I'm currently an active duty military helicopter pilot leaving the service this year and trying to make a decision on which airlines to target (I've got all my ATP prereqs knocked out, no need for an RTP). My family will be moving to the northwest suburbs of Chicago to be close to other relatives so being based out of ORD is a no-brainer.

With Envoy, Air Wisconsin, SkyWest, Republic, ExpressJet, GoJet, and TSA all having ORD bases, there are plenty of options.

Right now I'm split between Envoy and Air Wisconsin.

I like Envoy because of the flow -- not because I think I'll ever flow myself -- but because it guarantees seniority movement and attrition within the company. That said, upgrades are fast for the almighty TPIC time. The work rules seem terrible though and the overall morale seems horrible (but this is an internet forum after all).

I like Air Wisconsin because they have great work rules and a really solid compensation package (healthcare, 401k). I find their situation problematic, however, since their future is a bit of a wildcard even with the new United CPA. I'm not convinced of their projected 18-24 month upgrade, either, but time will tell.

For ORD-based regionals...
Why should I come to Envoy?
Why should I go somewhere else?