Which regional and why... ?

CFI A&P

CFI A&P

Exploring the world one toilet at a time.
So, this discussion came up the other day with a buddy. Here's the scenario:

An aspiring pilot looking to apply at a regional, the hopeful pilot has ATP mins & written with 100+ ME time, or already has the ATP and looking to apply at the regionals with the goal of a long 121 career. Which regional would you want to work for and why? With consideration of usual things - a specific airline's bases and the required commute, pay scales, hiring bonus, the future of the airline (AMR with AE and US Air for example), equipment, training contract, potential for upgrade in a reasonable time, beggars can't be choosers, etc...

Tell me which and why, or which regional you wouldn't want to work for.
 
Good luck with that outlook because no reason exists for any of these carriers to dole out any more money then offered. I am sure hell will be closer to freezing over before this dream comes to pass.
 
jmreii said:
Good luck with that outlook because no reason exists for any of these carriers to dole out any more money then offered. I am sure hell will be closer to freezing over before this dream comes to pass.
Click to expand...

Eventually, they will get desperate. Hell, even DPApilot bailed on the regional rat race for more coin.

Supply and demand will eventually balance, but right now, the supply of multi-thousand-hour-pilots looking for regional first year pay is likely going to be short of demand.
 
You need to not just look at straight pay and hiring bonuses. I made more my 2nd year as an FO than the most senior FO at the highest paying hiring bonus place. They fly big planes and think they are mainline pilots, but compensation is a fraction of what I make flying planes half their size. While lack of commute is nice, I can tell you career wise, I would be way worse off (as of today) if I worked for the big regional where I live. So, just keep those ideas in the back of your head. Big ones are Air Wisconsin, Expressjet, and then maybe Republic.
 
This is too broad of a question, there are way too many variables to determine ones QOL. All regionals kind of suck but some less than others. The ones that rank towards the top tend to me skywest, expressjet, air wisconsin, eagle.
 
Based on what I've read there's not a regional that stands out among the rest given the circumstances presented by the OP. Things change so fast....it's all a crapshoot.
 
Nark said:
Dude, you're stereotyping us larger Ejet pilots. You're coming off like a d-bag.
Click to expand...

Well, why are Republic newhires tripping over themselves to fly the 170 but the airline can't fill a class for the Q or the 145?
 
at1024 said:
Based on what I've read there's not a regional that stands out among the rest given the circumstances presented by the OP. Things change so fast....it's all a crapshoot.
Click to expand...

Well, Siver seemed to work out well for Gulley:
  • Florida base
  • Mostly kick-ass overnights, in places you might actually want to go
  • Two types in less than a year
  • Essentially the same crappy pay as elsewhere
  • Didn't manage to piss off too many people :)
  • Off to better things in less than a year
Set your expectations appropriately - that it is a job to get your foot in the door and move to something else, and not something to do only for money, and there are some good options out there. Particularly if you understand the plan isn't to be there long, and be ready to move.
 
Well, those were some interesting responses. It went from the "whoever will hire you, then shortest commute" to the Gulley is living it up on Duval Street, hanging out with Kelly McGillis and then back to normal replies.

I haven't really been monitoring the regional situation lately, figured I would ask those on here that are in the know. Thanks for the replies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top