Originally Posted by
SAABaroowski
1) Has a base where you live
2) Industry average pay
3) Industry average upgrade
4) A good contract, with either a union, or a pilot group that is "in-house"
5) A good diversity of flying......
- the regional that is the "place to be" one day could be a sinking ship in a year or two...........
-Past performance is no indication of future results, or however that saying goes...........
-Dont assume you are only going to use a regional as a stepping tone, you never know when the music is going to stop, and if and when ti does you are going to want to be at a company that has decent work rules/pay, because that TPIC is not going to do much for you if/when the big boys have thousands of pilots on the street
I really don't agree...why chase average if you can find something that better suits your needs? For example, some would rather upgrade much quicker than average if possible (i.e. six months), in order to hope to be interviewing at the majors (hope, because all that can change, like you say) when all your buddies at the "average" regional with the "good contract" are thinking about upgrading.
FWIW, industry average pay is still terrible...
What does diversity of flying matter? Sure, it might be nice, but I'd say it is a looooong way down the list.
It sure is nice to live in base, though...one just needs to realize that bases close all the time (AWAC's "great migration" comes to mind), so don't base it solely on that one. All of the above factors you mention are highly volatile, with the exception of pay (depending on how much is left on the contract).
That's kind of a discombobulated set of thoughts I just wrote, but I'll leave them, I guess, not sure of how else to put it.
The key for me is, and always has been: Your top 5 regionals are going to be way different than my top 5. Do what works the best for you.
Groovin, I am awfully curious why TSA, Pinnacle, and Mesaba make your list of no-gos...I'm guessing you're goosey because of Mesaba's insanity swing from furloughs/pay cuts to hiring in droves within 18 months, and that you think TSA and Pinnacle don't treat their people well enough....Hope all is goin' well!