I'm weighing my options and trying to rank order which regional to choose - did my first interview and got a CJO, I suspect that I will get an offer from each that I'm considering. I'm interested in some feedback on XJT.

I won't be able to attend training until November (retiring form military) so I know a lot can and will change - but where things are now and some thoughts on then would be great.

about me - I live in Austin, will have to commute unless I can get IAH - and would prefer the EJET if possible. I have 4700 TT with 1300 TPIC (includes instructor time) in ME TurboProp (king air).

What is reserve like - is it long call or ready reserve and what is a conservative guess on how long on reserve. Also, what is flying time like on reserve - i'll likely have to commute, maybe not, but if I do, I don't want to be on reserve somewhere and not flying - I hear this is happening a lot a Envoy.

How is training and QOL?

How long for upgrade? (I have 500 hours in creditable from military toward the 1000 hour requirement)

I'm not really considering WO because flow in 'who knows how long', if ever, seems crazy to base a decision on.

I've been considering (and some of the reasons why):
TSA (BIG bonus 35K after IOE, 15K at yr one; short reserve if any, and reserves are flying, quick upgrade).
XJT (27K bonus upfront, i'm told quick reserve if any, IAH and option)
RAH (all EJET, fly for all 3 mains, pretty reputable and seemingly growing company, IAH an option) - but have no idea about reserve time - QOL seems to be good based on what I read on APC.
Mesa (AA/UAX flying option, DFW and IAH and option)


Thanks in advance!

 

Why stay focused on 175?
Emb 145 are nice also

 

Are you retiring from a staff gig? If not you shouldn’t even need to go to a regional.

I can only speak to reserve at IAH on the 175, and even then it is only about a month of experience. I have yet to be called to fly once. The reserve days are Short Call (2 hours), there were a few long call reserve lines this month, but I’m guessing they went senior. We have the ability to pick up trips prior to a reserve block, but there is only 1 open time trip until the end of December. If you live in AUS, you would be commuting even if it’s just a 3 hour drive to IAH. You wouldn’t be able to sit short call at home, so if you were on 175 reserve this month you’d be in a crash pad not flying. I don’t have all the answers so I may be playing the game wrong, if so I’ll take any advice from those more experienced.


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I'm not - just saying if I had the choice of planes, I'd take the 175. But for example - TSA only has the 145 and I'm considering them.

 

yeah, i'm in a staff job now - It will be 18mths since last time I flew a military AC when I get to november. I am flying as a CFI/II/MEI locally. Also, I don't have my ATP yet - I plan to go get that in the coming 3 months. Once I do that, I'll be able to apply to the big boys, but just in case they don't like that I'm not going to be current in the King Air, I want to be ready for a stint at a regional to get the Jet time.

 

I will say that every crew that I’ve flown with so far has been awesome. I really enjoyed my jumpseat training and my IOE trips. We stay at great hotels and on the 175 it’s a max of 3 legs per day (from what I’ve seen). The negativity that you see on here has not surfaced on the job for me at all.


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Just out of curiosity what does your typical trips look like as a junior FO on the 175? Leg lengths? Sit times? Destinations?

 

My feeling is that XJT is about to see a fairly big shift in its flying/domiciles. Nothing appears to be certain at the moment except Houston 145 and Chicago 175. Your mileage may vary.

 

No worries
Keep interviewing and wait for another announcement that’s suppose to happen soon.

 

The long awaited December announcement.... looking forward to it. Mid or end of December expected??