Gundam

About me
I am planning to put some applications in by the end of this month and am trying to figure out where I should try to go. I have been working as a CFI and have +1500TT and around 130ME time ATP minimums etc. I also have a 4 year degree eligible for Envoy bonus.
My end game is to try to get on with Emirates who apparently like time in jets over 50,000lbs, and I have heard they are calling people with time in the CRJ200 from another forum.

What I'm looking for
I saw someone else with a similar thread but I have some slightly different questions. I have been trying to research and read up on the different regionals with an eye toward them continuing to exist after I start working there, quality of life, and the airframe(as or heavier than CRJ200) since I would like to do this in as few moves as possible without being too painful.

The reason I'm asking for help is because a lot of the company specific threads get into technical talk about contracts which is difficult to follow but I'm sure is important in terms of QOL and the companies outlook.

I am thinking Skywest because
The pay is decent after the first year and I have made it on less than 1st year pay.
The planes they fly are what I'm looking for except EMB120

or possibly Trans States because
They pay even for leg cancellation
They are supposed to get 50 MRJ which might help with UAE(but according to some they might really just lease them to keep debt off the mainline carrier?)

Basically I have no idea what is happening on the business side and can't make an informed decision of where to go and how it will pan out . I know I shouldn't chase upgrades, everyone hates PBD, and...scope agreements may not be my friend right now. Anything I am missing or should look for please tell me. Thanks.

OnCenterline

You're going to get a lot of flack for pursuing EK, but if you feel that's where you want to go, then go for it. Just be informed about what you're getting into. That said, I will try to address your post point-by-point...

Skip Envoy. AMR has made it clear they plan to shut down the flying. It must be assumed that they will stick to that plan. You'll never upgrade, you'll be miserable, and you'll be furloughed.

Aircraft size. EK goes back and forth on the minimum size jet that they want you to have experience on. For a while the CRJ 200 didn't make the cut; it usually does. The E-145 currently does not.

If you want to hedge your bets here, go to someone that only flies bigger equipment: PSA, Compass, and GJ (we'll get to them in a moment). With the other regionals, you run the risk of not being able to fly the larger planes, or of not being able to fly them enough.

Company viability. This is a huge issue that usually gets short shrift from a lot of people. Unfortunately, it's also the most difficult to peg, because the regionals are all on one or more contracts with the majors. Also, as much as people on here like to pretend they know about these contracts, the reality is that we as pilots know precious little. The details are closely guarded. So, while you may know the duration of the contracts (this is usually publicly announced), what you don't know is the list of triggers for re-upping or canceling it. Delta, for instance, likes to make it sound that every regional is on the verge of losing their contract....yet they all keep flying for Delta or extending contracts.

The companies that have the most exposure are those that only fly 50 seat jets (such as TSA, ExpressJet and Air Wisconsin) or that fly out-of-date equipment (such as Envoy, TSA, ExpressJet and Air Wisconsin).

The strongest regional is definitely SkyWest. They are also the biggest, and you'll be an FO for a very long time there before you can even sniff the left seat. Their pay is decent, and they treat people well. That said, they have a ton of 50 seaters, and it stands to reason that their day of reckoning on those planes is coming. Even if you go there, you won't be on the Brasilia for long, and you may not go on it at all.

The only concern I would have with SkyWest would be this: you decide that EK is not for you, or if EK decides that EK is not for you, and you need TPIC time. At SkyWest, you're not likely to get it, which will stagnate your career.

Republic offers several different options, but they too are sizeable, and an upgrade could be a ways down the road. The other issue for you with Republic is that if you fly the E-175, you'll be required to sign a training contract. Again, folks on here will try to tell you that it's unenforceable, but do you really want to find out the hard way? You'll run into the same problem with Compass. These companies are doing this because pilots can get typed in the plane, get a few hundred hours, and then go to China and pull down well north of $100,000, complete with housing subsidies. They're also doing it because young chaps (like you) are willing to sign them.

The regional that seems to survive in spite of itself is Mesa. They have a horrible reputation both as an employer and as a vendor, yet they continue to evolve and survive....but they have lost almost all of their feed contracts at least once, and some twice.

As for Trans States, they are small, and they only fly the E-145, which weighs less when full than the CRJ does when it's landing. It will do you no good to go to TSA if EK is your goal, based on current EK requirements (EK could get desperate and change their minds--again). As for the MRJ, that plane is years behind schedule. I don't think it's even flown yet, and personally, I think by the time it's ready for delivery, it's going to be too late for TSH (Trans States Holdings) to do anything with it. If you go to TSA, don't go for the MRJ.

As of today, TSA offers a reasonably quick upgrade....but that could change by noon tomorrow. Or sooner.

The planes at TSA are not in the best shape. That isn't to say they aren't safe, but they could be maintained better. Having flown both the CRJ and the 145, I can tell you that the CRJ series puts the 145 to shame.

Now, about Go Jets, the company everyone loves to hate. I don't know if TSH (Holdings) will allow you to interview for both companies. I know that for a long time, that was not allowed. Remember, the recruiters work for both TSA and GJ. So, assume that you will only get one interview with one of the TSH carriers.

It's important to understand why there is so much animosity between the two. GJ was started as a non-union alter-ego to TS because the TS pilots did not want to take a pay cut, and had come within a few hours of going on strike. Many of the TS pilots jumped to GJ and immediately became captains; much of the flying went to GJ as well, so a lot of bad blood was created.

The TS contract is much, MUCH better than GJ, but the truth is, neither is great. It's all relative, but you can't really appreciate the lack of CX pay at GJ until you've experienced it first hand (either getting it or having it denied). Both have a lot to learn about how to treat their employees.

That said, most carriers pay for cancellations. GJ is one of the few that don't. I think even they know that this is going to have to change.

To address the pilot shortage, TSH is proof that it's here. It's already an issue at TSA, and GJ just announced a signing bonus because they can't find people.

It's hard to predict where you will be in the upgrade list at either one, because a number of FO's at each are still trying to get the required flight time, so in a few cases, junior guys are getting CA slots.

I'm not sure what to tell you as far as which one to go to. GJ has better planes (especially for your goals) but really lousy pay. TS flies a ragged out plane that is a total turd, but you get paid better...but the days of the 50 seater are numbered. The insurance is the same for both (not good). I'd probably take TSA because of the contract if nothing else; I also know some of the senior managers at each one, and TS is better in that department as well. The contract is a pretty significant item, and the bonus that GJ is offering you will really just wind up becoming a way to cover some of your cancellations.

If I were in your shoes, I'd consider PSA, which is another airline everyone loves to hate because they wound up with a lot of the AMR Eagle/Envoy flying. But, they have a ton of planes coming (CRJ-700/900s), and you can expect a reasonably quick upgrade, especially if EK doesn't work out.

The bottom line is that you need a back-up if EK doesn't work out for you or doesn't work out in the time frame that you are looking for. Everybody has their own criteria for picking a regional, and the truth is that until you've worked in a 121 environment, you can't truly understand or appreciate the nuances of the various contracts and work rules, let along what it's like dealing with a Scheduler that doesn't understand what is legal (or safe). Each carrier has pros and cons. With any of them, you're 2-3 years away from having the required total time to upgrade.

If you want to ping me with more questions, feel free to PM me.

DL31082

ExpressJet doesn't only fly 50 seaters. There is one side that only flies 50 seaters and then there is the other side that flies 50, 65, and 76 seaters. We aren't hiring so it's pretty much irrelevant.

OnCenterline

That's my fault. I was thinking of legacy XJT. Thanks for the correction.

Flightcap

Hugely helpful post, thanks OnCenterLine for condensing most of the madness from the Regionals forum into an easy-to-understand summary.

Gundam

You've really given a lot of dircetion OnCenterline, thank you. You raised a good point about having a back up plan. I am now focusing on Compass and PSA. I have to spend more time reading what its actually like working between the 2. But just looking at the pay and the opportunity to flow up Compass looks slightly better. Mainly because I am hoping Compass will give a better chance to flow into Delta which is supposed to have an obscene number of mandatory retirements compared to U.S. airways even considering its larger pilot pool. So by the time I'm through Compass, Delta should be upgrading, if other routes don't develop. Thoughts? And thanks again for your help.

OnCenterline

You will not qualify for the flow from Compass to Delta. Only the pilots that were on the list prior to the sale of Compass to Trans States Holdings qualify to move from Compass to Delta.

That said, there will be movement there that might help you see the left seat, but no guarantees.

yimke

Centerline. While I applaud your informative post, you are fueling the fire for SJS newbies. While I realize you have moved on to the majors, it takes knowlege of the future trends for regional companies. PSA is way past due for captain hires, and they are no longer the flavor of the week. All you had to say at the end of the story was.. compass. Possibly PDT because they will pass this concessionary TA. Quite sad actually.

kfahmi

One minor note re: Skywest. They cancelled all summer Brasilia classes as well as all Brasilia classes "for the foreseeable future." So applicants at this time will not have the option of the Brasilia, even if they wanted it. Everyone is going into the CRJ or the EMB175.