What would the first year be like for a new hire at ASA/Xjet? Would someone be able to have an EWR base right out of training? How long would be it till someone holds a line out of EWR? What would the pay be for the first year, all things considered? What does the second year pay look like? What would the QOL life be commuting to EWR from MHT/BOS?
I'm fairly experienced, about 2800 total, 600 multi turbine. Aside from getting hired, would that give me any advantage over a 1000 hour CFI, i.e. upgrading sooner? I have my ATP written, would I be able to use my checkride as an ATP ride?
First year would go something like.......2 months (more or less) in Houston doing ground school and sim work. At that point you'd be assigned a base, most likely ORD or EWR. From day 1 you can put EWR as your top choice and even try trading somebody for it.....Then you'd do IOE at your new base for probably a trip or two. After that you're cut loose and you're on Reserve.
Bottom line is you can either get EWR out of training or get it within months via a trade/advancement.
Reserve will last anywhere from no time at all (literally) to years. It all depends on how much hiring is done. At this point, we seem to be hiring quite a few pilots, so if hired today you'd only spend 2-4 months on reserve. Our reserve rules are pretty good (for a major or regional). It allows you some flexibility in days and you can select trips. We also have humane airport standy-by rules when compared to most of our peers.
How long to hold a line? Like I said, at this point a few months. If you're hired at the very tail end of hiring though it could be a long time.
First year pay....I'd have to look at APC for an actual # but it's pretty dismal and similar to most of our regional peers. I think you'd make somewhere around 30K. By second year in the 40's.
Generally speaking BOS is a good commute. The options are typically via United (Continental) which has 7+ flights a day on 737/Q400/Embraers or via JetBlue. The positive are that there are many flights, the negative is that there are many commuters as well. Overall Boston commuters seem to be a happy bunch, I don't hear too many complaining. Oh, and it's a what, 30 minute flight!
Now Manchester......mmm.....4 flights a day typically. Many commuters from XJT and United (CAL) who are remnants of Bar Harbor Airlines. It's a notoriously difficult commute and many end up catching a bus through BOS.
Your experience will be appreciated by most, but unfortunately for you it won't result in a quicker upgrade as it's a pure seniority based system. The checkride you take upon getting hired will be a SIC type. Perhaps you can work out an ATP ride if you speak to the right people.....
Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have any more questions about XJT or EWR.
Enjoy the industry where you are just a number among other numbers.
