I am currently looking into some regionals that would fit my wants. For some info on me, I am a CFII and I am about 5-7 months out from hitting ATP requirements (Depending on wx). I live in Louisville Kentucky, and have a new family (baby, and wife). I am 28 years old, and I made a career change about 2.5 years ago to pursue becoming a professional pilot. My family has been great through this all. I am one year out from graduating with my BA in aviation. My goal like most young pilots would be to fly for a major airline, preferably one with a ATL base (Delta/SWA) that would be easiest for my aspirations on where I would like to live. Second and third would be CLT/DAL (AA), or HOU (UAL). My short term goal is to either be based at home with a regional, or have a nonstop commute. After researching SDF a bit, it looks like commuting to ATL, CLT, or ORD would give me the best odds of commuting. The regionals I have been combing over have been Republic Airlines, Endeavor, PSA, Envoy, Mesa, and Piedmont. I am looking for some input from my pilot community, and I know that there is always going to be change in the next 5-7 months. I was looking to get my apps in before the new year. Also questions on how is training at each regional below with regards to quality, and success/completion. Also how can I start preparing for interviews, and training in general to have a familiarization of this whole turbine 121 world? Should I start using Jepp charts when I do IFR training flights to get me used to that?

Republic Airlines: For me it would be nice to be SDF based, as its about 15 minutes from our house. The company seems like it is an awesome place to work for from those of my buddy's that have gone there. There seems to be some people that make Republic a career destination, which I know people have said because of the QOL. There is no flow, which shouldn't matter in this current market? I applied for the RJet cadet, is that worth doing?

Endeavor: With having a CVG base that would make commuting virtually a 1.5 hour car ride, and ATL would be more of a burden to get to but it could work. From the looks of it, it seems like Endeavor may arrange a flow to Delta for new hires. That also attracts me to them. What are the reserve call out times? (would give me an idea if I could make it to CVG).

AA WO'S: The WO's seem to attract me with the new bonus structure, and the flow to AA would be nice to fall back on. PSA has a KDAY base, which wouldn't be ideal but is about 3 or so hours in a car. CLT base seems like it would be fairly commutable. Envoy's ORD base would be fairly commutable as well. I understand flows can be taken away, I know a lot of people ask about clean records, and ect. I have had zero training failures, college GPA is 3.9 , one speeding ticket, and a PI/disorderly from 10 years ago in high school spring break in Fl (dumb kid). What are the reserve call out times for PSA/Envoy?

Mesa: Being SDF based on the AA side seems to be nice, does the AA side offer the United Aviate program. I have heard rumors about mesa being not the place to work for?

Thanks ahead of time for information and input.

 

Seems like you've done a decent amount of research. Specific questions like call out times for Endeavor, etc. would be best asked in the respective forums as people can give you all the details. Maybe other people will have a different opinion, but I don't know that there is a "correct" answer here. Republic (currently) having a base close to home and several years of contracts left for their respective partners would be a good option. If you're goal is a major airline like you stated, get in a regional, upgrade ASAP, volunteer with the union or elsewhere, and get out. Yes, AA wholly owneds have a flow, but understand that flow times are all over the place, and I have never personally met anyone that has been happy with waiting for the flow. My advice, go to RPA and build your resume much quicker, as you can always get hired at AA off the street. Especially if you live in base, you can likely work overtime much easier and be home more. I would interview and get as many regional offers as you can. You never know where the industry is going next. Timing is everything, and there's only so much you can control. But it's the best job in my opinion, so have fun and stay sharp!

On interviewing, you can find Jepp resources for free online. Much easier charts to decipher than FAA charts. Tons of interview materials online that have current experiences. Wear a sharp suit, make sure your logbooks and documents are in order and neat. The rest will fall into place.

 

I don’t believe so. Somewhere I remember reading that it was only the UA side.

 

Does DAL still have their CVG base?

 

No


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This pretty much answers your whole question. They have a lot of experience helping pilots like you make the transition to the 121 world, and if SDF is obtainable it is clearly where you want to be for whatever period you are on reserve. That beats hell out of either a one and a half or a a three hour car ride, or the uncertainties of a jumpseat commute.

 

Republic, if SDF upgrade is reasonably junior.

Find out what bars the UPS guys hang out at, and start buying them beer.

 

Thank you for your advice, it is helpful. I am thinking I will try for RPA.

 

I have heard that as well, I wasn't sure if that was something that was concrete. That would make Mesa pretty much out of the question at that point.

 

Thank you, I meant to ask that in my original thread about SDF.