Originally Posted by
Njflyguy
However, I am not willing to relocate. I live in NJ within easy commuting distance of PHL, ACY, EWR, LGA and JFK. I'd even be able to extend that to DCA. Several major regionals cover those bases. I'm not in a position to uproot my life and family to move to a new base, and I won't commute. So, I realize that my options are a little more limited. I could get hired by Republic and be placed in IND, at which point I'd have to decline. But from what I've gleaned in these forums that many of the NE bases near my home are junior anyway. I don't care that I may only get 7-10 years at a major and maybe never make captain. The pay and benefits are still above any beyond most jobs out there, including my current IT job where I've been a contractor paying my own benefits and not getting any pay for time off or holidays.
Generally that is the best possible area in which to live if you want to fly for airlines... lots of flights, domestic and international, due to population density, economic density, and proximity to Europe. Most pilots don't want to live in that area, so relative seniority is normally very junior. You should be able to be a NB CA no problem, probably a lot sooner than you think.