scubadiver

Having offers from 3 airlines, GoJet, PSA, and Endeavor, I am faced with a decision that is hard to make not knowing the industry well.

I could drive just over two hours to a PSA base in Charlotte, or I could drive an hour and a half to the GoJet Raleigh domicile, or drive that hour and a half to commute from Raleigh to what I assume will be a LGA or JFK, possibly ATL domicile for Endeavor.

I could also commute from GSO which is an hour drive to commute for Endeavor.

Thoughts? I plan to post this in each airlines respective forum to hopefully get feedback from those pilots.

Flogger

1. In my opinion, there is great value in avoiding a flying commute. But, if you are driving 2 hours to sit reserve near the airport, that sucks too. What are the callout times for PSA and GOJETS reserve?

If you can actually sit reserve at home and drive to work within the callout time, that is worth quite a bit.

2. Long term quality of life and pay is still important at a regional. 9E wins that one, for now.

What if you get stuck at a regional? Medical issues, DUI, PRIA, Faa violation? All can get you stuck somewhere, so don't assume a regional is just a temporary stepping stone. A regional will most likely be a stepping stone, but can you live with it if it proves to be otherwise?

3. Don't listen to recruiters.

4. PSA is the only one in the bunch with a REAL flow to American. Very important, if you want American or you may not pass a DL DGI interview.

5. If you care about the profession, please research the alter-ego aspect of GOJETS. That airline is a stain on the industry. If you don't care about the profession, just disregard. All the pilots I have met from GOJETS have been cool and extremely professional. It's just a shame the place was started out as a union busting move.

Baradium

There is still a stigma with GoJets, deserved or not.

Bigger than that, PSA has flow and Endeavor has much better pay and work rules as well as an interview. I wouldn't even have GoJet on the radar.

scubadiver

I have pretty much omitted them, but the offer is there so it was worth a mention.

Baradium

Understood.


If you absolutely want to go to American, go to PSA or another wholly owned of theirs. If you absolutely want to go to Delta, go to Endeavor. If you aren't firm on either, it depends on the tack you take. I personally think that Endeavor offers a much better QOL vs other regionals (I don't think that's actually up for argument), but with an AA regional you do have a guarantee of a job at a mainline eventually. At Endeavor you get a guaranteed interview (which in and of itself is big too, there are a lot of pilots out there who would love to just get that chance).

Short term I think you're looking at similar QOL because you can drive to a PSA base (that's if you get that base, I don't know how their bases trend). With Endeavor their most junior base is in a "good commute" path for you, although it requires driving AND getting on flights. Any better reserve rules or schedule at Endeavor will be at least partially offset by that. On the other hand, the pay is much much better at Endeavor. Endeavor also has the commuter policy which guarantees your commute if you give two flights to make it to work, which should take a lot of stress out of the game.

I think you'll get more information from current Endeavor employees, but that's my take on it.

Avroman

I wouldn't put much if any weight on the "guaranteed interview" Delta has already shown their colors to us on that with the SSP program, they'll have to earn that benefit back. American has so far been a relatively good partner for the career movement deal in comparison though they seem to be getting worried about the pace and wanting to slow down the flow rates to keep captains at their regionals, too. Commuting to reserve anywhere is HORRIFIC!!! it really doesn't matter even at the majors, commuting to reserve is rough though I can say I'll live in base on reserve at EDV over commuting to a lower line holding NYC positon, but that's just me.. others see value in the opposite. We have a compensation that rivals some of the LCC's ( I wouldn't give Frontier the time of day and even Sun Country and Spirit would require living in base) but I also wouldn't give the (pick your name of the month) guaranteed interview half a second worth of thought... In today's environment, give your resume a couple standouts and you'll get an interview.

bscott58d

I’m at PSA until the 24th leaving for 9E or YX. The pilot group at PSA is great. Haven’t had a trip yet I’ve had any sort of bad experience with a crew yet. What’s not great however is our contract. For reserves it might as well be written on already used toilet paper. We were told in Dec that a new LOA for reserves would be no more than 60 days and still nothing. Our union reps might as well not exist b/c we don’t get updates from them.
If your coming to PSA a build up or line 2 is 10 months plus in CLT. You could commute to DC or ORF and hold a line much quicker, but then you might as well be commuting at Endeavor and making a lot more money.
As far as flow, PSA sends 10 a month and we have 2000 pilots. Do the math conservatively even considering attrition and lifers, and flow is in the 10 plus year range for new hires.

Baradium

Lots of people out there who are still looking for that interview.

JulesWinfield

Reserve is going to be close to a year if you get the 900 at 9E. Something to consider.

scubadiver

For now...

Something tells me there is going to be some growth of some sort and things may change. I would rather be on the front side of some growth, than the backside of growth and just sustaining at PSA.

I have pretty much decided that this is the place for me. I let GoJet know I was not interested. Once I found out they hired a subpar quality pilot that I know it sealed the deal. I knew that was not the caliber pilot or airline I wanted to be associated with. I want a company that wants more than just a warm body.