CommutAir v Expressjet v Air Whiskey
 

I've spent a lot of time on these forums lurking for the past few months, and I know everyone tends to hate this kind of thread, but I am really looking for insight into how these three regionals compare. My end goal is United, and I'm currently a CFI/CFII approaching 1500. Mid-20's and unattached, so I don't care about where I'm based, and aiming to start training sometime in January (pending a CJO, obviously).

Priorities:
1) Quality initial training
2) Fly a lot
3) Upgrade quickly
4) QOL
5) Pay

Obviously achieving all 5 of these goals is what everyone wants, but really if I can achieve the top 3 priorities then I can live with lackluster pay and QOL.

As I see it, C5 and Expressjet both have reputable training departments, while Air Whisky's reputation is less than stellar. It seems C5 might be overstaffed on FO's so that might be the lowest of the three for flight hours, but not sure about Air Whisky or ExpressJet. Not sure how the three compare for the rest of the priorities.

As things stand now, would you come to C5 again? How do things compare at ExpressJet or Air Whisky? Of these three, which would offer the most flying for a new FO? How is pay between these three?

I know APC has tons of info on pay and per diem, but it doesn't really offer any insight on the day-to-day reality on the ground. Thanks in advance for any info!

I think C5 is a great place to come. We are growing which means fast progression up the list. I would not read to much into current reserve times. They are dropping and will do so even more over the next 6 months as we start an upgrade wave and have limited FO hiring the last few months. In the schema of life, 2 or 6 months does not make much difference. As for pay we are in negotiations now for a new contract so pay should increase at some point in the future.

Lots of movement at XJT. Fast training and a crap ton of flying.

My buddy at C5 said he was surprised how bad the training program was run there. XJT has a good program.

C5 pilots: how many hours a month are you blocking on reserve?

At XJT after IOE I had a reserve line with 19 days of work, the next month a relief line with 14 days, and the third month a hard line with 14 days. Since then it has been about the same. Averaging 75-80 hours per month block.

Just to clarify, you’re getting 15-16 days off a month right out of the gate? If so, that’s nice. Are you on the 145 or 175 and what base? What is your average credit?

A “reserve line” is NOT 19 days off. That’s BS. A day on reserve when you are not called is nice, but it’s certainly not a “day off”. Only the most SENIOR people (like....20+ years) at XJT get more than 15 days off a month.

Agreed, read it again though. He’s referring to days of work, not days off. 19 days of work is 11 days off...

So Commutair training was bad compared to who? How many training programs has your friend been through? For sure it can be improved but by no means is it sub standard.

I wouldn’t say it’s ran poorly. It needs improvement in certain areas, but if you pay attention in class, study at night, put work into chair flying and show up to the GFS/SIM prepared, it accomplishes the goal. I’m no systems whiz by any definition, but I came out of the program knowing the systems and confident coming out of the SIM going to OE.

There’s still work to be done in areas like updating manuals and streamlining certain processes, but they haven’t had the jet long, and are twice the seniority numbers as they were a few years ago. The majority of instructors spend the evenings at the training hotels too to review, answer questions and give advice for success.

I’m an FO EWR based 10 months on property. Second month in a row 17 days off with 78-83h of block. One month of reserve with 12 days off. 2 months of relief line with 15 and 14 days off. I got hard line with 12 days off, but if you know how to use improvement window you will end up with 15+ days off easily.