This is all good...

Regionals have been selling the pipe dream of getting PIC time and moving on to better things for a long time. It seems most people are basing the "best" regionals are ones that offer quick upgrades. Is it the money, the PIC, the assumed QOL as a Captain, or just not being in the right seat? Republic may be a good company overall, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Look at past performance for Republic (CHQ)...firings after 9/11 (not furloughed and it was out of seniority based upon which aircraft you flew), poor morale due to threats from management (ie alter ego airline threats before the last contract), scheduling harassment, etc. The list could go on...and it is still happening today. The threat of upgrade outside of seniority, poor utilization of crews, diminishing QOL are all things to consider that are the current state.

1000 hours of PIC will not land you a job at the majors in todays market. That 1000 hour mark as a Captain will come someday and then it will pass. 2000 hours will come and go without even the slightest hint that you are competive to move on somewhere else. 3000 hours will pass and the realization that you may be at your airline for some time may start to set in. That is when people start to take notice of a contract, QOL, pay, and retirement.

I was at CHQ for seven years. When I left I was pushing into the top 10% of seniority and saw how the company had changed. Bedford and team may be a great management group, but that is all they are, management. They are out to make money for the company, even if it comes to the expense of the pilots. Ask any RAH pilot how many pages the number of outstanding grievances there are in the Airline Division Teamsters Magazine and see what they say. From that question you can see the problem is two fold...they probably couldn't tell you (which is wrong in itself) or that is a few pages and that shows management's response to how they treat the contract and work force.

Overall RAH is a decent place, despite the negative comments. The pilots I know at other regionals all face the same issues that I did during my seven years. Like is has been said before, airlines are always evolving. CHQ is not the same place it was when I started. Knowing what I know now, a quick upgrade isn't the end all.