Originally Posted by
Erdude32
If I were starting out today, and knowing that the hiring wave is about to go NUTS the next 10 years I'd base my decision on where to go on one thing and one thing only: The size of the Pilot group. Why go to SkyWest with 3,000 +/- pilots? That means about 1500 CA's are going to have to be hired before a new hire will upgrade. Versus a SMALL regional like PSA, with 300'ish. Those top 150 are going to be GONE in a heartbeat. You'll be in the left seat at LEAST 5 years faster than a SkyWest or Express Jet new hire. That's a 1.5 million dollar career earnings difference. That's in today's pay. You'll be at xyz Major for 5 years longer. That means you'll enjoy 5 more years at the end of your career at the Max pay.
It makes all the difference in the world, for the rest of your career. Don't make an emotional decision, make a tactical one.
^^^^ This and also how many 50 seats planes on property will play into my decision. Compass will be the top choice, then mesa. PSA has the 200s and we'll see what happens to them. In my view the larger regionals with the 50 seats planes are going to shrink if there's a shortage.