hold by what I said unless you personally know this dude. OPs comments are coming from someone that has gotten a chance and failed. Our conversation has been about whether or not a 121 candidate is more competitive than a 135 one, specifically NJ/FJ pilots. I stand that given similar numbers of TT and TPIC that they are equally competitive. Also how competitive you are is dependent on more than your hours and background, even if a significant part. To determine if someone is competitive that should be determined by if you get an interview, not if you get hired. Anyone sitting in an interview is already considered competitive, otherwise they wouldn't be there. Thus OP was competitive, they just didn't hit the mark. Depending on why they didn't get the CJO with Delta, they may never get the opportunity at United. HR departments talk, and we just don't know. Hopefully OP just had a bad day and eventually gets the call from United.
Used_Shower3984@reddit
Fair enough. I don't necessarily agree with your point, by I am not the expert, and can appreciate that you made your argument well. And I agree that OP must be competitive if he got an interview with DL.
DeltaTule@reddit
I don’t agree with you on much Prex but you are absolutely correct here. But you will be downvoted into oblivion by the delusional 135 guys who want to have their cake and eat it too. Sad
notagreatpilot@reddit (OP)
FWIW, I had a Delta interview recently that didn’t go my way in the end. Most of the young 135 folks aren’t delusional and know the limitations of their own competitiveness. Hope to see you on the line sooner rather than later.
notagreatpilot@reddit (OP)
I often wish I had known this before I had chosen them over republic years ago.
Suspicious_Clock2311@reddit
Off toic; If airlines are so concerned with Turbine PIC time, are they still going to recognize corporate guys who fly like a PC12 or its a multi turbine time theyre actually looking for? Just curious about the semantics.
aDustyHusky@reddit
They're looking for FW ME turbine time and folks who have come from a company with a structured checking/training program. That's why military background folks generally get a leg up because their training program is a known quantity. While technically turbine PC12 time generally speaking doesn't hit the wickets but for the right candidate with the right connections, it could be enough but would also need enough ME time as well. Just depends on where the filters are set.
Suspicious_Clock2311@reddit
Makes a lot of sense. Im not really in any of these positions, just always wonder this when I see these kinds of questions come up. Forgive my ignorance but what does "FW" stand for? Fixed wing?
aDustyHusky@reddit
Yeah, unfortunately ME helicopter time don't mean much except hours, and experience of course but won't get you too far, especially n a competitive environment like this.
Weasel474@reddit
It's more about a known quality. With the airlines, you have very regimented 121 training, standards, and oversight. You know what you're getting. With 135s, they could be stellar or some dude flying a clapped out Mustang that hasn't been airworthy since Obama took office. It's a crapshoot unless it's from a very known and reputable company like Flex/Net.
As for hiring, they can afford to be as picky as they want. There's a TON of applicants, why not demand experience in the exact kind of operation you're hiring them for?
Worried-Ebb-1699@reddit
You’re asking for definites when maybe is the only accurate any one here can give you.
No one publicly or otherwise has any official idea what triggers an app pull for a legacy. There are estimates and preferences, but even those are TBD purely based on what YOU bring to the table.
We had a 1,600h guy in my indoc. And a fuckin astronaut candidate.
Sorry, but you need to decide what path works for you.
The “quick jump to spirit to get to united” days are gone.
notagreatpilot@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your insight. I see your comments a lot on here and always like what you have to say.
TraxenT-TR@reddit
Not SOL. At recent WN interview (not United but still a big 4)... it felt like 90% of the others around me were Flex/NJ/Rando Corporate guys. Only like 5 of us in that group were 121 pilots. A good portion of those folk did get a CJO it seemed like as well.
Gotta just keep pressing on and build PIC if you can.
skakid812@reddit
How many mil there? Just curious.
notagreatpilot@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I am a captain now with about 300 TPIC
TraxenT-TR@reddit
Keep holding out I believe in ya.
Go to conferences… that seems to be a major magic trick. Also get any internal friends to get you a CPO meet n greet if you can.
CarminSanDiego@reddit
Just curious why would a 121 guy struggle to get hired by United when single seat mil guys with 1500 hours and no crew experience get hired?
TornadoTim60@reddit
Because military flight training is harder than GA or 121 or 135 training programs, and people respect that.
DCS_Sport@reddit
Ironically, I’ve seen MIL guys struggle with some of the airline training the hardest…
T-1A_pilot@reddit
Can confirm - as a military guy, there's a lot in the regs that is different to what we're used to, and it can be challenging to absorb the new info and get the numbers straight. I at least had heavy/crew experience so CRM and flying weren't too bad- I'd imagine single seat guys would really feel like they were hit with the fire hose...
CASAdriver@reddit
Currently at Flex, military guys are very hit or miss in our program. Retired airline guys have a pretty steep training failure rate, or quitting during training. Flew with a guy who was driving F16's, F117's, went to a major cargo carrier and flew heavies for 20 years, and was literally the worst pilot I've ever flown with.
Relevant_Trick1498@reddit
The good thing about NetJets is that you take a Part 121 checkride and it’s AQP. When I got interviewed at United I was told “we love our NetJets pilots”. Just passed 2 years on property and it was the best decision ever. Apply. Make them tell you know. I had 0 121 time. Did I have good timing? Yes.
notagreatpilot@reddit (OP)
Had me chearing myself on until the last part
Relevant_Trick1498@reddit
Point is, apply. Go to all the expos and get face time. Make them tell you no. If this is where you want to be then make it happen. Get 2-3 internal recommendations and pay for some application and resume prep.
Mao_Kwikowski@reddit
No true. They have a direct military to United pipeline. UMPP.
Checkeide-failure@reddit
No. Not true.
notagreatpilot@reddit (OP)
Notagreatpilot 🤝 checkeide-failure
Weasel474@reddit
There's often going to be a slot or two that goes to 135 guys, but you REALLY need to stand out for those. Not impossible but more difficult.
Used_Shower3984@reddit
Wouldn't surprise me. The legacies can afford to be super selective because they are literally the best jobs you can get in aviation.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Seeing some off topic comments on several forums this week about United requiring part 121 turbine time now. Is this 100% true? Is it safe to assume a NetJet or flexjet guy like myself is SOL for ever trying to get into United?
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