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Envoy Airlines Regional Airline

Envoy Air versus ExpressJet

Old 08-26-2016, 08:55 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Jland0413 View Post
So you recommend ExpressJet?


I recommend people do their own research and choose the airline that best suits their needs and tolerance. They all have "ifs".
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Old 08-26-2016, 12:29 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by NotMrNiceGuy View Post
I’ve been at ExpressJet (L-ASA) a little over 9 and a half years. The last two I’ve spent as a Captain in DFW. My experience has been nothing to complain about. My ultimate goal has always been to get on with the top 6 (UPS, FDX, DAL, UAL, SWA, AAL). XJT has offered many opportunities to improve myself as a pilot and I am thankful for that. There are also a wealth of opportunities to serve inside of the company that will give you a fuller picture of the industry. The work group has been fantastic and I can’t say enough good things about the people we hire. The training is among the best (if not the best) in the industry. My home is in ATL, so that has been ideal for me. The contract offers a QOL that did not exist at the other regionals while I was a First Officer. I can’t speak to that now, since I’m not up to snuff on what the other guys are offering. But for regional life, it’s worked fine for me.

As far as the future doom and gloom goes, I personally don’t buy it. SKYW keeps their cards close to the vest, and I definitely don’t have someone on the inside to let me know of their plans. However, they’ve been nothing but cunning when operating the business side of things. Through the tumultuous economic times, their companies have been lean and profitable. Did they out kick their coverage when the purchased L-XJT? Absolutely. But for the first time since the acquisition, all three airlines are profitable. That being said, there is still a long way to go. The combined pilot groups of ASA and XJT has shrunk by almost 25% in the last six years. On the other hand, Skywest Airlines has grown by nearly 50%. It’s difficult not to read into those numbers and think the company does not favor SKW. However, the company has made efforts to position us (XJT) for future flying. They have picked up AAL flying in the last couple years. The ERJ base in DFW always had an air of brevity, but the CRJ base in DFW is likely to remain. XJT has been among the best performers for AAL and the rumblings are that dual-class is a possibility. On the Delta side, we have been requested to move a lot of flying to LGA because we are one of the few carriers with the operational prowess to handle the fluid environment as well as have the pilots to do it. I think the partners respect our capabilities even if we do it at a higher cost. On the UAL side, I understand the contracts are up in 2017. But future contracts usually are not finalized until the end of the previous term. I expect no difference here and there simply is not the man power out there to shift they flying to someone else. In my opinion, the future of XJT is safe. However…

When picking a regional, you are picking the one that is most suitable to your needs. Where do you want to go? Where will you live? What is your financial situation? All of these things are unique to you and I cannot speak to any of them. But from a career progression standpoint, there are a couple of elements that we all understand. At XJT, there just isn’t a ton of movement, and movement is key to advancing your career. In a perfect confluence of events, we could see five year upgrades. But this would involve us picking up some new flying. We are slated to upgrade about 150 pilots in the next 12 months (8 per month plus a backlog of around 50). New flying will increase that and move upgrade to a little over five years. That is very optimistic and you just can’t count on it. That being said, there is an abundance of qualified Captains here that are looking to move on. They will be picked up in the next two to three years which will help with movement. The majority of the top 400 at L-ASA are looking to stay. It’s a good QOL and a good paycheck and a good company. The upgrade is important because it opens door. PIC opens doors. If you have the seniority to get a Line Check position, that opens doors. At a place that gets you PIC after three years, and a Line Check position after 5, you can move on to Atlas and get heavy time and be at FedEx at ten years in the industry. I can’t hold a LCA position because I’m still on reserve. That hurts career progression. You have to decide whether family QOL or career progression are what you are looking for. And that is personal.

I’ve gone way too long. To wrap up and speak to the WO flow… You’re gonna get on with a major. Is AAL where you want to be? Envoy is hard to beat in that case. But there will be such a need by 2025 (or whenever your goal is to be at a Legacy), I don’t think it matters where you go. Think about your goal airline and adjust your decisions off of that. I would also consider SkyWest with their IAH domicile if I were you. Good luck with your decision.

PS - XJT Per Diem is $1.85.
Nice!
Are you an ERJ Captain? American I'm guessing?

XJT definitely is the place to be to get to a major. Not limited to one carrier.

Is United leaving ExpressJet in 2017? No more United CPP?

My goal is to be an E135/E145 pilot for ExpressJet supporting United in IAH and use the CPP to get to United. Is that not an option after 2017?
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Old 08-26-2016, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by DL31082 View Post
Is that all you can say? How about you answer the Ops question and compare Envoy and ExpressJet. There has already been one person on here telling how it is at ExpressJet. My experience at ExpressJet has been very similar to that persons. I dont buy into the doom and gloom that a lot of people here buy into. There are places that have faster upgrade time, but there isn't many places that can beat our contract. I have had a great time at ExpressJet so far.
Do either of you work for Envoy?
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Old 08-26-2016, 12:31 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by New Guy 007 View Post
NO,NO,NO!!!, what ever you decide, stay as far away from ExpressJet as you can, go to some place better like Great Lakes!!!
Do you work for Envoy? Or Great Lakes?
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Old 08-26-2016, 12:39 PM
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I would suggest considering Republic. Iah base coming soon. (I think)

And the amount of xjet guys on this post makes me think management or they really do sit on reserve forever and have as much time as I thought they did to give their life story.

Good luck but I'd say envoy over xjet and I don't work at either.
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Old 08-26-2016, 12:44 PM
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10 year CRJ XJT person about to leave here. I'll chime in with some of the doom and gloom they're talking about.

Both the CRJ and ERJ side of ExpressJet are mostly 50 seat jets for United and Delta. They're old and no one is making any more of them. United and Delta have said over and over and over they want those 50 seat jets either shrunk drastically or gone altogether.

The optimistic people will say that we'll replace those 50 seaters with larger aircraft and everything will be fine. What I see is the legacy airlines are pretty much scoped out in terms of 70-76 seat a/c. The only way to get more are to take them from some other carrier. The only reasons we'd get them from another carrier are cost or staffing. We're not getting them for cost because we're a senior airline with a good contracts. I'm skeptical we'll be able to staff any more planes. Both sides are shrinking fairly rapidly.

That said, both sides have good contracts and good crews. It's not a bad place to work by any means and we have excellent training. But don't come here expecting great news. In my 10 1/2 years I could count the times I've heard really good news for the airline on one hand probably.

Wherever you go will be a gamble. My advice is work where you want to live. Build 2-3 thousand hours and get the hell out of the regional world. Go to an LCC, a cargo carrier, or a national airline. Network hard and work on your resume/applications non-stop. Don't get comfortable at whatever airline you choose.
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Old 08-26-2016, 02:03 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by MrERJ View Post
I would suggest considering Republic. Iah base coming soon. (I think)

And the amount of xjet guys on this post makes me think management or they really do sit on reserve forever and have as much time as I thought they did to give their life story.

Good luck but I'd say envoy over xjet and I don't work at either.



If you don't work at either then don't comment...
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Old 08-26-2016, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Owlchemist View Post
10 year CRJ XJT person about to leave here. I'll chime in with some of the doom and gloom they're talking about.

Both the CRJ and ERJ side of ExpressJet are mostly 50 seat jets for United and Delta. They're old and no one is making any more of them. United and Delta have said over and over and over they want those 50 seat jets either shrunk drastically or gone altogether.

The optimistic people will say that we'll replace those 50 seaters with larger aircraft and everything will be fine. What I see is the legacy airlines are pretty much scoped out in terms of 70-76 seat a/c. The only way to get more are to take them from some other carrier. The only reasons we'd get them from another carrier are cost or staffing. We're not getting them for cost because we're a senior airline with a good contracts. I'm skeptical we'll be able to staff any more planes. Both sides are shrinking fairly rapidly.

That said, both sides have good contracts and good crews. It's not a bad place to work by any means and we have excellent training. But don't come here expecting great news. In my 10 1/2 years I could count the times I've heard really good news for the airline on one hand probably.

Wherever you go will be a gamble. My advice is work where you want to live. Build 2-3 thousand hours and get the hell out of the regional world. Go to an LCC, a cargo carrier, or a national airline. Network hard and work on your resume/applications non-stop. Don't get comfortable at whatever airline you choose.
So these E175 are good for pilots too right?
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Old 08-26-2016, 03:22 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by AdiosMikeFox View Post
I recommend people do their own research and choose the airline that best suits their needs and tolerance. They all have "ifs".
How is asking for info from people at the airlines the OP is curious about not considered a part of doing ones 'own research'?
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Old 08-26-2016, 04:40 PM
  #20  
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By offering up facts and opinions about the airlines in question without telling people where to go work and letting them make up their own minds.

The question was if I recommended an airline. I answered correctly.
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