Commutair or Expressjet?
01-10-2019, 03:27 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Jan 2019
Posts: 531
Thanks again, Fred. Posting this to the masses:
Expressjet has 2 hour callout and their pilots on reserve can aggressively "bid" for their trips on reserve. In other words, if you want to fly, you can choose the trips and volunteer for them the day before. This lets guys who want to fly get time, and the guys who don't want to fly on reserve mark "no fly request".
Does Commutair have anything similar? Airport reserve doesn't sound fun, but do Commutair pilots have the option to choose their reserve trips and schedule the day before? Thanks.
Expressjet has 2 hour callout and their pilots on reserve can aggressively "bid" for their trips on reserve. In other words, if you want to fly, you can choose the trips and volunteer for them the day before. This lets guys who want to fly get time, and the guys who don't want to fly on reserve mark "no fly request".
Does Commutair have anything similar? Airport reserve doesn't sound fun, but do Commutair pilots have the option to choose their reserve trips and schedule the day before? Thanks.
01-10-2019, 03:48 PM
#12
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Joined APC: Jan 2019
Posts: 531
Originally Posted by jacburn
There are several of us that work at CommutAir that used to work at expressjet (some of us for 9 years). Commutair passes all of your priorities except the variety of flying. Our contract is weak, but I make a lot more money at commutair than I used to at expressjet. The morale is also a lot better at commutair as well.
Do you make more because of difference in pay scales, or because you can pick up 200-300% overtime often?
Do you feel like Commutair is "growing" or at least not stagnant?
What did you think of the training at Commutair versus Expressjet?
Thanks Jacburn
01-10-2019, 03:50 PM
#13
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Joined APC: Jan 2019
Posts: 531
Originally Posted by flying4401
receive a line within 1-2 months (if not less) in EWR -
After you're senior enough to hold a line, can you stand short call reserve if you want, and then pick up the most efficient lines?
01-10-2019, 06:10 PM
#14
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Joined APC: Aug 2009
Posts: 511
Originally Posted by watch
What do you think is the weakest part of the contract, or what would you want them to change first?
Do you make more because of difference in pay scales, or because you can pick up 200-300% overtime often?
Do you feel like Commutair is "growing" or at least not stagnant?
What did you think of the training at Commutair versus Expressjet?
Thanks Jacburn
Do you make more because of difference in pay scales, or because you can pick up 200-300% overtime often?
Do you feel like Commutair is "growing" or at least not stagnant?
What did you think of the training at Commutair versus Expressjet?
Thanks Jacburn
01-11-2019, 06:54 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,888
People on both sides will give you their version of the truth. Frankly, within the time frame of you being a FO there is a good possibility that the two will be combined. If that happens, date of hire will have a big impact though it probably won't be the only consideration so if you can get an earlier class date with one versus the other that should be a major factor.
Pilots tend to chase upgrade times, but that tends to make upgrades like hot stocks. If you get in early you make a killing. Those getting in later, not so much. They may get hired when upgrade times are at 1 year, but may wait 5 years or more due to the "wave" of pilots chasing the upgrade.
The inverse applies. ExpressJet "stock" has been knocked down. New hire classes since the Delta announcement have generally been small. Many of the FO's left- look at the comments by former XJT pilots now at CommutAir. Many high seniority captains left, either for places like K4 (about 130 senior pilots were hired by them), other airlines or sectors of the aviation industry such as 135 and corporate, or just retired to avoid commuting. This means that when upgrades do start again you will see the upgrade times plummet. They won't be "linear".
I've seen this before and more than once. When I was hired at ASA I was told 5-8 years to upgrade. I had friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade, then running about 2 years if I remember right. Delta bought ASA while I was in new hire class and 18 months later I was upgrading. Could have been faster if I went to the EMB-120. Those friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade came over to ASA 5 years later. They were still FO's with no end in sight at ContExp.
Pilots tend to chase upgrade times, but that tends to make upgrades like hot stocks. If you get in early you make a killing. Those getting in later, not so much. They may get hired when upgrade times are at 1 year, but may wait 5 years or more due to the "wave" of pilots chasing the upgrade.
The inverse applies. ExpressJet "stock" has been knocked down. New hire classes since the Delta announcement have generally been small. Many of the FO's left- look at the comments by former XJT pilots now at CommutAir. Many high seniority captains left, either for places like K4 (about 130 senior pilots were hired by them), other airlines or sectors of the aviation industry such as 135 and corporate, or just retired to avoid commuting. This means that when upgrades do start again you will see the upgrade times plummet. They won't be "linear".
I've seen this before and more than once. When I was hired at ASA I was told 5-8 years to upgrade. I had friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade, then running about 2 years if I remember right. Delta bought ASA while I was in new hire class and 18 months later I was upgrading. Could have been faster if I went to the EMB-120. Those friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade came over to ASA 5 years later. They were still FO's with no end in sight at ContExp.
01-11-2019, 07:39 AM
#16
New Hire
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 1
Im Exactly in the same boat Republic said they have my application but they are currently filled till late 2019. Don't really just want to hang my hat waiting for them i'm 30 Min drive from EWR and can't seem to wrap my head around either going with Commutair or Expressjet. Does Commutair have Bidding as well?
01-11-2019, 07:55 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,888
Originally Posted by MACJACK
Im Exactly in the same boat Republic said they have my application but they are currently filled till late 2019. Don't really just want to hang my hat waiting for them i'm 30 Min drive from EWR and can't seem to wrap my head around either going with Commutair or Expressjet. Does Commutair have Bidding as well?
01-11-2019, 08:04 AM
#18
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2018
Posts: 55
CommutAir is a great choice. Growing, good group. Good group at XJT too. Meet both and pick the one you like. For me, CommutAir has been a great regional.
Originally Posted by MACJACK
Im Exactly in the same boat Republic said they have my application but they are currently filled till late 2019. Don't really just want to hang my hat waiting for them i'm 30 Min drive from EWR and can't seem to wrap my head around either going with Commutair or Expressjet. Does Commutair have Bidding as well?
01-11-2019, 09:23 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2009
Posts: 511
Originally Posted by Blackhawk
People on both sides will give you their version of the truth. Frankly, within the time frame of you being a FO there is a good possibility that the two will be combined. If that happens, date of hire will have a big impact though it probably won't be the only consideration so if you can get an earlier class date with one versus the other that should be a major factor.
Pilots tend to chase upgrade times, but that tends to make upgrades like hot stocks. If you get in early you make a killing. Those getting in later, not so much. They may get hired when upgrade times are at 1 year, but may wait 5 years or more due to the "wave" of pilots chasing the upgrade.
The inverse applies. ExpressJet "stock" has been knocked down. New hire classes since the Delta announcement have generally been small. Many of the FO's left- look at the comments by former XJT pilots now at CommutAir. Many high seniority captains left, either for places like K4 (about 130 senior pilots were hired by them), other airlines or sectors of the aviation industry such as 135 and corporate, or just retired to avoid commuting. This means that when upgrades do start again you will see the upgrade times plummet. They won't be "linear".
I've seen this before and more than once. When I was hired at ASA I was told 5-8 years to upgrade. I had friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade, then running about 2 years if I remember right. Delta bought ASA while I was in new hire class and 18 months later I was upgrading. Could have been faster if I went to the EMB-120. Those friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade came over to ASA 5 years later. They were still FO's with no end in sight at ContExp.
Pilots tend to chase upgrade times, but that tends to make upgrades like hot stocks. If you get in early you make a killing. Those getting in later, not so much. They may get hired when upgrade times are at 1 year, but may wait 5 years or more due to the "wave" of pilots chasing the upgrade.
The inverse applies. ExpressJet "stock" has been knocked down. New hire classes since the Delta announcement have generally been small. Many of the FO's left- look at the comments by former XJT pilots now at CommutAir. Many high seniority captains left, either for places like K4 (about 130 senior pilots were hired by them), other airlines or sectors of the aviation industry such as 135 and corporate, or just retired to avoid commuting. This means that when upgrades do start again you will see the upgrade times plummet. They won't be "linear".
I've seen this before and more than once. When I was hired at ASA I was told 5-8 years to upgrade. I had friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade, then running about 2 years if I remember right. Delta bought ASA while I was in new hire class and 18 months later I was upgrading. Could have been faster if I went to the EMB-120. Those friends who went to ContExp for the quick upgrade came over to ASA 5 years later. They were still FO's with no end in sight at ContExp.
It is still unknown if the new XJT CEO will repeat history by pulling down a large number of the XJT existing fleet to cover the new 175 aircraft like he has a history of doing in the past. If he does pull down more of the 145 flying, there will be stagnation over the next year. Yes, that happened at C5 while he was here and his previous carriers as well.
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