First Year Regional Stuff

[HVYMETALDRVR]

I would say there are better regionals than majors. Not all major jobs are created equal. How many guys leave a regional for Allegiant, Miami Air, Sun Country, Frontier, even the pay at Air Tran (pre-merger) really was pretty low vice regional CA pay. Prior to the AA merger the pay at US Air starting at year one: $25, $57, $62, $73, $75, $77, $79 - and that is for the Airbus. I know more than one person who successfully interviewed there but said "no thanks". Especially with the contract with little opportunity for soft time. Many regionals have MUCH better contracts than the lower tier majors allowing for credit to well outstrip block time by a significant margin, 50% if not more, further accentuating the pay cut and the length of time it will be in effect.

In fact unless you can get on at one of the top carriers, I can definitely see why people stay put at a regional after getting "stuck" there for 8-10 years. At the mid career level the pay isn't too shabby (6 figures). I understand why people become lifers at Skywest, ExpressJet, and Republic (among others).

Until your 60 years old and a CKA in the Barbie jet and Mainline pulls the plug. Then your junior to me at RAH with a 2 leg commute begging crew sked to put you on RSV out of base for the PD and free hotel.

Don't mean to come off as a dick, but I've seen it happen. Too risky and no thanks...

 

[Zondaracer]

Until your 60 years old and a CKA in the Barbie jet and Mainline pulls the plug. Then your junior to me at RAH with a 2 leg commute begging crew sked to put you on RSV out of base for the PD and free hotel.

Don't mean to come off as a dick, but I've seen it happen. Too risky and no thanks...

Happened to a guy I know at Comair... he didn't want to drop to the bottom of a seniority list and make a fifth of his pay so last I heard he was talking about foreign contract work until he can retire.

 

[Justin S]

Any examples from Air Wisconsin first year pay and monthly pay with per diem breakout? Or for that matter what is a typical per diem per month for any regional, say CommutAir?
Thank you guys and gals!

 

[dbrault17]

Any examples from Air Wisconsin first year pay and monthly pay with per diem breakout? Or for that matter what is a typical per diem per month for any regional, say CommutAir?
Thank you guys and gals!

About $350-400 bucks at my airline. But my post above included that.

 

[HVYMETALDRVR]

Happened to a guy I know at Comair... he didn't want to drop to the bottom of a seniority list and make a fifth of his pay so last I heard he was talking about foreign contract work until he can retire.

Yeah the guy I'm referring to in the above story is ex-Comair, nice guy, totally sucks.

 

[MOGuy424]

Any examples from Air Wisconsin first year pay and monthly pay with per diem breakout? Or for that matter what is a typical per diem per month for any regional, say CommutAir?
Thank you guys and gals!

Paid twice monthly like all airlines. While on reserve my first year the small paycheck (just includes a portion of min guarantee) worked out to about 775.00. My second paycheck was around 940.00. This varied if you got used for reserve bc it would factor in overtime, per diem, etc. I was not used hardly at all on reserve, but now they can't seem to catch their breath. Once I was a line holder on first yr. my first check was still the small one at around 750-775ish, the second pay check which included all the goodies averages about 1,200.00

No that I am a big time pilot on second year pay things are much better (picture a honda with a glued on bmw symbol). First month paycheck is usually around 975.00 and second paycheck averages 1,500.00 - 1,800.00, but if you are willing to work on off days you can make some serious coin. Talked to one FO who made about 50k his second yr....but damn that was 0 time off.

Hope it helps. I took a gamble and came here be QOL and pay, I don't think we are going anywhere anytime soon...buuuut I also thought that about the Citation I was flying before I came here

Good Luck!

 

[wheelsup]

Yeah the guy I'm referring to in the above story is ex-Comair, nice guy, totally sucks.

None of the Comair guys I worked with were bitter. They knew they had a good run, lived in base for 15-18 years and made 6 figures in an area where that bought a heck of a nice lifestyle. Most came to get current and were hired away soon afterward. UAL, Spirit, and other LCC's and some went overseas.

Same thing with the ACA guys I worked with.

It sucks, I know. But look at some of the pay scales of the major carriers out there. Someone on the other site posted a typical Allegiant schedule. Almost all days off were flanked by on days, very few >1 day off sequences. Combine that with the forced TDY making $24/day in per diem sharing an apartment with another pilot. With a lot of the carriers you have to upgrade before you can make what you were making before as a regional CA.

All I'm saying is there are reasons people hold out and don't bail at the first opportunity. Great opportunity for F/O's who hustle, but as someone who was in that position I can totally understand the mentality.

 

[HVYMETALDRVR]

None of the Comair guys I worked with were bitter. They knew they had a good run, lived in base for 15-18 years and made 6 figures in an area where that bought a heck of a nice lifestyle. Most came to get current and were hired away soon afterward. UAL, Spirit, and other LCC's and some went overseas.

Same thing with the ACA guys I worked with.

It sucks, I know. But look at some of the pay scales of the major carriers out there. Someone on the other site posted a typical Allegiant schedule. Almost all days off were flanked by on days, very few >1 day off sequences. Combine that with the forced TDY making $24/day in per diem sharing an apartment with another pilot. With a lot of the carriers you have to upgrade before you can make what you were making before as a regional CA.

All I'm saying is there are reasons people hold out and don't bail at the first opportunity. Great opportunity for F/O's who hustle, but as someone who was in that position I can totally understand the mentality.

I know, I'm an FO not a CA, and I'm young and single my situation is different but it's still to risky. Those older ex-Comair guys that got burned and that waited til the end will also probably end up working for a Part 91 til they're 70+ because the most financially prosperous years of they're careers were ripped away. The guy that I know of always had a two leg commute, even at Comair; crazy. I can also see why a senior CA wouldn't go to say, Allegiant but back in 05-08 almost everyone was hiring. Though, I bet a lot of them wish they went to even Airways or JetBlue. Then again, when Allegiant gets a contract it will probably be pretty solid since they're not a regional. Little bit of a gamble there.

But different strokes for different folks.

 

[desertdog71]

Dollar Beers!!! Plus I drive by far the crappiest car at the crashpad.

 

[wheelsup]

I know, I'm an FO not a CA, and I'm young and single my situation is different but it's still to risky. Those older ex-Comair guys that got burned and that waited til the end will also probably end up working for a Part 91 til they're 70+ because the most financially prosperous years of they're careers were ripped away. The guy that I know of always had a two leg commute, even at Comair; crazy. I can also see why a senior CA wouldn't go to say, Allegiant but back in 05-08 almost everyone was hiring. Though, I bet a lot of them wish they went to even Airways or JetBlue. Then again, when Allegiant gets a contract it will probably be pretty solid since they're not a regional. Little bit of a gamble there.

But different strokes for different folks.

Yeah those guys missed a couple of hiring waves.