PSA, Endeavor, or ???
10-21-2016 | 05:53 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 373
Likes: 14
PSA, Endeavor, or ???
Just at 1350 and getting my multi done...looking for a first 121 job in a couple months.
As a northern Ohio guy, PSA is looking like a decent option...I wouldn't mind DAY, as I've lived there before. Present residence also lets me drive to DTW for Endeavor, if necessary.
I guess I could commute to ORD somewhat easily from CLE, but I know...commuting on reserve sucks...
What other options should I consider besides these two?? I like the perceived W/O "stability" compared to the uncertainty in other regionals...
As a northern Ohio guy, PSA is looking like a decent option...I wouldn't mind DAY, as I've lived there before. Present residence also lets me drive to DTW for Endeavor, if necessary.
I guess I could commute to ORD somewhat easily from CLE, but I know...commuting on reserve sucks...
What other options should I consider besides these two?? I like the perceived W/O "stability" compared to the uncertainty in other regionals...
Last edited by FlyingSlowly; 10-21-2016 at 06:08 AM.
10-21-2016 | 09:06 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Baby Dash
I think you should at least consider CommutAir. We have our corporate offices in CLE, which offers management positions you can drive to. With a company that is doubling in size from it's current state, there will be many opportunities! Majors are looking at more than being just a pilot.
In addition to these opportunities, you will likely sit limited reserve with the movement. We also received exemption from the low-time pilot rule, which results in more opportunities to fly instead of sitting on the couch. Being a small company, for each month that goes by you move up a higher percentage compared to other regionals.
If all else fails and have not been called by your next carrier of choice, you can transition to United if you successfully complete the CPP process. Currently there are limited number of individuals in this program, so you will transition when you get the time versus waiting your turn.
In addition to these opportunities, you will likely sit limited reserve with the movement. We also received exemption from the low-time pilot rule, which results in more opportunities to fly instead of sitting on the couch. Being a small company, for each month that goes by you move up a higher percentage compared to other regionals.
If all else fails and have not been called by your next carrier of choice, you can transition to United if you successfully complete the CPP process. Currently there are limited number of individuals in this program, so you will transition when you get the time versus waiting your turn.
10-21-2016 | 02:11 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 373
Likes: 14
Is CommutAir opening a Cleveland base? Still sounds like commuting to me.
Do they have plans to get more competitive with pay? And a "free" ATP-CTP isn't free when it reduces the hiring bonus by $5000.
How many hours can a first year FO actually expect to fly? Not get paid, but actual flight time in the logbook... Seems like they have lots of shorter routes... And don't they get canceled first when UAL has WX-related capacity issues at EWR?
Or might it be a reasonable assumption that they will open a CLE base when they take over enough XJet 145s?
Do they have plans to get more competitive with pay? And a "free" ATP-CTP isn't free when it reduces the hiring bonus by $5000.
How many hours can a first year FO actually expect to fly? Not get paid, but actual flight time in the logbook... Seems like they have lots of shorter routes... And don't they get canceled first when UAL has WX-related capacity issues at EWR?
Or might it be a reasonable assumption that they will open a CLE base when they take over enough XJet 145s?
10-22-2016 | 09:20 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Baby Dash
Is CommutAir opening a Cleveland base? Still sounds like commuting to me.
No, there is little chance. You wouldn't be commuting to reserve for long, if at all. You said you were considering commuting to ORD, so I assumed IAD or EWR would be the same.
Do they have plans to get more competitive with pay? And a "free" ATP-CTP isn't free when it reduces the hiring bonus by $5000.
With classes filling up, there is little incentive from the company to do so. You can either take less pay for an insane fast upgrade or go to another carrier with more initial pay but a slower upgrade.
How many hours can a first year FO actually expect to fly? Not get paid, but actual flight time in the logbook... Seems like they have lots of shorter routes... And don't they get canceled first when UAL has WX-related capacity issues at EWR?
Some in January/February class have logged around 500 hours. It depends on how much you want to work. If you are okay with having one day off per week to get your time in fast, the flying is available. There are plenty of trips available with open time and CQFOs giving their trips away. The average daily block is around 5.15. While some of the routes are short, this is just the beginning of the 145 implementation. We have approach plates to Houston, Chicago, and other Midwest cities. If you are on the dash, it doesn't go that fast so it is about equal to the jet.
Or might it be a reasonable assumption that they will open a CLE base when they take over enough XJet 145s?
No, there is little chance. You wouldn't be commuting to reserve for long, if at all. You said you were considering commuting to ORD, so I assumed IAD or EWR would be the same.
Do they have plans to get more competitive with pay? And a "free" ATP-CTP isn't free when it reduces the hiring bonus by $5000.
With classes filling up, there is little incentive from the company to do so. You can either take less pay for an insane fast upgrade or go to another carrier with more initial pay but a slower upgrade.
How many hours can a first year FO actually expect to fly? Not get paid, but actual flight time in the logbook... Seems like they have lots of shorter routes... And don't they get canceled first when UAL has WX-related capacity issues at EWR?
Some in January/February class have logged around 500 hours. It depends on how much you want to work. If you are okay with having one day off per week to get your time in fast, the flying is available. There are plenty of trips available with open time and CQFOs giving their trips away. The average daily block is around 5.15. While some of the routes are short, this is just the beginning of the 145 implementation. We have approach plates to Houston, Chicago, and other Midwest cities. If you are on the dash, it doesn't go that fast so it is about equal to the jet.
Or might it be a reasonable assumption that they will open a CLE base when they take over enough XJet 145s?
10-26-2016 | 03:28 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 373
Likes: 14
I do appreciate the CommutAir info...
From CLE, ORD is hourly with lots of mainline... EWR and IAD have less frequency and a fraction of the capacity...There's a lot more market to ORD. Strangely enough, not a close comparison in terms of commuting.
With zero 121 experience, no matter how you cut it, the upgrade is 1000 hours away...which is about two years at most regionals when starting out? Even if seniority would allow insanely fast upgrades sooner, it ain't gonna happen...not complaining, just observing...
From CLE, ORD is hourly with lots of mainline... EWR and IAD have less frequency and a fraction of the capacity...There's a lot more market to ORD. Strangely enough, not a close comparison in terms of commuting.
With zero 121 experience, no matter how you cut it, the upgrade is 1000 hours away...which is about two years at most regionals when starting out? Even if seniority would allow insanely fast upgrades sooner, it ain't gonna happen...not complaining, just observing...
10-26-2016 | 03:31 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 373
Likes: 14
Anyone have any info about Skywest in DTW...is it expanding there still? If I understand correctly, they're new in DTW, right? Whose routes are they taking? It's still the lowest seniority domicile for Skywest, right?
10-28-2016 | 03:56 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: left seat CRJ (again!)
In your shoes, I'd go with PSA for these reasons...
First, your commute. Commuting sucks. Commuting sucks worse on reserve. If the choice is a two-hour drive vs. a commute to ORD, I'd take the two-hour drive every time. You don't have to worry about the cancelled flight or oversales and all the UAL pilots commuting between ORD and CLE.
Second, I've commuted to ORD before and winter commutes aren't the best.
Third, PSA's DAY crew base. It's not closing any time soon. They just opened a new hangar and have a favorable tax situation on all the leases in DAY.
Flow time to AA is going down because there are those eligible to flow getting hired at other carriers. In the past two months alone, I know three who went to DL and one to FEDEX. There's lots of hiring going on at PSA right now. The sooner one gets hired here, the less time they'll spend on reserve.
Good luck!
First, your commute. Commuting sucks. Commuting sucks worse on reserve. If the choice is a two-hour drive vs. a commute to ORD, I'd take the two-hour drive every time. You don't have to worry about the cancelled flight or oversales and all the UAL pilots commuting between ORD and CLE.
Second, I've commuted to ORD before and winter commutes aren't the best.
Third, PSA's DAY crew base. It's not closing any time soon. They just opened a new hangar and have a favorable tax situation on all the leases in DAY.
Flow time to AA is going down because there are those eligible to flow getting hired at other carriers. In the past two months alone, I know three who went to DL and one to FEDEX. There's lots of hiring going on at PSA right now. The sooner one gets hired here, the less time they'll spend on reserve.
Good luck!
10-28-2016 | 06:33 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 373
Likes: 14
In your shoes, I'd go with PSA for these reasons...
First, your commute. Commuting sucks. Commuting sucks worse on reserve. If the choice is a two-hour drive vs. a commute to ORD, I'd take the two-hour drive every time. You don't have to worry about the cancelled flight or oversales and all the UAL pilots commuting between ORD and CLE.
Second, I've commuted to ORD before and winter commutes aren't the best.
Third, PSA's DAY crew base. It's not closing any time soon. They just opened a new hangar and have a favorable tax situation on all the leases in DAY.
Flow time to AA is going down because there are those eligible to flow getting hired at other carriers. In the past two months alone, I know three who went to DL and one to FEDEX. There's lots of hiring going on at PSA right now. The sooner one gets hired here, the less time they'll spend on reserve.
Good luck!
First, your commute. Commuting sucks. Commuting sucks worse on reserve. If the choice is a two-hour drive vs. a commute to ORD, I'd take the two-hour drive every time. You don't have to worry about the cancelled flight or oversales and all the UAL pilots commuting between ORD and CLE.
Second, I've commuted to ORD before and winter commutes aren't the best.
Third, PSA's DAY crew base. It's not closing any time soon. They just opened a new hangar and have a favorable tax situation on all the leases in DAY.
Flow time to AA is going down because there are those eligible to flow getting hired at other carriers. In the past two months alone, I know three who went to DL and one to FEDEX. There's lots of hiring going on at PSA right now. The sooner one gets hired here, the less time they'll spend on reserve.
Good luck!
Yes, thanks. They [PSA] are still at the top of my list.
I'm still hoping for some honest input on Endeavor and Skywest, though. DTW is closer to where I live now than DAY. It's DTW that's a two-hour drive. DAY is a pack-up and move...again.
At present, all seem to have upgrade times in the 2 to 2.5 year range. That doesn't seem to be a huge distinguishing factor.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
