To Theprofessionalpilot (the person who started this thread):

I guess you already figured out by now that it's not such a good idea to start a thread on this forum as a PFT with low times. Because as you can tell, the world starts falling apart and people that claim they're the real pilots, because they earned their way to a job by flying lot's of hours, begin slicing you in half. It seems to me that people forget lot's of times that airlines are not looking for just pilots, but employees as well. Everybody can fly an airplane if you train them. But not everybody is a reliable employee. And it turns out that training centers like RAA provide good reliable employees, hence why the airlines like to pick up these graduates. Also, we tend to forget that it's the airlines that hire. They set the standard. It would be ridiculous not to take advantage of programs that get you a job fast. In my time, they didn't have these training centers. I also worked my way to a job by flying scrap metal for years. I definitely would have opted for an institution like RAA or any other school for that matter if I would have had a choice in my "young" days.

As far as people stating that you, as a PFT, will be pushed aside by one of your own... well that's bogus to me. We're in a competitive market. You don't have to be a pilot! If you don't like it, shut the heck up and move on to another industry. All this whining at low time pilots is not going to change the world! Be creative, stay positive and if you love flying, stay competitive. Don't start throwing rocks at newbie’s because you're frustrated. If you want to earn big bucks, go get your MBA and start working a desk job. Being a pilot is not about earning big money. Those days are long over. And whining at new pilots is not going to change anything. It's just going to make the pilot industry look really pathetic.

Anyhow, I'm drifting off the subject here and unfortunately that seems to be the case in these forums. The first few replies are to the point (hopefully anyway) and then the slicing the low time pilot commences. How sad.

So to get to your answer (if you're still with me anyway):

My cousin got through the RAA program and she says that they don't have an agreement with Chautauqua. RAA pilots that get hired by Chautauqua are high time pilots that have been a CFI for many years. Express Jet (Air Wisconsin, PSA, Pinnacle, American Eagle) however picks up RAA graduates at 500-100. Being 21 shouldn't be a problem.

As far as picking an airline based on location only is a bit eerie to me. I wouldn't choose an employer based on just that. As far as upgrade to captain in 2 years... good luck! It's possible, not where I work at, but there are some airlines (Mesa, Pinnacle...) where you can upgrade fairly fast.

Get married before you go the airlines!

Stay positive and you'll get where you want. Don't ever turn into a whiner, that's the real loser right there!

Wish you all the best!