Originally Posted by
TheRedBaron1967
I have a buddy at AE who is a very senior FO. I am furloughed from Chq and will be in the next RAH recall class in all likelihood. My buddy seems to think AE is the way to go over RAH. I can see advantages to both. RAH has lots of newer desirous Ac and are making all kinds of strategic moves. (I realize there are some who hate RAH for it. I am not a fan of many of the things Mgmt. has done but I don't, nor do any of our pilots, have any say in it and yes we are working on a leading contract to get better pay, work rules and to stop the kind of BS that allowed them to shove the EMB190s down our throat.
All of that BS aside) AE has more "stable" base options for now and better pay but they are loosing their contract soon and their EMBs are becoming obsolete with the seat/mile cost and all (obviously Chqs 135,40 and45 are too). I mention that because AEs has a large percentage of that Ac. Both AE and Chq will have to adjust for that in short order to remain competitive.
Also, I am a middle aged man or an old fart to many on here, I really don't want to sit "ready reserve". I would rather spend my reserve time on the golf course or somewhere else close by. I also can't deal with going to SJU.
All that aside if AE weathers the storm of the contract issues and deals with some equipment issues, (which they are starting to do with the CRJs I guess?) AE could be a great place to work over the long haul. Man I wish I had a crystal ball.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Please, if your the type to flame go to another thread to do it. I am trying to make a career decision here and am trying to stay positive. Pilots bashing pilots is like football players griping at other football players for the play the coaches call.
Any suggestions? Are there any other + or - that I am missing?
Thanks and fly safe guys.
I was a senior-ish FO at Eagle before I quit in 2007 (6.5 years). I back in 2006, I was weighing options and I interviewed and was offered a job at Republic. I ultimately passed on it, as I thought things were going to turn around in good time at Eagle with the flowbacks possibly getting recalled to AA.
That was a foolish mistake on my part. I completely disagree with your friend. I think Republic is by far the way to go, and I regret not having taken advantage of that opportunity. You will sit reserve no matter which company you choose. But the growth potential at Republic is far greater. I think (and I could be wrong) that you would be hard pressed to find an Eagle pilot with many years there that thinks Eagle will expand markedly. More likely it will shrink. As for Eagle being relatively stable, it may be, but if you think long term, who knows? I'm sure the pilots that hired on at Pan Am, Eastern, TWA, and Braniff all thought that they were "stable" companies compared to questionable career choices like Fedex...
Whether you want a faster upgrade or not, the potential for upward movement is better at Republic. Which in turn gives you greater choices at said company, and ultimately a better QOL.