Which regional?

USMCmech

USMCmech

Well-Known Member
I am now getting close to the magic 1000/100 mark and pondering applying to a regional.

The question is which one?

I honestly haven't paid any attneion to which regional flys for who, or where they are based, which one sucks worse than the others, which one pays just peanuts, which one will you never upgrade. It's all such a soap opera that I just tuned it out.

In short, which one sucks the least?

I may be moving to El Paso in June and could start applying shortly thereafter.

Any thoughts?
 
Checkout PilotJobs.com. They have a pretty cool map tool to show bases and what not. AirlinePilotCentral.com will give you some info on pay, upgrade times, and plane types flown, plus some news on future stuff.

I am shorter than your TT by about 950 hours, so I don't think I can be of much help with reccomendations. From what I have learned on the net, here at JC and elsewhere, in the last 6 months, there are a few bad choices. Maybe you can start by ruling them out.

Mesa is bad because they don't pay well and promote paj-for-job(PFJ) programs. They like to do alot of Continuous duty overnights too.

Mesaba is a mess of backruptcy.
 
Xjet seems to be a really good company too. It seems to me they are towards the end of a large hiring time. This could mean upgrade times go up from the 2 years they are at now. Just a guess.

Still, they would probably be lower than Eagle.
 
They told us we're (XJT) supposed to continue aggressive hiring through June--80 a month I think was the number. FWIW.
 
Attrician rate at ExpressJet is very high. We're losing over 30 captains every month (and some FO's are being picked up by CAL as well). That's why hiring is so agressive.
 
Why do pilots chose airlines over any other job?? I'd like to do corporate for a while, maybe forever, and eventually just keep applying to Southwest, FedEx, and UPS..... but regionals or some crap like ameriflight?? C'mon, the pay sucks!! I can get a CFI job that pays a lot better than the best paying regional.....


...... please.... some explain to me why pilots chose regionals over other, better, jobs.
 
You do have a point.

I know a guy who just started part 91 out of CFIing who had 1300/400 and was picked up to be a FO on the Hawker 800. They did start him out at $45K for his first year and paid for his type.

Who knows, maybe its the glam of the airlines.
 
meritflyer said:
You do have a point.

I know a guy who just started part 91 out of CFIing who had 1300/400 and was picked up to be a FO on the Hawker 800. They did start him out at $45K for his first year and paid for his type.

Who knows, maybe its the glam of the airlines.
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Seems like it... The only reason I can think of is that pilots get so involved with becoming an airline pilot, that when they get the times to apply, they have the natural instinct of applying w/o thinking of the actual situation (i.e., the crappy pay)
 
GreenDayPilot said:
Seems like it... The only reason I can think of is that pilots get so involved with becoming an airline pilot, that when they get the times to apply, they have the natural instinct of applying w/o thinking of the actual situation (i.e., the crappy pay)
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Yes, we all just dive in head first without thinking. :) Well, all I can say is I absolutely love being here. To each his own.
 
WestIndian425 said:
Yes, we all just dive in head first without thinking. :) Well, all I can say is I absolutely love being here. To each his own.
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I can accept that people like being at the regionals... but I'm just asking for a reason.

Personally, the more money I make the happier I am. Flying is flying so it doesn't matter too much what I fly. I have a friend who flies for SkyWest and always mentions how he misses flying a cessna around because he could do whatever he wants in a cessna, as opposed to a CRJ where you have to consider passenger comfort.
 
I would definitely say to each his own. By the time someone gets to 1000/100, they should have a pretty good idea of the options available to them in aviation.....

about the companies, pick one based on where you want to live, and how the company treats their employees (unless you have a high tolerance for pain and bullsmacky)........

skywest, eagle, chaupublishuttle, and ASA seem to be the strongest companies *right now*, with decent pay, work rules, and futures.......

good luck :bandit:
 
launchpad said:
I would definitely say to each his own. By the time someone gets to 1000/100, they should have a pretty good idea of the options available to them in aviation.....

about the companies, pick one based on where you want to live, and how the company treats their employees (unless you have a high tolerance for pain and bullsmacky)........

skywest, eagle, chaupublishuttle, and ASA seem to be the strongest companies *right now*, with decent pay, work rules, and futures.......

good luck :bandit:
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I think that he shouldn't go ASA,XJT,PCL or PSA. Why because those are my regionals of choice. :)

Seriously. I like those airlines because they're all in the south. Which means to me better QOL because the south is VERY affordable to live in. More especially if you're making $25k and have $50k in student loans.

In closing. I think that when you're ready to move on up to the majors. You might want to stay away from Delta,United and Continental. For much the same reason that I listed about staying away for the select regionals that I listed!

:D ;) :)
 
tinman said:
GreenDayPilot said:
but regionals or some crap like ameriflight?? quote]


Why in the world would you compare AMF to the regionals?
And what CFI job pays more than the best regional? Maybe first year, but you're gonna work you but off to do it.
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...because after CFI'ing, pilots typically go to the regionals or a 135 op like AMF.

I get paid $35k salaried (fly or not), but I only took that job because it's located near my parents hosue, which means I save a lot of $$$ on rent. I have another weekend job in LA where I make $40/hour at a 61 school... I think making $40/hour is a lot better than the first couple of years at regional... after a couple of years of doing this, any pilot can get a good paying job without starving to death the first year...... just my 2 cents
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People bash SKYW and CHQ, but they both treat their employees reasonably well and they are agressively seeking more flying which means more growth (AKA upgrade!)

If you're not interested in one of those two look for a place that has a base close to home, but remember it could close tomorrow.
 
GreenDayPilot said:
Why do pilots chose airlines over any other job?? I'd like to do corporate for a while, maybe forever, and eventually just keep applying to Southwest, FedEx, and UPS..... but regionals or some crap like ameriflight?? C'mon, the pay sucks!! I can get a CFI job that pays a lot better than the best paying regional.....

...... please.... some explain to me why pilots chose regionals over other, better, jobs.
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Continueing the CFI thing is a definate option. I really enjoy teaching for it's own sake. I honestly would prefer a good freight job, or a corprate gig.

The really sad thing is that after child care, an regional would be a 60 hour a week hobby.


Honestly all my 800 hours means is that I know how much I don't know.
 
GreendayPilot...

You asked why would someone like being at a regional. Well I'm at XJT just over two years and can't complain.

What do I like? Well, I'll be bidding on my schedule for Feb tomorrow so I'll know about 3 weeks in advance what I'll be doing the coming month. I'm in the top 20% of FO's so I'll probably pick a line that has between 15-16 days off. Not too shabby. Additionally I know I'll be able to pick up/trade/drop trips as the month goes on to adjust for days off that I may or may not need or make extra money.

How do I adjust my schedule? I simply go on CCS (our system) and look at "open trips" and "Available trips" which can be traded for. It's all computerized...

As far as money goes, I made $44,000 last year (2nd year pay). While that's not big money it's more than maybe some would think a 2nd year FO could make. I flew about 930hrs (give or take).

I really like the trips I took in my free time, and the trips I gave to my sister. I went and she went separately to Europe (1st class) during the year. I additionally made several other international trips, Costa Rica etc. Basically I figure I did thousands of dollars worth of travelling last year.

As far as the flying itself, of course flying around in a Cessna is fun. I'm not going to argue that cruising in the flight levels is as much fun as maneuvering in a light single. But there is fun to be had out on the line flying, there is comradare among crewmembers (much like instructors working together) etc. And the flying certainly isn't always boring, just flew down to Mexico City last week (4th time) and each time it's been exhilarating. Somewhat complex arrival and transition to the approach, mountains, busy airspace, high alititude.

So...those are just a few things I can think of.
 
Baronman said:
GreendayPilot...

You asked why would someone like being at a regional. Well I'm at XJT just over two years and can't complain.

What do I like? Well, I'll be bidding on my schedule for Feb tomorrow so I'll know about 3 weeks in advance what I'll be doing the coming month. I'm in the top 20% of FO's so I'll probably pick a line that has between 15-16 days off. Not too shabby. Additionally I know I'll be able to pick up/trade/drop trips as the month goes on to adjust for days off that I may or may not need or make extra money.

How do I adjust my schedule? I simply go on CCS (our system) and look at "open trips" and "Available trips" which can be traded for. It's all computerized...

As far as money goes, I made $44,000 last year (2nd year pay). While that's not big money it's more than maybe some would think a 2nd year FO could make. I flew about 930hrs (give or take).

I really like the trips I took in my free time, and the trips I gave to my sister. I went and she went separately to Europe (1st class) during the year. I additionally made several other international trips, Costa Rica etc. Basically I figure I did thousands of dollars worth of travelling last year.

As far as the flying itself, of course flying around in a Cessna is fun. I'm not going to argue that cruising in the flight levels is as much fun as maneuvering in a light single. But there is fun to be had out on the line flying, there is comradare among crewmembers (much like instructors working together) etc. And the flying certainly isn't always boring, just flew down to Mexico City last week (4th time) and each time it's been exhilarating. Somewhat complex arrival and transition to the approach, mountains, busy airspace, high alititude.

So...those are just a few things I can think of.
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I agree...

imo, its all about moving forward... nobody said you were going to make a killing in the 1st couple years working in this field... take the hit, and look forward to the future... and imo airlines have benefits corp gigs will never have like the traveling benefits.... (for me thats very important since my family lives everywhere lol). I just want to be a CFI enough to make my hours and thats it... I don't feel like being in a cessna longer then I need to...
 
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