Which Regional for a Commuter?
 

Brand new to the forum everyone!

First a little background. I have been out of flying since 2009. Completely out so I'm not even close to being current. I have an ATP with LRjet Type and a little over 6000 total time and 1500 PIC in Lears. Again I have not touched an airplane in almost 5 years.

I have done several interviews and have had job offers with each of the following; Trans States, Express Jet and American Eagle. I also have an interview with Republic in a few weeks which means I could possibly have a 4th opportunity.

I was wondering if anyone has any insight into which of these regionals would be the best for a commute out of Denver. I'm not looking for the fastest upgrade or the newest equipment, just which one has the best commuter policy and the easiest commute. Also with regards to commuting, how does sitting reserve work for someone who commutes? Never home or barely home or can you start reserve late on your first day and end early on your last day to get back home without burning days off.

Thanks

Hey man- I was out of flying for a while too. Got back into it 2008. a 135 op/2 regionals and I just got hired at a non-legacy. Pm me if you want to talk about the regionals- too much info to post. Welcome back btw.

After 10 posts you can send /receive pms.

Which Regional for a Commuter?
 

Do you know any SKW pilots? If so, get them to walk in a resume for you. I think you'll be much happier if you're not commuting to reserve half a country away.

ExpressJet is opening a MCI base which is expected to be very junior. There's decent reserve rules and a really good commuter clause. Eventually, you can get DEN when you get some seniority.

Thanks for the info. Sorry cant PM yet so I guess I need to post a few more times before I unlock the level!
Also at the Express Jet interview they never mentioned the MCI base. They did talk about the DEN base being relatively senior.
I know I'm going to have to commute for a while so know its just narrowing down the right regional to commute with.
As for SKW, they must have a recency of experience requirement to get an interview because I have not heard a word from them.
My last PC check was 10/2009 and I have not flown since 12/2009.

Any know if posting under their own thread counts toward unlocking PM privileges?

I am in the same boat in regards to having flown last. Anyone know the best regional in terms of a schedule?

Yes, any post counts as long as it does not get deleted by a moderator (which we probably would do if you posting meaningless filler just to get your count up).

There's no way to answer that. The possible schedules vary wildly by equipment, domicile, seniority, reserve vs. line, and time of year.

However it is well known that certain bottom-feeder regionals have little or no work rules. You are more likely to suffer a poor schedule at their hands, although with enough seniority you might find a sweet spot even at a bottom-feeder.

Which are the bottom feeders?

I would think that Great Lakes, Silver and GoJets would be considered the bottom of the regional feed. SkyWest, ExpressJet and American Eagle would be at the top, and most everybody else somewhere in the middle. All subject to change at a moments notice and with the whims of the mainline partners.

Remember, this post MAY be worth what you paid for it!

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why the hell would you be looking at the regionals with 6,000 hrs and a Lear type? The orange site is full of Lear pilot positions. You might have to find a way to get yourself current again, but someone with that kind of experience should not be sitting reserve in ORD for $20k a year.

All of those Lear positions require you to move. That can't happen with a wife that works and kids in school. I need to be able to commute. The LCC's and Majors require a certain amount of recency that I learned of from a recent interview experience. My goal is to get on with a regional to get current and some recency of experience then move on as fast as possible.
Also I do not want to go back to the corporate world because most of those positions require you to move to their home base. I have put apps in at the fractionals but have not heard a peep. Again probably due to the recency of experience.
So it looks like the regionals will be my best, fastest and easiest route to get current and some recency.

Eagle might be at the top if it had a future. Just sayin...who knows

Eagle may very well hire you with the condition that you take a course to get you back up to speed. This might eat up all of the $5,000 bonus money. Have you asked if the offer is contingent upon taking the course?

Actually I have standing offers and class dates at Trans States, Express Jet and American Eagle. Each one wants me to let them know ASAP if I will accept and I said I need a little more time because I have one more interview lined up with Republic.
I was just honest in my interview and said that I'm way out of currency. I felt that i did fine on the sims. A little rusty but good enough to get the offers. I did not have a sim ride at Express Jet because they said I met their criteria of not having to do one. Not sure what the criteria is but that is what was explained to me.
I'm just trying to find the right regional to get me back in the game that I can easily commute to.
So far Trans States is looking like the best for my situation. They have a STL base, quick time off reserve and no training contract.

Be careful. I would go to an airline current, and proficient. Just because you can get hired doesn't mean you'll make it through training. Airlines will hire people, send them to ground school, get you in the sim., and expect you to be able to fly an airplane you've barely even seen! They may also keep switching instructors on you (with each instructor requiring different things, and yelling at you for not knowing them), then send you for a check -ride with an examiner that wants to see things that you were never taught, and possibly fail you, which goes on your record. I believe it also depends on your age if they'll keep you or not. I personally experienced the berating at TransStates years ago by an instructor who thought he should be a vice-president, but his next step would be back to the line(a union rep. told me that). I have a friend who recently went through that exact scenario at TransStates, then Mesa. He now flies part 135. I also experienced the same thing years later at Piedmont. I don't understand how an airline can hire someone, spend the time, money, and effort (the airline's, and students) on them, then set them up for failure. There may be some regionals that don't do this, but I've mentioned 3 that I am familiar with. Be very careful!

Three separate airlines??? Might not be the airline.

great mistakes is the worst by far followed by silver, and pinnacle. (and soon to be PSA).

oh, and gojet

a lot of airlines in the middle like expressjet, republic, eagle, wisconsin, trans states, compass, piedmont, commutair

skywest is the only non-union regional airline and is known for treating its employees better than most, so it's typically at the top of most of people's list

First of all, quality of life is the biggest thing you should look for. The reason being, if the music stops (another recession...etc.) you are going to want to be at an airline that is at least a mediocre place to work for x number of years. republic is in a lot of turmoil right now, be careful. trans states, expressjet, and eagle are in ok positions. expressjet commuting to kansas city wouldn't be bad, i hear mci is a junior base for them. skywest is a pretty healthy company, but only hiring in to the brasilia right now, so if you really want to get current in a jet that might not be the place either. good luck