For those who thinking to apply
Training: it’s getting better than it use to be and I believe we getting AQP soon.
For CFI with no jet or turboprop experience it’s going to be just fine. Training department will work with you unless your have a bad attitude and don’t want to learn. No delays so far. And we have LCP for IOE for now
Reserve: it’s sucks. You will have 11 days off per month but it’s standard for regionals. As a junior reservist you will be on airport stb. You will be seating at crew room or terminal for 8h unless they assign flying for you. You will fly from 20-70h a month on reserve depends on your luck. Also you will be able to pick up flying from open time 72h prior your reserve shift. But normally it’s a 0 open time at this point. We also have short and long call reserve but you need seniority to hold it. Short call is 2h call out and long call 12h call out. I believe at some cases scheduling can convert you to airport stb. Some times you will be extended to your days off but they pay you extra money for that and restore your day off. You will have 6 hotels per bid period (month) and per new LOA you will be able to use it during your reserve block.
Line flying: you will have 12-14 days off as junior line holder. You may not receive days off what you want and your trips probably going to be low credit and have a long seat between legs. Some of them won’t be commutable but we have a bunch of commutable trips. Also we have ability to trade our trips during line improvement period LIP and also during a month you could trade your trips with open time or other pilots (crew scheduling have to approve it via email or phone call). You will be extended on your days off and in some cases they won’t restore your lost day but they will pay your extra money.
Upgrade: you will be able to bid upgrade only when you have 950h of qualified flight time (121 135 or 91k) and you most likely be awarded a class in two months. You must have 950h before bid closes (I believe 18th of the month) if you shay 1 hour no bueno you will wait next month. You will get a CA pay as soon as you pass your upgrade PC. IAD is senior on CA side if you get IAD as a CA be ready for long reserve.
Aviate: we still have ppl who interviewed back in 2019-2021 and opt in ppl (flow) few days ago all of got email with projected transition date. Opt in (flow) ppl who were here since 2018 got for transition dates from April 2023 to December 2024. Ppl with less seniority looking for 2026. Who knows how long it takes for new hire.. I would say 2026 at best and remember it’s no pure flow u have to be a “good” pilot. No more than 4 sick calls in rolling 365 days. No more than one training failure. No sick call over company holidays etc.. you see some pressure here right.
Pay: the best advice here just go to company page on this website and do the math. Hourly rate * 1000h = rough number for your annual wage. And sign in bonus. Insurance is average here nothing special. 401k is peanuts compare to majors. Vacation its garbage here. For first year you will have only floating vacation days and to use them you have to submit your request during LIP or on daily basis to crew planing and crew scheduling. 90% of the time they won’t approve it due reserve coverage. I’ve ask what is sufficient reserve coverage answer was “it depends” clear as mud.
Retention bonus: unless you want to wait 4-5 years to flow to UA don’t take it because you will have to pay back all and deal with IRS to get your taxes back. In current hiring climate I don’t know who is willing to wait at C5. FOs with little as 250h getting CJO from Frontier Spirit JB Avelo ABX Amerijet ATI Atlas. With more experience ppl leaving for AA FedEx SouthWest Delta Alaska.
Equipment: ERJ145XR good old loud slow jet ! I would say it’s a good first jet. You need a good head set with noice canceling. You will see MELs from 0 to 3-5 time to time. Lately I see less and less MELs.
It’s a rumor we may get E175 but so far it’s just rumor (company working on E175 program)
QOL: it’s a regional.. if you live in base it’s a okay gig to build your experience and leave asap.
Personal Advices
1. Avoid commuting if possible. If it’s not possible try to avoid it if it’s again impossible think twice and avoid it!
2. Do not trust to flow! Don’t wait unless you really lazy and don’t worry to be furlough in few years with C5 seniority number