Originally Posted by
Pony Express
I would urge anyone reading this thread and deciding which regional to apply/interview/work for to consider the following.
Do not base your decision on wait times for training. Regionals which can get you through training quickly are not necessarily the best ones. A 6-8 month wait for a good regional, while it may seem long, is worth it.
The simple truth is, as much as people say "its a regional, embrace the suck," we will hang our hats here for a MINIMUM of 4-5 years. Most of us more than that.
And in that 4-5 years you will come to see the difference between a good regional, with decent pay and better schedules, and a bad one, the one who gets you in class and gets you flying sooner. Just remember, no reserve means every pilot is on reserve.
Wait for the right company. Republic, endeavor, etc. You still have to live your life while those 4-5 years pass. Better to do that with 15 days off a month than 11.
But also know that this can change rapidly. Just a few years ago Republic and Endeavor would NOT have been used in the same breath as “good regional, with descent pay and better schedules”. Both were dumpster fires and no one seriously gave them more than a year before they would be shut down.
Times change.