pilotguy7

Thank you both for the responses. Part of me says go to Envoy, (probably end up on the 145) see how things go there with the flow, ect, and give Via some time to test the AUS and 121 waters out a bit more. Then re-evaluate the situation and see if going to VIA is a good move. I could nearly make street captain (if available) since I'd have the 145 time . . . One of the things that I really like about Via, is that EVERYONE I have talked to says management is good. OK, let's be honest, that does not happen very much, right now spirit pilots and management is in a dead lock, and each doesnt seem to respect the other. Envoy is WO by such a massive group, and is already not quite doing what they "promised" as far as flows. It would be amazing to work for a smaller company, have a family feel, be on a first name basis with some management, and fly with what seems to be some pretty cool folks. Oh, and no commuting, no no reserve!!! Sometimes its not "only" about money. (I've got wife and 3 cool kids that still like me)
Again, thank you guys for the input. I really do appreciate it. I'd love to land somewhere and not be looking at the horizon for the "next big thing".

Walkeraviator

My 2 cents... while I like it hear at Via, if I was in your shoes, I would go to Spirit. As long as you can survive year one financially, that is the place to be. Their contract will come around eventually and you could be making good money, flying a type that looks good on a resume, and be commuting to DFW which is fairly easy from AUS.

I caution everyone about basing a job choice on a flow. It is a carrot that benefits an infinitesimally small percentage of people. I have a friend who went to Eagle in 2004. He finally flowed to AA this year.

Via makes no qualms about the fact that they have targeted Austin as its next “hub”. Between Branson, Steamboat, and some unspecified future flying coming, I have been told that AUS will be the center of the company operation by this time next year. But I would probably still bail for Spirit if I thought I could survive first year pay (which I can’t).

I firmly believe that if your desire is to make it to a major airline, flying the bus for Spirit will get you there faster than the other options. However, if you are a gambler, there is always that possibility that 20 years from now, you could be the top of a long seniority list, reminiscing about the early days of Via.

pilotguy7

SUCH GOOD/GREAT FEEDBACK!!!! Thank you!!!! For me, its also. . can I survive Via's first year pay. . LOL!

Walkeraviator

Sadly, all three of your choices are about same first year pay these days. Spirit should be ashamed of their first year pay to fly a bus.

hoover

Go to spirit. Make it through their training then apply to everyone else that's better and get picked up in a few months cause you'll have a new training event on your resume.
Two guys in my SW class had 3 months at spirit.

pilotguy7

WOW!! That's sweet. That first year pay for a pilot with a family is pretty brutal though!

Cujo665

Envoy 1st year pay will be CA pay as they are upgrading as soon as you meet 121 mins which it sounds like you have.

jonnyjetprop

Having flown for 3 different 121 Supplemental carriers, I'd never base my decision on a base or a contract. Supplemental carriers change customers on a regular basis. I enjoyed living in the city I flew out of, but it was the exception.

I'm not saying don't consider Via. Don't base your decision solely on flying out of Austin.

pilotguy7

That's very true. If I go to another regional, I'll be commuting anyway as a non-rev'r. Honestly for me it's QOL, then pay, then future . . . I wonder where Via is or will be in these categories? So many unknowns. Thoughts?

Walkeraviator

Via-
QOL- crapshoot. If AUS grows like they want, it could be pretty great for you and I. But if it doesn’t, or staffing gets any lower, QOL could diminish. I will say that getting a ticket from the company to work is much better than fighting for a jumpseat... but with such a variety of schedule (could be 6on/5off or as bad as 15on/4off) it’s a tossup on QOL.

Pay- is lagging behind the industry, especially when compared to Endeavor’s offer from the company. The FO pay is especially low when compared to first year total reimbursement (look at insurance and retirement) at Regionals with big bonuses.

Future- the owner has big plans, but we all know how those usually go. I absolutely see the company growing and feel zero threat of being out on the street anytime soon, but bigger airframes seem a bit farther down the road.