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Air Wisconsin Regional Airline

Air Wisconsin or Republic ?

Old 09-16-2017, 05:02 PM
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Default Air Wisconsin or Republic ?

All,

I have been offered positions at both Republic and Air Wisconsin and was looking for some input. Sorry to create a new thread here, but this is an important decision and I wanted to hear feedback before making my choice.

Pro's - Financially, Air Wisconsin seems to be the front runner here. The bonuses clearly outweigh RJET with their compensation package. I will also be a commuter and Chicago would be ideal for me which I would easily get with Air Wisconsin. Not being for months on reserve is also a bonus. I could take Columbus but New York would be tough.

Con's - Smaller company? RJET just felt more like a real company to me, they also took great care of us during the interview process. Air Wisconsin pretty much emailed me and said your on your ow n see you at the interview, although I appreciated the Gift card they mailed. Impressed with Republics training facility. I dint get to see Air Wisconsin's facility. The ERJ is also a big pull factor for me. But then again I don't want to take a job just to fly a shiny jet. Republic seems to have a better route network as well, longer flight times versus 4-5 a day short legs on the 200. I'm not lazy by any means , young in my 20's and will work for anything, but I'd like to have a job that I actually enjoy and don't dread going to.

Question - How long is upgrade time at Wisconsin? For a guy entering now. They told us 18-24 months, but I don't trust HR.
How long is reserve time on average?

I realize a lot of these questions cannot be answered because everything is up in the air, but i'm just torn between the two and wanted some feedback. Any Air Wisconsin guys that went to RJET or Vice versa?

Chris
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Old 09-17-2017, 03:03 PM
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I'd say Air Wisconsin, they have been so good to me, helped me out with almost everything I have asked and are really helpful and upfront I found.

I have learned don't chase the carrot (in regards to money) but follow a stable path to the left seat.

It's your call I guess, but I think the smaller company would be suitable to get stable and upgrade quickly.
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Old 09-18-2017, 03:32 AM
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We are definitely not a real airline...no, but seriously nothing in your post even remotely mentioned the important stuff.

Engines under the wings, long flights, nice training facility?!? Who cares?

Focus in work rules and what the contract will offer you. For example: if you have a 13 hour duty day but only fly 3, do you only get paid 3 hrs for the day or are there further pay protections for you (its called rig)? If your trip has a lot of deadheads where you reposition from place to place as passenger a lot, do you get your full hourly rate? Etc.

I know nothing about Republic but I do know their contract is not bad at all. However, I just wanted to point out that there are far deeper reasons for choosing your place to work than the stuff at the surface. And my words come from someone who back in his 20's just picked a random airline called Air Wisconsin. Luckily for me, many winters I sat in a hotel during northeast blizzards getting fully paid for ALL my cancelled flights when many at the time, including Republic, where not paid a dime but were still at 'work'. Can you imagine if I would have ended up at a place like that at the time?

So yeah, do your homework, its a big decision. Air Wis worked for me. But you are not me. Only you can make that decision. I am often weary of places that make everything look pretty and dreamy. Are they hiding something? Why did they go bankrupt? Talk to people that work on both places and see how they like it there.

I will leave you with some advice:

1. Make the best decision at the time and live life knowing that at the time you made the best decision possible. People that live with regret are those who 6 regionals later and 10 years later are still on the right seat in a RJ with 2yrs seniority.

2. Here comes the irony: Don't take advice from strangers on the internet.
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Old 09-18-2017, 04:16 AM
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I'd follow on to that with take a look at our health insurance compared to Republic.

This is a good regional. So is Republic. And definitely don't take advice from strangers on the internet.
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Old 09-18-2017, 05:27 AM
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If you're in it for how nice the training facility is, I think you'd end up quitting awac on the spot. It's in Appleton airports basement. Literally. Most of this criteria sounds like shiney jet syndrome, want the CEO to come give me some personalized face time etc. when you will never see these people again. Find an airline that fits your life needs not your work needs. If you're not happy at home you won't be at work.
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Old 09-18-2017, 06:55 AM
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Thanks for the replies guys! I am by no means in it for Shiney jets or fancy training facilities I think my initial decision was to go with republic because of this and I realized that thats not what is important. Although I do want to fly and work with a team that is happy in their environment and gets treated well by their employer. Some people on here seem very disgruntled by management at air Wisconsin.

Realistically can I expect to upgrade within 3 years for someone starting training next month?

Guys at Republic are saying it takes up to 8 months to get IOE done here? I cannot afford to sit at home for 8 months and get paid min reserve. Is this the case currently.

Last edited by ChrisPilot1; 09-18-2017 at 07:17 AM.
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Old 09-18-2017, 07:36 AM
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First off, the 8 months for completion of IOE should not be an issue here. I started the ATP-CTP course the last week of July, I'm on track to be off of IOE towards the end of October. Longest break I've had in training was a week between the end of systems and the start of CPT/Sims. 3-3.5 months from start of training to the line is a realistic expectation here.

Upgrades are anybody's guess, and that's true at every regional. I would be surprised if you make it past 36 months in the right seat anywhere in the current market. My personal projections based on attrition and hiring here place it well below 36 months for the current crop of new hires, but those projections are just numbers on a spreadsheet and may not reflect reality.

You will find people that are disgruntled anywhere. Everyone I have interacted with face to face has been very professional and genuinely great to work with. I've been extremely happy with my choice to come here. I made that choice after talking with pilots that work here or have worked here before moving on. I did this at all of the regionals I was considering. You should do this as well if possible.

Last edited by T28driver; 09-18-2017 at 07:39 AM. Reason: Phrasing
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Old 09-20-2017, 01:59 PM
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I don't know anyone else working there personally and everyone on here it pretty bias. Is the company well respected in terms of reputation for the majors? Im not trying to be a dick, but everytime I tell my other pilot buddies I'm thinking of Air Whisky, they all laugh saying you are just above Mesa? I dont give a crap about their thoughts, but genuinely wanted to know how the company is viewed in the industry.

Also what is training pay? Min Reserve? Single occupancy ?
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Old 09-20-2017, 02:41 PM
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Min is 75 hours, you probably wouldnt be on reserve for more than 2-3 months. Hotel is single occupancy, dont know the training pay since its changed since ive gone through. As far as the respect thing man who knows, we're all regional guys trying to put in our time and get out. I can tell you we're a solid company and youll make a ton of money if you want. I bid max days off and im fairly junior and for the most part i get what i want.
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Old 09-20-2017, 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by ChrisPilot1 View Post
I don't know anyone else working there personally and everyone on here it pretty bias. Is the company well respected in terms of reputation for the majors? Im not trying to be a dick, but everytime I tell my other pilot buddies I'm thinking of Air Whisky, they all laugh saying you are just above Mesa? I dont give a crap about their thoughts, but genuinely wanted to know how the company is viewed in the industry.
Complete shocker to me that people on the internet have extremely biased opinions. Totally did not see that one coming. Also chemtrails are real and the first moon landing was faked. But not the later ones, we needed those to put the fake evidence of the first moon landing up there.

Chris, choosing a regional is a big decision and should not be taken lightly. Different companies have different strengths and weaknesses, Air Wisconsin included. The general advice you will be given on this forum is actually pretty good. Namely:

1) if you live in a base that is only served by one regional, and you have a realistic expectation of holding that base, go there.
2) PIC time (and pay) is better than SIC time.
3) benefits, specifically health insurance, matter.

Use those criteria and make an informed decision as best you can. In my case, Air Wisconsin was a good choice. It may be a good choice for you, it may not be. Don't make opinions on an internet message board your primary criteria.
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