Originally Posted by
ShyGuy
I hope you realize that involves zero skill and all 100% timing and luck. You were fortunate to start at a regional right when regionals were expanding like gangbusters while legacies were furloughing or already had thousands furloughed post 9/11. Anyone hired at the average regional in 2002-2004 was either a direct entry Captain or was FO for 6 months to 2 years tops. From the timeline you wrote, it seems you spent 3yrs 4 mos and got outta there with plenty of TPIC for Delta. I spent 4.5 yrs and not a single drop of TPIC and yet it was the exact same employer as yours. That's the difference starting 4 years later makes.
You are correct the cycle shifts. If I had to give advice on a regional today there is only one: Compass.
Our generation had the extenuating circumstances of the economy collapsing and age 65. A regional pilot hired today will be hired into a similar environment as 80kts. Like an investor that researches stocks before buying, a prospective regional pilot can set himself up for rapid advancement just by researching the industry. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but those that are successful are the ones who stacked the odds in their favor.
Going to Compass, Mesa will stack the odds in your favor much better than going Eagle, XJT or Skywest. Small, growing regionals are the way to go.
Bzzt for some odd reason wants new hires to choose companies like Eagle and subject themselves to 5 years of quality 40k FO pay "for the good of the industry" rather than go to Mesa and earn 65k+ by your 3rd year while build quality TPIC.
The crazy stuff people come up with while waiting in the endless line for upgrade
