What is the lifestyle of a regional like?

Here in the Cincinnati in the last couple of years our company has hired, P&G, Kroger, Great American, EJM, you'd have to lose that Steeler stink though, LOL. Actually we just hired an AMT who is a rabid Steeler fan.
 
Chief Captain said:
7 legs, 10 legs, 7 legs?

Good God man. Is that a typical schedule?
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I think I may have thrown one extra round trip in on Day Two, should be 7-8-7 or thereabouts. And yes, for the Southern California system. Each flight is blocked around :48-:53. It gets better, the minimum turn time when we're flying as United is 18 minutes. Which is great for satisfying most of the airplane's needs provided that you've done that flight segment before, there's nothing unusual happening, and so on. It's absolutely miserable for satisfying the airplane's needs AND the pilot's needs like food. Bring your lunch. :)

I really, really, really enjoy this flying and this airplane. I work hard, but I am having a great time.

z987k said:
I'd shoot myself.
I hope you like Sandy Eggo.
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I do. We might just have to break down. ;) I kid, I kid. Carlsbad is even nicer, layover wise.
 
Mark Z said:
I am just finishing up building my times, and expect to be hired by a regional in the coming months. My question to you folks is...

What is the daily schedule, or weekly schedule like for a new regional FO? What is it like if I live in my domicile, vs. if I commute to it? How many days or nights am I home, how much can I expect to live on the road? Also when on the road away from my home (commuting) who pays those costs etc... I am confused on a lot of these nuances and would love to hear more about what life is really like for somebody in the position I am looking to get.

Thanks for the help,
Mark
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So much depends on who you work for, but expect to work between 15 and 18 days per month. A typical duty day will probably run between 10 to 12 hours, but can frequently go 14 or longer. A typical rest period may be 12-14 hours, but may be shorter, and your employer will provide a single occupancy hotel room for you. While on duty you will earn a per diem of around $2 per hour to cover meals and miscellaneous expenses such as tips for the hotel van driver, etc. Some companies will provide a crew meal during the duty day, but I don't think that is very common.

Expect to fly between 4 and 5 legs a day, but you can fly 7 or 8 (or more). Most I ever saw was 11 in one day but that was when the turboprop was the order of the day. Likely your report time at domicle will be between 6 and 7am and release between 3 and 4. Reportng from the layover, will likely be earlier, between 5 and 6. Some airlines stage crews, which means there is a morning crew, and an afternoon crew at the layover city. In this case, you could go with what I just described, or if you are the afternoon crew, report mid-afternoon and work til around midnight.

You will work weekends, holidays, the majority of your time in this profession. Nature of the beast.

You will bear ALL costs associated with commuting to and from work. You're expected to be report for work on time and fit for duty regardless of where you live or the circumstances of your commute.
 
Mark Z said:
A corporate gig would be awesome... But here in Pittsburgh I will take what I can get. Not many choices for flying around here.
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We have a lot of ex corporate guys at my company. Sometimes you find a good one but a large amount are crap. And planes go away at the drop of a hat. Also pay isn't nearly as much as you'd make at a commuter long term for most of them.

Yes, there are a handful that are great, and guys have found a happy place there, but very few will move on after that.
 
Mark Z said:
I am excited to hear that PIT is considered a junior base for Republic. That means good things for me. As far as growth within that, if I elected to remain within PIT, how would my prospects for upgrades to captain be affected? Would it possibly be faster by remaining in PIT if only junior guys seem to be getting sent here as FO?
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Upgrades don't work that way. Upgrades are awarded in seniority order across the entire company and I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon. The most junior captain at Republic is a 7/07 hire. If you were hired today, you would have about 1,000 people between you and him and there are several people that have bypassed in hopes of getting a particular airframe or base. Also, PIT is extremely senior for captains (on the 170) as every captain that is based there, lives there. PIT is junior for FO's and CA's on the Q because most of the people don't live there and its impossible to commute there and there is only one crashpad there.

One thing to consider is that no one knows what's going to happen with Republic's outstation bases with the new rest rules starting in January. Most of the pairings out of PIT, in particular, are illegal under the new rest rules. PIT only exists as a base because it is a Mx base and BB has this stupid thing about crew and Mx bases being co-located. RAH is known for opening and closing crew bases at the drop of a hat. Also, ORD is opening up in August on the 170 and no one knows how junior or senior (probably senior) it will go.
 
Mark Z said:
What is the daily schedule, or weekly schedule like for a new regional FO?
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Here is a typical schedule from my airline. I'm a junior FO off of reserve. I often hold 16 days off but I'll post one of my 15 days off months below (90 hour line).

TU 01 OFF
WE 02 4 PM Departure 2 flights Arrive in Base 10 PM
TH 03 4 PM Departure 2 flights Arrive New Orleans 11PM
FR 04 4PM Departure 2 flights Arrive in Base 11:30PM
SA 05 OFF
SU 06 OFF
MO 07 OFF
TU 08 OFF
WE 09 OFF
TH 10 OFF
FR 11 OFF
SA 12 7 AM Departure 2 flights Arrive Salt Lake City 12PM
SU 13 6 AM Departure 2 flights Arrive Detroit 2:30PM
MO 14 5:40AM Departure 4 flights Arrive in Base 3:30PM
TU 15 8AM Departure 1 flight Arrive in Dever 9:15AM
WE 16 10AM Departure 3 flights Arrive in Base 11:30PM
TH 17 OFF
FR 18 OFF
SA 19 OFF
SU 20 8AM Departure 2 flights Arrive Detroit 3PM
MO 21 7:30AM Departure 4 flights Arrive in base 7PM
TU 22 2PM Departure 3 flights Arrive Boston 10PM
WE 23 2:30PM Departure 3 flights Arrive in Base Midnight
TH 24 OFF
FR 25 OFF
SA 26 6AM Departure 3 flights Arrive in New Orleans 4PM
SU 27 7AM Departure 3 flights Arrive in Minneapolis 7:30PM
MO 28 8AM Departure 4 flights Arrive in Base 9PM
TU 29 OFF
WE 30 OFF
Mark Z said:
What is it like if I live in my domicile, vs. if I commute to it?
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Heaven vs Hell
Mark Z said:
How many days or nights am I home, how much can I expect to live on the road?
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I was gone 8 nights in the month I posted above, this is pretty typical for me but if you want to be gone more or less you could always bid that way by bidding either 1 day trips or 4 day trips.
 
I would love to stay at PIT... And from what I hear republic just leased more space on the field for maintanence.

I feel pretty sure I could get it as my domicile if it is truly junior for FOs. How much harder will the training be if I go jet vs Q400? Just trying to be as prepared as possible before I start to fully pursue my career move in the next few weeks.
 
Don't go to a regional based upon where their bases are. Flying shifts month by month and you are setting yourself up for disappointment/anger/frustration to base your future on a regional airline base.
 
Its nice to have a goal to get on with Republic and get PIT, but until you apply and have an offer, don't limit yourself. Bases change quite often, keep that in mind too. I interned back in college with a 121 and hope thats my only stint with the airlines.
 
Well I must remain in Pittsburgh, and locally there isn't any good flying jobs available. The best option is to go for Republic and stick it out at PIT until I have the time to upgrade or to get a local corporate job. I can't think of any other ways to do it, and I have been turned off to the idea of on-demand charter companies. I have seen too many bad things and schedules at my local one to bother pursuing it locally.
 
If you have to stay in PIT you can commute to your base. Once again don't limit yourself to one company.
 
flyinggreasemnky said:
At Republic, PIT is the most junior base in the system on the 170 (ACY and IFP might be a tie but will be closing soon) and on the Q400.
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Casino stuff not working out?
 
z987k said:
Are there a lot of corporate DHC-8, CRJs & ERJs running around? Legacy I guess, but I don't see too many of those.
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Yeah I really don't follow that line of thinking either.
 
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