Originally Posted by
SilkBra
I remember years ago seeing stickers on the flight bags of Coex pilots that said "Regional Airline?" and the route map was part of the sticker. I also remember Coex and other regionals being so proud to be called an "All Jet Airline". Now they find out turbo props are more efficient as oil prices went up. I always thought it was snobbish.
It would be interesting to know what percentage of pilots are working at their current regional because that place was the first one to call and that is where they went. I know that number is not 100% but I wouldn't doubt 80% as a realistic number. Within that 80% you have pilots that look down at the pilots working at places with hourly rates that in reality are only a few dollars different from everyone else. Most of the Colgan new hires that I met in 2005 were simply pilots that got shot down at the Express jet interview, or they just couldn't get a call. Many were from Texas. Hey, they tried to do it your way. Although I can't write that thought because we need to believe that they all of course only sent resumes to Colgan in order to undercut Express Jet pilots. Yeah.
You ever notice how the advice can clash on these boards? How many times have you read "if possible do not commute" 'Commuting sucks" Hmm, I live in San Francisco. Let's see UAL has an SFO crew base, Virgin America has an SFO crew base. UAL is not hiring. However you are a ***** if you work at Virgin America. Don't commute though!!!!! It is horrible. You just can't win.
Find a place with a quick upgrade. However do not go to these 5 places because you will be a *****. The upgrade at Eagle sucks so do not go there. Comair has an upgrade around 10 years, do not go there.
Skywest isn't bad, but no union. Do not go there.
Thank you...
I was one who applied at every airline who would take my application. I live in Houston. I got a call from Comair, Mesa, and Colgan. The Colgan interview was first, I got the job. I didn't even go to the Comair interview. Nor the Mesa one (why commute when I had a job with an IAH based airline?). The only airline I would have dropped the Colgan position for would have been ExpressJet, and even then, I could see what was coming for them. Rising fuel prices + all jet fleet + all eggs in one basket + top of the line training/work rules/etc. = too expensive for CAL to continue handing them flying. I was right. Colgan was talking about getting Q400s. Growth.
Sure, I could have held out and waited the 6 months to a year it seems it took Expressjet to call applicants, but I would be without a job now. But, at least I wouldn't be an undercutting scumbag.