Originally Posted by rickair7777

Here we go again...



This is how it used to be:

-Regionals (Commuters) operated turboprops.

-Almost all of them sucked.

-Pay was criminal.

-QOL was similar to a labor camp.

-1000+ Turbine PIC (in a turboprop) would get you a job at a major airline.

-Commuter pilots would do anything to get that PIC, and would cheerfully put up with all the crap that the entry-level could dish out..after all it was only for 2-3 years.



DANGER: You will get plenty of advise based on the way it used to be...





What changed:

- Regional jets were invented to replace turboprops.

- They were operated by commuters (regionals) using traditional regional pay and work rules (ie crap).

- If RJ's had stayed on the turboprop routes, that would have been OK.

- After 9/11, majors were looking to cut costs...they figured out that they could replace mainline aircraft with RJ's on lightly travelled routes.

- Because regional pilot labor costs are so low, this concept took off in a huge way. Literally thousands of RJ's went into service in a few years.

- Then RJ's grew to 50-70 seats, allowing majors to replace even more mainline aircraft (and pilots).

- End result: Thousands of good mainline jobs were deleted, and replaced with crappy regional jobs based on the the old commuter pay and benefits.





The way it is today:

- There are fewer major jobs and a lot more regional pilots competing for them.

- Realistic competive times are far higher than 1000 PIC for most people.





Two scenarios for you:



1) If you know someone (a pilot or executive) who is well placed at a major that is hiring, then all you need are the published mins for that airline, which might be 1000 turbine PIC or whatever. If this is the case, do whatever it takes to get the required time as quickly as possible (except gojets).



2) If you don't know someone then the reality of getting hired off the street by a major is harsh. You will need plenty of PIC time, but you will also need "whole person" factors to make you more interesting: Masters degree, played college ball, combat experience, published author, ranked amatuer athlete, etc. This situation could improve in the future, but right now you need to look for a regional where you would be happy hanging out for a while...say the next 35 years.



Things to consider:

-Pay: Most regional pay scales look similar, but the work rules that determine HOW the pay scales are applied mean EVERYTHING.

-QOL: If a regional has a one or more large bases in or near cities where you would like to live that is a huge plus.

- RJ's provide better schedules and quality of life than turboprops. Also the jet and glass cockpit time helps fill out your resume. It's OK to start in props, but consider carefully before going to work for a prop-only regional.

- Growth: A regional with known growth will provide faster improvement in QOL and faster upgrade.

- Problems: Some regionals have serious problems with their existing contracts...research these carefully so you know what you're getting into.



Decent Regionals:

Horizon

SkyWest

Air Wisconsin

Republic/Chataqua





OK Regionals with significant problems (which might be resolved soon)

ExpressJet

COMAIR

ASA

Pinnacle

Mesaba





Regionals with major problems which will never be resolved:

American Eagle (long upgrade time is the only real problem here)

Mesa/Freedom/Air Midwest (problems which are too numerous to list)

Go Jets (DO NOT WORK HERE)



I'm sure I'm forgetting a few. I don't know enough about some of the smaller prop operators to comment.