Well I think GoJet requires something like 1500 in type to upgrade. That 2012 hire could have come to GoJet with an appreciable amount of time so upgrade was quick. My friends were all hired in early 2012 with ATP mins and the first year one of them flew less than 200 hours on reserve. Hard to get to 1500 when you aren't flying. Almost everyone I talk to in the airline industry has a different story of how they got to be be we're they are now. But if I ask almost any regional pilot who has been at it for more than a few years they all have the same advice, "Don't chase a 'quick upgrade'".
Well obviously yes you must meet company requirements to upgrade. Heck, when I started in late '07 I had two CAs junior to me simply because they had the time to upgrade whereas I did not. You can't sweat that kinda thing because it's still about safety and having the time to upgrade in that equipment. Chasing a quick upgrade is renamed into find the regional that has the potential for quickest movement. For example, right now there is just zero movement at legacy XJT. Friend of mine hired Dec 2006 just upgraded there. Similarly, if you go to a regional that is parking planes, like Endeavor, you are just going to stagnate yourself for years.
And there are regionals that aren't taking concessions and aren't shrinking their flying. Advising someone to go to PSA in the current regional environment is (in my opinion) deplorable. A lot of people are sacrificing and trying hard to make the regionals a decent place to work for new hires. PSA is lowering the bar. Compass, SkyWest, Republic (new contract), Horizon, or even CommutAir (new contract) would be a better choice than PSA.
Doesn't matter, what's done is done. Going to PSA right now is going to give you the shortest pain at the lowest level of the airline pilot job... a regional. The pay sucks, it is not meant for anything long term. Your goal should be to get in, get your time, and get out to where you really want to go (whichever legacy/major) as soon as possible in a seniority driven environment that this profession is in. As for the ones you mentioned, yes, I would recommend Compass because even though they aren't getting new planes, they are moving tons of CAs over to Delta as part of the flow. Compass will therefore have movement for this year, next year, and at least the year after. Any CA hired before Aug 2010 there is going to Delta via flow (unless they go elsewhere). SkyWest? Maybe, but I believe they are stagnating too with not much movement or net fleet growth. Republic? Don't know enough about their new contract. Horizon? No way. Their most junior CAs has at least 10-12 yrs at the company and you don't go to Horizon to further your career. It just stagnates. CommutAir? Yes, I hear there is enough attrition/movement to make it a good move to get the time and get out.
The "regional bar" is the most over-used term that is completely useless. Fact one: no matter what you do, someone will always vote to do your same job cheaper. Case in point, Endeavor and PSA. There are pilot groups that will vote yes to fly the same planes your regional is for far cheaper. You can take the high ground all you want, while those guys upgrade, get their time, and then get to FedEx, Delta, US Airways, while you are still stuck. Pilots have voted yes to secure a known fleet plan. Recently, at least one pilot group (Eagle) said no, and put a stop to that kind of thing at their airline. However, they are now threatened with a shutdown and loss of a majority of their RJ flying.
Get in, get your time, get out. Your goal should be to minimize the years you spend at regional wages to maximize your years you will earn legacy/major wages. This is especially realized for every year gained when you consider your last few years as a legacy/major Captain.
