Originally Posted by
Santos Dumont
If I was a Newark local and I was at ExpressJet I think I would stay there and try to make the best of it. Just be patient.
The way I see it is that EWR is a junior, but solid base for United and ExpressJet so chances of it going away, or you getting displaced out of it anytime soon are small. Also they have a good contract. Sure, you wil not get any PIC time at ExpressJet, and you should have known that, but I just don't see that as a good enough reason to make a lateral move so soon in the industry, especially if you work for a good regional with a lot of history in your home town. Also, whie ExpressJet fleet will continue to shrink, I doubt they will dissapear anytime soon.
Focus on the other perks that ExpressJet has, like being one of the favorite regionals for United to pull pilots from. I wouldn't start chasing the PIC time because if things don't work out as expected I would personally regret it greatly.
Enjoy the nice contract, the drive to work, and have a good time on the line.
A couple of facts that you might want to reconsider. EWR has been a base for XJT for a very long time. However, United has a tendency to move all the regionals around. I would be very cautious at this point about EWR staying a XJT base.
Commutair is getting at least 40 planes from XJT and they have been told they will be getting more of them to be announced in the very near future. XJT still has over 40 planes on property right now that are not covered under any new CPA that has been announced. Commutair has announced they will be opening a EWR base for the 145's the first part of 2017 (only a few months from now).
As a 9 year FO, I tell anyone that is thinking about coming or even staying that has fewer than 7 years at XJT to run as fast as you can. Get on someones seniority list that has a future.
To the OP, you might want to look at CommutAir. They have a nice bonus (not as much as some of the others), they are upgrading as soon as you have the hours, they are expanding, their contract is almost as good as XJT and it is better in some areas. They really do have a "higher pay" than XJT due to upgrades making $64 an hour in one year instead of my $44 an hour at year 9. They have the same CPP that XJT has with United. They are located in EWR and the jets will be there in a couple of months.