Originally Posted by
SharkyBN584
Depends on what you're looking for:
Bases - Republic has A LOT of them and it's mix between hub's and outstations. If you want to live at one of these bases, that's an added bonus. The problem is that we're notorious for closing down bases (reference FLL and MCO). XJT has fewer bases but is less likely to shut one down (I'd be wary of ONT or LAX until they're established).
I tend to agree with this assessment. Flying at XJT is very diverse as well. Just because you are EWR based doesn't mean you will do all your flying out of EWR. I am IAH based and just spent a 4 day primarily out of EWR and CLE. Its nice to get out and see the rest of the world from time to time.
Pay - On the FO side XJT wins, but on the CA side all things are fairly equal. FO longevity and amount seems to be a sore spot for a lot of people here and they want it address on the next contract. Our's is up in October, don't know when XJT's is.
XJT contract was just extended through 2008. Not a new contract, just an extension of the current one (with associated pay increases). There were also some sections added for the charter flying as well as some rewordings of parts.
Upgrade - From what I understand, this is equal. We're both running around 2 years. This could change overnight though.
Yeah, about 2 years here right now at XJT. Always subject to change though.
Contract - Here's where XJTer's may not agree, but from the people I've talked to and with my limited understanding of the XJT contract, we're both fairly equal in the intent of our work rules. Republic has no junior manning, XJT does. All our days off are "hard" days off, they can't touch you unless you get stuck somewhere due to WX or MX. If you do get pushed into a day off, you get 4 extra hours of pay or another day off, your choice. It's 11 days off for reserve, 12 days off for lineholders. The problem with the Republic contract is that since we're "newer", it hasn't "firmed" up yet. Things we intended to go our way were not worded as well as we wanted them to be. But, with a new contract up in October, they will get addressed (hopefully).
At XJT, we have junior manning ONLY if you are stupid enough to answer the phone if scheduling calls on your day off. Personally, I NEVER answer the phone when scheduling calls on a day off. I let them leave a message and if I don't like what they have to say, I don't call them back. I am under no obligation to return their call if it's my day off. In addition, they avoid junior manning by "red flagging" open time (paying 150% for any open time that is picked up) whenever reserve coverage drops below 10% of the regular lines and relief lines. Also, IF you are junior manned, you are entitled to 150% pay for the trip (or 7.5 hours of pay if your trip is less than 3.75 hours), an extra vacation day and they have to restore your day off that month with another one OF YOUR CHOICE (you give them 2 choices and they HAVE to give you one of them) or pay you, again, your choice.
Reserve Period - Depends on where you're willing to be based. There were people in my class that never sat a day of reserve and it seems like that trend would continue. However, if you land the 170 on the Shuttle America side...you could have a wait involved. CHQ has by far been growing the most on the 145 and CRJ side. This is where any reserve period would be the shortest.
Reserve varies from base to base. Right now, EWR and IAH are about equal at around 3-6 months. In CLE you will be on reserve forever because they keep reducing lines and the pilots that are there are very senior and want to be there.
Equipment - I wouldn't recommend ANYONE come to Republic for the 170. It has engines under the wings and holds 70 people, great. Despite what I personally think about regionals carrying that many people, no one asked my opinion when they started flying them. I'm not totally happy that FO's get paid the same on either equipment. If you got a chance to choose your equipment (I kinda did) I'd go 145. It's more fun anyways
Stability - Both are profitable companies. XJT may have some uncertainty with their branded flying, but with the Delta contract outta LAX they are showing they can diversify and spread their risk around. This is a good thing. Republic is going through some growing pains. We picked up so much flying so quickly that we are trying to catch up with ourselves. I won't speculate on the future, but somethings are going to hurt while we get settled into our new contracts with CAL and Frontier.
As I said before, the next couple years will either be really good or really bad for XJT. Who knows, ExpressJet Airlines could take off and be the next jetBlue (with a better contract). Or we could face plant ala Indy Air or Vanguard. Either way, our management is one of the most innovative and efficient out there.
Pilot Group - The only thing I know of the XJT is from what my close friends their tell me. They are all happy enough with the people they work with. Haven't heard any complaints. The people I've worked with at Republic have been awesome. Great group to putt around the sky with and they will teach you a lot. I got really fortunate to fly with some pretty senior CA's fresh outta training and the experience was invaluable. They're also fun to hang out with and look out for each other. I'm sure XJT is the same. It seems like both companies are pretty "happy"
As with any employer any where, there a people that are fun to work with, some that are miserable to work with an then most of us somewhere in the middle.
Training - Another one that XJTer's may not agree with me on, but I think it's pretty equal. XJTer's do it in house with their own instructors, which works out great for them. Republic uses FlightSafety for their training. Talking to a friend who was in training with XJT, he said some of it got a little disconnected and they started just jumping around random stuff in systems. I've never trained at XJT so I can't say anything about it. But a company with 2,000+ pilots has got to have it's training program down pretty well, so despite any complaints anyone hears, I'm sure it's a good program. I really enjoyed the FlightSafety program. It was very well structured, laid back, and the instructors taught you what you needed to know to move on to the next step (Checkride and IOE). I didn't have any problems in either of them except for the stuff they tell you "You'll learn this on the line". Both companies share hotel rooms while in training. I don't know how XJT pays their people in training, but we pay $400 a week for the first 4 weeks then minimum guarantee after that. Since they consider that $400 per diem, it's not taxed so it actually comes out that you make MORE in the first four weeks than you would with just min. guarantee. Max per diem a company can pay per day is $60...the $400 comes out to like $57 a day.
Training at XJT was very good, very thorough, very efficient and fair. There is a reason XJT quit using the FlightSafety instructors. As the largest E145 operator, XJT basically wrote the book on the aircraft in actual operations and got tired of having to "re-teach" from the FlightSafety guys. You all know how things differ from training to the line. Imagine trying to learn from a guy whos never flown the aircraft on the line.
Hotel in training at XJT is double occupancy. XJT pays you a lump sum of ~$1600 during the first week of training. Training runs roughly 6 weeks. They do allow you to travel positive space during training if you want to try and go home on the weekends (not recommended).
Hope this helps. If anyone has anything add, please do. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM or ask in the forum.