chrisreedrules

Pilots I've talked to who have flown both the CRJ series and the ERJs prefer the CRJ 7/900 to anything Embraer makes. 700 is the Canadian space ship and the 900 is the Cadillac with climb performance for days. I will say that the 175s have a MUCH more comfortable cabin than the CRJs though.

Not to mention that PSAs few remaining CRJ900 deliveries are the only thing keeping the Bombardier factory line open at the moment. I'm sure they are desperate for any new business at the moment.

272922

Although I have no time in it, all things being equal I'd take a 170/175 over the CRJs. In the long run I think you'll see those in mainline fleets sooner and perhaps longer than the CRJs because of the better cabin and a few mainline carriers are already operating the 190 which is the same time.

Not to mention, underwing engines and autothrottles. Who doesn't love that?

You're right about the 7/9 performance though. And a real yoke.

moflyer

climb performance wise the CRJ 700 blows the 175 out of the water, but that is the only thing that is better. The 175 is much more comfortable and the VNAV makes RNAV arrivals much easier.

word302

That's funny. My experience has been the exact opposite. I have time in both, much prefer the E175.

OnMyWay

As a side note, Delta employs both the CRJ9 and the 175. My point was however, your logic makes sense to you and me.

Phteven

I know your situation is a little unique since you're interested in the ANC base, but I'm with greenroute on this one - really think about why you want to come here.

ANC is very senior and stagnant. You will hardly fly at all on reserve, so little that there is a good chance you will go back to the schoolhouse because you didn't meet consolidation.

Which brings me to my next point - many things happen around here that do not make sense. Does the ANC base make sense? Doesn't matter. If it closes you are commuting to SEA or PDX to fly really inefficient schedules (six leg days, all less than hour turns, short overnights or longer overnights with hard AM/PM swaps will be the new normal - it is inevitable). I can tell you I think ANC makes a lot of sense to keep, but so did BOI when they closed it years ago and it took them 12 years to realize that was a stupid idea.

Pay here is not great, but the problem is it will get worse. Once the jets start coming in, Q400 schedules will deteriorate. For the same hours on the road you will credit much less than you would just about anywhere else. Hourly rate is only part of the picture.

The healthcare and 401k is okay for a regional, though the healthcare is now high-deductible only due to the new CBA. Also the 401k has a five-year vesting period, and you should be gone by then.

Bitter reality here, folks. We just signed in a 8-year contract that puts us somewhere around the 40 percentile of regionals in pay and work rules (for anyone who hopes to be at a regional less than 5-10 years, top end pay is pretty good). In 2+ years there is a very good chance we will be competing for last place.

Not saying this to fuel the fight in negotiations, we shackled ourselves for close to a decade on that front. Just saying this to look out for the newbies who are looking at hourly rate and thinking this place will help get you to Alaska -- do not come here.

alaskadrifter

If upgrades happen like I hear they are supposed to, how long to hold a line in ANC?

snackysmores

Years. Trust me, you don't want to try this.

lowflying

I don't give a flying &$&$ if people come here and I'm on record plenty of times telling people not to. Let's try and keep things somewhat factual; 80% of the and fo list are going to upgrade in the next year.

alaskadrifter

Sounds good in theory, but how fast will it fill up?