This place is a totally different beast from any airline. I'm a furloughed Airline guy. We really have no work rules, at least anything similar to the airlines in regards to things like junior manning, call out procedures, etc.. We sit reserve 24/7 day and night with a 1:45 callout to WHEELS UP time (not show). We are all on reserve as there is no scheduled service to predict. The schedule is posted for each pilot on the 25th of the month prior and we have no control over it. We are scheduled to work between 17-20 days a month of what we pilots refer to as "hard days". They are usually broken into 2 or 3 reserve sequences from 6-10 days long each. Note, however, that the day before we start is called a "check-in day" and the day after a sequence is called a "travel day". We call those days "soft days". It is about a 50% chance that we will be used on at least one of those "soft days", either at the beginning or end of a sequence. or both. Depending on how your schedule is divided, you can have anywhere from 3-7 soft days in a month bringing your total obligation to the company (days which you cannot proactively pre-plan personal events) up to somewhere between about 23-28 days a month.
We often drive long distances (4-7 hrs) in cars to meet airplanes or come home from trips (i.e. Milwaukee, Chicago, Des Moines, or Omaha to name a few; to and from Red Wing) rather than airline. Other times we will airline in/out of MSP or sometimes we ferry the jets back to base or out of base. So you can start a trip by driving several hrs, driving to MSP for an airline, or departing with an empty jet out of RGK. And you will likely not do the same for your return home. Regardless of how you start or stop a trip, you are responsible, and required to show up at RGK before and after trips are finished. Transportation, or a vehicle is always provided to you when it's warrented, but you cannot simply drive yourself from your house to MSP to catch a flight. They require you to go to RGK first to "start your trip". But Per diem doesn't start until you're airline flight pushes from the gate at MSP.
Some months you will work a lot. other months you may hardly work at all. but you will always be "available" to the company for your full scheduled days (including all check in and travel days).
It can be a very difficult place to work sometimes, but if you are nearing or already passed 4,000 hrs TT and looking for TPIC, this may be your place.
The flying can actually be pretty fun sometimes, we fly empty a lot and fly to pretty cool places. We fly celebrities every once in a while and get $100 tips on occasion.
I will caution you though that several Pinna-Col-Ba pilots have come through here in the last few years trying to jump ship and absolutely hated it. It is very much a different type of job from airline flying. Most airline pilots have come because of a furlough or they themselves actively quit to seek a different life from the airlines, all have had problems adjusting. And all have quit or are gearing to quit.