I pretty much threw up in my mouth when I read this. Stop drinking the kool aid please. This is just friggin' nuts. I'm glad ExpressJet hands out internships like Viagra at a golf tournament. You have said its XJT or nowhere. I'd ask you to reconsider majoring in aviation to begin with. You are handcuffing yourself to a very tremulous group of grads. This world is changing very rapidly now that the government wants a hand in the way companies are run. Changes are ahead. Tread carefully. What is XJT trading at today per share? Did you notice that they suffered a 30% drop in traffic in March? Once again, study a balance sheet. If you live in Houston, do you have any possibility of interning at Southwest?

I know that the appeal of white jets and white teeth and white women can be a little misleading, as I've seen the stargazing looks of the XJT guys as I commute home through IAH.

Sorry to pick on XJT here but ANY REGIONAL is going to be the wrong choice. Hold out for an internship at a larger company and find out how adults act when they are at work.

 

Our 30% reduction in traffic was due to our 30% reduction in airframes. Maybe you should study those balance sheets a little harder.

 

You've come to a place where you get advice from a person who uses a picture of a muppet trying to have sex with a woman to represent them. Kind of degrading.

But that aside, I do agree with the folks who said intern at a major. It might take a few years but at least you can check the box that said "worked here" and I've known plenty of people who got in the door that way at Delta. Some even had one heck of a fast track to going from being hired at a regional to being a DAL 756 FO in a bit less than four years.

Think about it.

 

I did an internship during the summer between my junior and senior year in college at Alaska Airlines. I like it, did a lot of busy work that people didnt want to do, but I had fun talking to people and sitting in on ground schools and getting in the sims they have. The other interns didnt get in the sims since my neighbor is a training pilot and very senior. Nice for rides to the airport from my parents house during the summer.

The best part of the whole thing was going for rides in the jump seat. Got to see what really happens up there and looks like a lot of fun.

I would since when it comes time to apply for an airline job it can only help you.

The only thing that I missed out on was staying at my parents house for the summer, and not at school. Was not paid so I missed out also on making some extra beer money for my last year at school.

 

+1

I delayed my degree to pursue a rampie gig with XJet, which I was hoping would turn into a Pilot position...ended up at SkyWest ultimately, and just over a semester from a degree. Ended up going back to school last semester full-time, while working full-time, and let me tell you it was the HARDEST, most time-consuming, and stressful thing I've ever done. Don't be a fool -- stay in school! Finish up the degree while you're knee-deep in it already, and start being smart about contacts. Best of luck!

 

Was kinda funny at the time I chose the avatar; since as a kid I always wondered about Bert and Ernie's relationship so I expounded on the idea of Pam Anderson, the ultimate sellout and a muppet....but I digress.

Listen to what we all are saying.

XJT is on the way out as is Mesa. Look at the majors and finish the degree. One day the regional will be gone because, dare I say, the majors will be forced to do the ole' Ab Initio deal. I promise to all who may read this, it WILL HAPPEN and there is no way the airlines can survive without the practice. I will never ***** about it though, since, as I age, I learn that things change and I have to adapt in order to stay viable. The longer you are all bitter and anti-change from the way you were raised just makes you the easier target.

 

Another reason why doing an internship might help you out more than doing one at regional level...... I was an intern at a major. After I got back to my school, i met the gentleman in charge of pilot hiring at one of the regionals that flies for that major. I should also mention that the biggest portion of that major's new hires come from that regional. The gentleman told me, since I was an intern with the major, I will get an interview as long as I put in the application. I know there's nothing written down, but it's not a bad deal at all if it actually happens. What am I going to lose if it wasn't true anyway?

 

Really, how do you figure that? I see you must have a special crystal ball.