Flying_Corporal
New Member
I keep hearing people say the best regional airlines are Comair, ASA and Chautauqua, while the the least prefered are Mesa and Pinnacle.
Is it true? What is based on?
Is it true? What is based on?
best regionals??
- Thread starter Flying_Corporal
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FL270
New Member
I'll try to respond as objectively as I can. R2F is right, desirability is certainly in the eyes of the beholder.
Comair is well-liked because they have the "gold standard" contract for the regional industry. Of course, they had to strike to get it. Down side is they only have one pilot base ... so you'd better like CVG or be happy commuting there.
CHQ is well-liked because they are growing and have relatively short upgrade times, as well as the relative stability of having their airplanes spread over four "Big Six" partners. (If one fails, the whole company doesn't go down the drain.) Down side for some might be that they have a lot of "outstation" bases that aren't necessarily commuter friendly.
People dislike Mesa for a few reasons. Their contract is somewhat behind some other regionals in certain areas. Their management (particularly the CEO, Jonathan Ornstein) is roundly despised by pilots everywhere.
The biggest complaint I hear about Pinnacle is that they pay you nothing until you complete training ... no guarantee, no per diem, no meal allowance, no hotel, nothing. Some people also don't like their domiciles ... unless you love six months of winter, PCL won't be a good place for you. (Memphis runs fairly senior and for some reason some people don't like the city ... personally I think it is a great town but that's my opinion.)
Again, desirability is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe it is because you know someone on the inside. Maybe it is because Airline X has a base in your home town and you'd prefer not to commute. Maybe Airline Z only flies east coast and you're a lifelong Californian. Maybe some people don't want to work for Chautauqua because they can't spell or pronounce the company name. I don't know. Each person must make their own decision about where they want to work ... what might be great for me could be quite poor for you.
Clear as mud, right?
Comair is well-liked because they have the "gold standard" contract for the regional industry. Of course, they had to strike to get it. Down side is they only have one pilot base ... so you'd better like CVG or be happy commuting there.
CHQ is well-liked because they are growing and have relatively short upgrade times, as well as the relative stability of having their airplanes spread over four "Big Six" partners. (If one fails, the whole company doesn't go down the drain.) Down side for some might be that they have a lot of "outstation" bases that aren't necessarily commuter friendly.
People dislike Mesa for a few reasons. Their contract is somewhat behind some other regionals in certain areas. Their management (particularly the CEO, Jonathan Ornstein) is roundly despised by pilots everywhere.
The biggest complaint I hear about Pinnacle is that they pay you nothing until you complete training ... no guarantee, no per diem, no meal allowance, no hotel, nothing. Some people also don't like their domiciles ... unless you love six months of winter, PCL won't be a good place for you. (Memphis runs fairly senior and for some reason some people don't like the city ... personally I think it is a great town but that's my opinion.)
Again, desirability is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe it is because you know someone on the inside. Maybe it is because Airline X has a base in your home town and you'd prefer not to commute. Maybe Airline Z only flies east coast and you're a lifelong Californian. Maybe some people don't want to work for Chautauqua because they can't spell or pronounce the company name. I don't know. Each person must make their own decision about where they want to work ... what might be great for me could be quite poor for you.
Clear as mud, right?
pscraig
Well-Known Member
I think a lot of it is subjective and varies by person, but I do spot some trends among the many regional pilots I meet. While the regionals are generally known to have bad schedules, some stand out as worse than others. CHQ in particular gets high marks from every pilot I meet, and Air Wisconsin seems to be popular too. I also meet a lot of pilots moving up within the regionals-Commutair and Piedmont, up to CHQ and Comair, for example.
Wannabepilot:
True, it's all flying but you have to like where you work to be happy because at some point you realize this is just a job, one that you love but a job nonetheless. In that favorable environment you can still feel the "joy", but working for a company that treats you like dirt, you aren't going to be lovin it.
Wannabepilot:
True, it's all flying but you have to like where you work to be happy because at some point you realize this is just a job, one that you love but a job nonetheless. In that favorable environment you can still feel the "joy", but working for a company that treats you like dirt, you aren't going to be lovin it.
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
I really wouldn't mind being based out of Memphis. Besides living with my parents and paying no rent, it's not a bad place to live. The weather doesn't suck constantly (no insane humidity all year round, and it MIGHT snow twice a year). If I get on with a regional that would be a do-able commute from Memphis, I'm considering it.
Minnesota_Flyer
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
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I dont understand why people say they would like to fly for so and so, and so and so is better than this and that....isnt the joy in flying, not whos better?
[/ QUOTE ]
Not really! Work Rules, Compensation, Bases, Equipment, Upgrade times, etc etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
And never underestimate the capacity of most people to find things to complain about!!
[ QUOTE ]
I dont understand why people say they would like to fly for so and so, and so and so is better than this and that....isnt the joy in flying, not whos better?
[/ QUOTE ]
Not really! Work Rules, Compensation, Bases, Equipment, Upgrade times, etc etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
And never underestimate the capacity of most people to find things to complain about!!
Minnesota_Flyer
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
Complaining is in every airlines GOM, right?
[/ QUOTE ]
If not, I say we complain about it!!
OK, I really need some sleep.
Complaining is in every airlines GOM, right?
[/ QUOTE ]
If not, I say we complain about it!!
OK, I really need some sleep.
Mr_Creepy
Well-Known Member
Doug said it right. Today's poster child is tomorrow's red headed step child.
Mesa and Chautauqua for example. Ten years ago they were reversed roles.
Mesa has a lot of problems right now (and no JO is not the problem, the problem is the infighting between the pilots.) Chautauqua on the other hand narrowly avoided an "alter ego" airline that could have been just as debilitating as Freedom. They are not fighting with each other, though, and they managed to eke out a respectable contract.
Both are very similar airlines, but right now I would have to give the nod to CHQ.
Mesa and Chautauqua for example. Ten years ago they were reversed roles.
Mesa has a lot of problems right now (and no JO is not the problem, the problem is the infighting between the pilots.) Chautauqua on the other hand narrowly avoided an "alter ego" airline that could have been just as debilitating as Freedom. They are not fighting with each other, though, and they managed to eke out a respectable contract.
Both are very similar airlines, but right now I would have to give the nod to CHQ.
