Express Jet or Republic
 

Just wondering which is the better way to go? I have CJO’s from both and both have IAH base (republic being more senior). Not really thinking I will be at either one too long before the majors call. (Separating mil guy). But the industry is crazy and economic dip can change things. Going to be living in Texas for a bit around San Antonio, until a major calls and then we will move to that desired domicile. Does either option have a leg up with the majors other than the aviate program? Not planning on aviate as I feel like I have a decent shot at off the street especially once I get 121 time.

this could all change in a minute if a major calls. But in the mean time looking to hear what you all have to say!

Go to the one you want to stay at just in case the major doesn't call right away.

701EV

Upgrade at Republic is less than a year.

Well both are great companys. You just have to decided what’s more important to you. Both have IAH bases since you live in San Antonio. Easy commute. You can get IAH day 1 at XJT. Not sure if that’s the case over at Republic. XJT has more flying out of IAH and growing! We already have more lines from last month. You can also get a class day immediately at XJT, when I got a CJO from Republic last year they told me it would be 9 months for a class date. Also reserve time at XJT is about 3 months. I came from another airline flying the E145, and I’ve been here since August. Im much happier and I haven’t looked back. Also I live in Houston so no more commuting for me.

Which one, Republic Live in Base or commute for the AVIATE program?

Apparently since Republic has outstations their times are early shows and late arrivals

Is that you, Maverick?

Seriously, though, lower your expectations just a bit. Unless you have recently landed on the moon, there’s zero reason to expect that “a major will call soon”. It’s not how it works. 90% of regional pilots have been “waiting for the call” for 10+ years. Pilots don’t hire pilots anymore, flight attendants and HR does that these days.

Not a jab at you at all. Just lower your expectations a hair, and you won’t be disappointed. Maybe they’ll call you in a year, or maybe 5, or 10...no one knows the secret formula to getting a ticket to “the show.” (I’ll withhold my personal views on legacy hiring...)

I was a XJT guy for 15 years. Left to go haul rubber dog sh*t outta Hong Kong. XJT WAS a fantastic place to be for many years. Decent work rules, good MEC, but management is now run by an idiot that trips over dollars to save dimes. Don’t count on Aviate. Good people get through, bad candidates get through, and even more good people get left behind to fly UA pax in and out of hubs, on UA airplanes, at subpar wages. That’s how UA works. They treat their contractors like garbage.

I can’t say a whole lot for Republic, but, honestly, with a shyster behind the reigns at XJT, it’s anyone’s guess as to how much longer the company can hold onto the flying they have with continued attrition. Honestly, if Republic is a 1 year upgrade, that might be your best bet. Build that TPIC ASAP.

If it were me, just getting in, though, I’d be headed to an AA wholly owned and grab that seniority number at ‘Merican. Commute SAT-DFW for the rest of your career and be done.

Best of luck!

ExpressJet. All one word. The E and J are capitalized respectively. But anyways, both good airlines, more growth potential at ExpressJet compared to Re public.

You may get a 9 year flow at an AA wholly owned but damn they are rode hard at Envoy and PSA in the mean time with some
very bizarre reserve work rules in this new contract.

As far as XJT vs Republic... I have friends there and they seem to like it but I’m partial to ExpressJet because I work here and I have had a very good experience so far.

I feel like ExpressJet is in a very good position right now for growth and expansion since United now has us. (FYI, ManaAir is a shell company for United Airlines). United is currently doing some restructuring. All signs are pointing to us operating solely out of United hubs here very soon.

Republic. No space between the e and p.

It is if you were a former military pilot

Not necessarily. Plenty of former and current mil members, including pilots, that are still at the regionals.

Also, don't necessarily become fixating on having to go to a legacy. I left Xjet last year for Spirit and am very happy. With their new contracts Spirit and Frontier have become pretty good places to work. Spirit also has a Dallas base for you but I hear its a very difficult commute from San Antonio (packed flights). I enjoyed my time at Xjet and Republic is good too. But I think Xjet makes sense for you. You can get Houston immediately and all the growth is there. You can also get a class date immediately; Republic might be still backed up.

I think I detected a little hint of entitlement from the original poster.

Simply put, your military experience is not going to trump a regional pilots experience. In fact United, and probably most majors, love to hire regional pilots because they are already intimately familiar with the air transport system, and transport aircraft. That's not to say you won't get hired, but you'll need to be as persistent as your regional counterparts, in pursuing a very desirable job. The airlines do like some diversity in their pilot ranks.

It wasn't always this way. Thirty odd years ago the airlines did prefer miltary pilots but in those days most civilian pilot applicants had general aviation experience at best. Those times have changed!

Not scolding, just suggesting a little humility.

Save some of that humility for yourself. Mil guys do get the calls. Just about every part timer in my squadron has moved on to the legacies. Only a couple of us remain at XJT (because we are on mil leave).

The OP stated that he is trying to cover his bases as best as possible, even considering two regionals. His humility is probably intact.

Of course the legacies love hiring from the military. And is your argument that it is less likely that XJT pilots that have never flown in the DAL or AA system, still have a better chance a being hired than a military guy?

Here is a quick stat I could find.

AA January 2020 class breakdowns: (Source - TPN)

69 Mil
22 Envoy
08 Piedmont
10 PSA
23 Other Airline
02 Corporate

The numbers don't lie.

Of course the airlines love the military guys. But even your numbers suggest that it's pretty evenly split between military and civilian which is different than when I got hired 30 odd years ago when it was probably 80/20 in favor of the military.

For the record, I'm ex-military. My observation is that it's a pretty level playing field these days. Being ex-military doesn't give any tangible advantage - any more.