Originally Posted by
Jland0413
So correct me if I'm wrong...but 50 seaters are more expensive to operate than the E175s and similar larger jets?
Therefore the E175 means faster career progression because they are cheaper to operate which means they will be flying more which means more hours for me?
Not necessarily "flying more", but more likely to keep flying. 50 seat regional jets are a dying breed. Passengers hate them, there are less people to divide the operating costs by, and many of them are reaching their useful life limits. 50 seat RJs can make money under the right conditions, particularly with low oil prices. SkyWest has had much success with "at risk" flying to EAS cities. Mainline carriers, however, are investing in B717s, C-Series, and E190s. These are being flown on routes that used to be flown by regional jets. This is only going to increase. The entire regional industry is being squeezed, and will likely shrink from its current 50% of all domestic flights to 20 or 30% in the next few years. This from nearly every industry analyst (don't take my word, look it up). So the faster you get in, and get out, the better you will be.
As I said on your other thread, you need a regional with lots of MOVEMENT. Not a place with huge upgrade times, and topped out lifers. The contract, airplane, and bases don't really matter if you're only going to be there for a few years. Pay your dues and go. Don't become a regional lifer by going to a stagnant carrier with a great contract.
And regardless of what anyone else tells you, the value of having your own company's name on the tail and side of the aircraft is priceless. Regionals are nothing but subcontractors, and Regional Pilots will always be treated like 2nd class citizens in the industry, who get the leftover scraps and have no control. The faster you get to a legacy or LCC, the better you will be.