Is it TRUE that military pilots are highly preferred than civilian pilots (even if civilians have more hours)?

Answer 1

No, it's not.

Added: Gee... Do I detect a note of sour grapes from the answer below mine?

Answer 2

That depends on the airline, if that's where you're going with this question. Some airlines traditionally prefer military pilots over civilian-only experience, especially if their management, senior pilots, and hiring board are mostly composed of ex-military people. Among the other things that come into play when considering applicants is that most military pilots have high-performance jet time, or large transport time before they apply to the airlines, and they have received a very high level of training. Most civilian pilots do not have these advantages, so they have to compete by having a lot more total flight experience.

Answer 3

No, its absolutely not true. In fact the opposite is now the case. Most airlines prefer to hire civilians rather than military-trained pilots. They were trained in an environment that more closely resembles the airline world and many military people struggle with the lack of a strict command chain on board a flight deck. Airline pilots are far more democratic and egalitarian than traditionally trained military pilots are.

Answer 4

I think this perception comes because of a couple reasons. Military pilots accrue flight time at a lower rate than civilian pilots. So, someone who has been a military pilot for 3 years may only have 1,000 hours compared to 2,000 or more hours civilian pilots typically build in that time frame. If you were to only look at hours, the military pilot is at a disadvantage.

However, like others have said, in one hour if military flight, there is more training and emergency situations than in one hour of civilian flying, which can get pretty boring.

If one is better than the other is like asking if ford is better than chevy. The military guys will say they are better, the civilian guys who have flown with military pilots will disagree once they stop vomiting. (I'm speaking mostly of ex-fighter pilots who have lost all concept of the word "comfort.")

If I'm being shot at, half of the airplane is damaged, and we have to land in the middle of a thunderstorm, I'd rather have a military pilot in there with me. In just about any other circumstance (which in my experience so far has been 100% of the time,) I'd rather have a civilian pilot. But that's just me.

Answer 5

There are a few ways to look at this because this is a trick question. Ask your self this..If you had to pick the winner of a 100 mile race and if you were right you got the prize money. Now the drivers of the race are a Nascar driver and a Drivers Ed teacher.Ok both have a drivers license and both know how to drive.My pick would be the Nascar driver because he has more experience with in different situations that may come up in that 100 mile race.Anyone can drive a car you just put your foot on the gas pedal and try not to hit anything.Not everyone can fly because it is an art and you are learning every time you get behind the yoke. The more your there the more you learn.Ask your doctor the next time you have a check up why it is called a Medical Practice? The more you do it the beter you get.

Answer 6

Just from experience mind you, and I am former military, but I prefered reserve pilots over active duty pilots when we went flying. The reserve pilots that flew my jet were also flying the DC-10 for United, Northwest or Continental. They knew how to treat an aircraft. After all, its the passengers that matter in an airline and if you slam an aircraft into the ground, chances are the passengers are not going to be to happy with you. I never had to change a tire or do a hard landing inspection when a reserve pilot flew the KC-10.

Answer 7

To answer your question with a straight answer yes it is true military pilots are preferred over their civilian counter parts and why?

Its because of the training military pilots receive all the time. Its not how many hours you set on your butt in the cockpit. Sitting in the cockpit isn’t real training. Sitting in a military aircraft or flight sim practicing (training) all the time makes a better pilot in an emergency situation. Sitting on your butt collecting time doesn’t make you necessary a better pilot.

So you have to ask the question do you want a 2,000-hour military pilot with lots of hands on real emergency flight experience or a civilian pilot with lots of time sitting in the cockpit punching holes in the air?

Answer 8

Every military flight is a training flight unless it is actual combat. The military packs as much into a flight as a civilian pilot might see in a month of flying. Touch and gos, emergency procedures, mission training. It used to be said that 1 hour of military flight time was the equivalent of 3 hours of civilian flying.

Answer 9

Not really, someone who has been in the airline business has a much better chance of getting s good job than someone fresh out of the military, seeing that they already have things down and the military pilot has zero experience in the airline flight environment.
I have two pilots in my family that are ex-military, both were Colonels and flew fighters and they even had a hard time finding work. Even the other pilots in his unit told him hed never get a job.
He had to go through all the training that he didnt receive in the military, so its not like you just show up and tell them your a fighter pilot and you get a job.

Answer 10

There relatively isn't a call for again out of the armed forces anymore. interior the submit-Vietnam era, there grew to become right into a great style of veterans interior the job industry with armed forces flight journey. airways knew that those have been especially qualified, nicely-knowledgeable human beings, so they favored to hire veterans. as we communicate's pilot pool would not have an identical furnish of veterans that have been available in that era. airways now seek for individuals with sturdy preparation and journey in a team surroundings. in case you p.c. to at last flow to the foremost airways, a school degree is on your maximum suitable activity. you do no longer choose one for all airways, yet you will finally end up at a downside against many different pilots available who do have a level. It would not must be in aviation. administration, business enterprise, and physics are person-friendly recommendations to an aviation degree for pilots. yet confident, a 4 12 months degree is often favored on the foremost airline point. The regionals don't count number as much as long as they shop the hiring point the place that's as we communicate.

Answer 11

it is totally true. because military pilots have more training and discipline and can work harder, faster, and execute orders faster than civilian pilots. it is also true that you have a bigger chance of being hired by a major commercial airline if you have been a military pilot before.