SeaPort vs Regional(s)

badtransam97

badtransam97

Well-Known Member
I was wondering what your opinions were about working with SeaPort vs a regional carrier. I need to get about 600 more hrs to get on board with a certain charter company I really want to work for. I have been trying to devise a way to get that time, and keep some sort of QOL haha!
I recently interviewed with PSA, and am considering that, but will have to commute, and have to drive a couple hrs to get to the airport..not ideal, but its a way to get multi engine time, and probably good experience.
On the other hand, I can go to SeaPort, probably as a CA, and only have to make a 1h45-2hr drive into MEM. The downside to them is that its all single engine time, but I will not be "losing" as much money if I am CA at SeaPort.
I am in the process of finding out if the charter outfit has a hard minimum for multi time, and if so, what it is. I know that will determine for sure which way I go. I was told by one employee that as long as I meet ATP multi mins, Im good, but Id rather have some better confirmation.
Anyway, I guess Im looking to see if anyone has any other pro's, con's, or general information they would like to share on the subject lol! Thanks..
 
The choice is between a profitable growing company where you can likely be a jet Captain making good money in a couple of years, and a single engine turboprop pilot for a company that is struggling. If you make the decision based on the merits of each position, not on where you want to go afterwards, the choice seems pretty clear to me.
 
I think you need to do a forum search on SeaPort. Also, see posts #1 and #2. Oh, and keep in mind that SeaPort has a 1 year contract where as PSA and most other (if not all other) regionals don't.

With what I'm about to say, I really don't want to come across as a jerk. But dude, you've been debating what to do, where to go and asking for advice for months now. I know it's not an easy decision, but you're eventually going to have to make it. Think about this... every week/month that you keep mulling over what to do, is a week/month that you put off your goal of getting to that charter company. Depending on what regional you choose, it could also mean a difference in senority of hundreds. I know you want to make the right decision, but there might not be just 1 right decision.
 
@M20B_pilot you are correct, I have been mulling it over very hard, and you make a very valid point. I'm not sure your background or what not, but for me, I have considerable amount riding on making the "right" decision.
I am looking at giving up a 7/7 schedule, 60k a year salary, and being based 15mins from the house. Now I know it sounds crazy for me to even consider leaving that for a regional, but there are several reasons for the change.
One, the HEMS industry is on a bubble I believe, and will not sustain the amount of helicopters currently operating. The insurance companies are beginning to deny payment for services the deem to be unneeded(could've went by ground ambo, etc..).
Another reason is the safety aspect. I have lost 6 coworkers within 3 years, and it's not just my company that's losing people. It happens WAY too often. There just isn't much you can do to fix it, just goes with the environment we operate in. So, now that my wife and I are considering kids, I just don't know if that's something I want to keep risking.
I guess the money aspect is another reason, because it seems as though flying FW one can make considerably more $$ in the long run vs my current capped pay rate.
So, all of the above, coupled with a wife at home, a mortgage, and other bills to pay its a lot to take into account. Sure, it'd be easier to just stay where I am, but like I said, I don't know that this job will be around 30yrs from now when I retire...
Anyway, I do appreciate the opinions on here, and please don't think I'm not taking the advice into account, it's just not as easy as pulling the trigger on a new job, when you've kinda gotten established in another facet of aviation.
 
Hacker15e said:
So do/did all of the rest of us.
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I wasn't trying to imply that nobody else did. Just saying that I wish I had the opportunity to get started earlier versus already having gotten established flying helo's and bought a house, cars, wife etc haha
 
CRJ vs Caravan time

The charter company for which you wish to work operates turbojet aircraft. Hmm, this isn't too hard a choice to make. Go to where the jets be!

Note: The only downside with PSA is that their training department takes a loooonnngg time to train you. A friend of mine spent five months from ground school to sim training so that he could wrap it all up...and that wasn't including IOE.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
Note: The only downside with PSA is that their training department takes a loooonnngg time to train you. A friend of mine spent five months from ground school to sim training so that he could wrap it all up...and that wasn't including IOE.
Click to expand...

Eh...

5 month paid "vacation"?

I get what you are saying, but I personally don't see that as a downside. Review the material every now and then, call or email your instructors with questions and enjoy being paid to sit at home with your family.
 
ctab5060X said:
Eh...

5 month paid "vacation"?

I get what you are saying, but I personally don't see that as a downside. Review the material every now and then, call or email your instructors with questions and enjoy being paid to sit at home with your family.
Click to expand...

I empathize with your sentiment since you have a family, but I don't and am purposefully mobile right now. I prefer to finish IOE as fast as possible so that I can hold a line and build flight time quickly so that I can get on with a legacy carrier ASAP. Although I am sure if I had a wife and kids that I would also share that sentiment.
 
Yeah I'd rather get the training over with and get the time coming in. Getting min guarantee with no per diem for 5 months or so would be tough. It's gonna be hard enough on "average" 1st year pay.
 
Yea, as it stands, we'll need to drive for Uber or work some other job in the meantime to make the ends meet.

Or, I have considered clipping coupons in all that spare time, maybe get myself up to that status of ringing up a whole grocery cart of 400 bucks and actually get paid 7 dollars.
 
As others pointed out if you want to fly single engine turboprops then fly single engine turboprops. If you want to fly turbo fans, fly turbo fans.
Yes, the pay is initially crap and you need to make a plan with your wife to make it through that period. On the plus side, I have the same opinion about EMS flying. I just don't see it sustaining the current level.
In addition the upside to pay, benefits and time off is much better on the airline industry than in EMS, even in the regional side.
 
Why are you set with PSA? You can be hired by any regional (assuming they honor rotary time).

I also gave up a ~ $60k salary to go to the regionals, because my end goal was to fly a 737 out of SEA. I fly an Airbus out of ORD now, so I guess that'll do. Point being, I did what I needed in order to make myself more marketable. It took some sacrifice, but along the way I've made some friends for life, and enjoyed the ride.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
I empathize with your sentiment since you have a family, but I don't and am purposefully mobile right now. I prefer to finish IOE as fast as possible so that I can hold a line and build flight time quickly so that I can get on with a legacy carrier ASAP. Although I am sure if I had a wife and kids that I would also share that sentiment.
Click to expand...
Meanwhile, 4 years later...
 
Nark said:
Why are you set with PSA? You can be hired by any regional (assuming they honor rotary time).

I also gave up a ~ $60k salary to go to the regionals, because my end goal was to fly a 737 out of SEA. I fly an Airbus out of ORD now, so I guess that'll do. Point being, I did what I needed in order to make myself more marketable. It took some sacrifice, but along the way I've made some friends for life, and enjoyed the ride.
Click to expand...
I am set with PSA mainly because they seem to offer the easiest commute for me. I am unable to move towns due to wife's work, and honestly don't want to nice anywhere else. Hence my desire to work at a home based company. If I worked mainline American, the commute would still be there...but back to your question, PSA has about 7-8 flights from MEM and BNA to CLT and back. I could also drive to TYS if last resort, it's about 5hrs away.
There may be other regionals that I could commute to, but none seem to have the amount of company owned flights going to and from.
 
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