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Comparing PSA, PDT, GoJet, and EDV

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Piedmont Airlines Regional Airline
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Comparing PSA, PDT, GoJet, and EDV

Old 03-08-2018, 06:53 PM
  #1  
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Question Comparing PSA, PDT, GoJet, and EDV

This is a PRO/CON question I am going to post in this forum and the other mentioned airlines forum to see opinions and input from their respective pilots, and possibly update if more information is obtained.

I am at 850 hours (I have to go to 1500 for ATP). I am looking at all 3 regionals hard now, while I have time to think and make the best strategic decision. I am an employed CFI/CFII and getting about 100 hours per month.

Here is the best I can do with organizing the hundreds of things going through my mind. I would appreciate relevant comments to help find the right place for me.

Obviously QOL is important, base location is as well. I am 40 and have a family so I can't really move right away, but may eventually.

Reserve time is pretty minimal in most of them.

I live in reasonable driving distance to GSO (a little over 1 hour) and RDU (1.5 hour) for commuting. I am not sure whether the commuting is a pro/con/neutral because they can all be workable but I did my best to decide.

Endeavor
Commuting by air to ATL, many flights from RDU and GSO daily
Best pay
Wholly owned
Don't personally know any pilots who fly there
Interview with Delta (not sure how long)
Probably the best commuter policy
Typed and fly CRJ2 or 7 and 9 but longer reserve for 7 and 9

Piedmont
Commuting by air to PHL, about 4 flights from GSO and RDU daily (Only one base currently)
Less pay than some others
Wholly owned
The pilots (friends) I know who work there are happy
Supposedly Faster no interview flow to AA than PSA - Smaller pilot pool and larger flow numbers
Decent commuter policy

PSA
2.5 hours drive to CLT (2nd closest domicile to me)
Less pay that some others
Wholly owned
The pilots (friends) I know who work there are happy
No interview flow to AA (supposedly a little slower than PDT)
SAP program
Decent commuter policy
Typed and fly CRJ2,7,and 9

GoJet
RDU base closest airport domicile to me
Less pay that some others
Not wholly owned, future much more uncertain
Don't know anyone who works there for true unbiased opinion
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Old 03-09-2018, 12:55 AM
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Honestly, the magic 8 ball says:

Ask again in 700 hours.

The landscape will be different then

Magic 8 ball also says:

Just say no to go jets
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Old 03-09-2018, 01:55 AM
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Go jets is the last place to look.. last place..
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Old 03-09-2018, 04:28 AM
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Originally Posted by MKUltra View Post
Go jets is the last place to look.. last place..
Didn’t go jet just get a true flow to spirit? Spirts new TA is pretty legit pay wise. Make over 200K year 4. If True- Go Jet probably has a faster upgrade Def a shorter time in Training and get out of the regionals much faster. Again, it’s not a mainline but beats the hell out flying for a regional 5-10 years. Things are changing rapidly everywhere. Yesterday’s worst airline can be today’s greatest. My advice. Don’t commute.
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Old 03-09-2018, 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Battlinbear21 View Post
Didn’t go jet just get a true flow to spirit? Spirts new TA is pretty legit pay wise. Make over 200K year 4. If True- Go Jet probably has a faster upgrade Def a shorter time in Training and get out of the regionals much faster. Again, it’s not a mainline but beats the hell out flying for a regional 5-10 years. Things are changing rapidly everywhere. Yesterday’s worst airline can be today’s greatest. My advice. Don’t commute.
Frontier and spirit are hiring low time fos... I would just do that instead.. but I'm a big dummy.. I would stay away from that go jet, compass tsa mess...
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Old 03-09-2018, 08:39 AM
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Other than Republic, I wouldn't want to go to any non-wholly owned carrier. There are just a lot of unknowns with the pilot shortage, WO's increasing pay that contract carriers can't compete with, mergers, etc. Not saying the WOs are perfect, but I'm happy at PDT.
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Old 03-09-2018, 08:55 AM
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The previous comments about checking back when you have the time are great advice. Also consider your options with things like 135 and charter outfits. My friends there make better money and have better qol than anyone I know at a regional.(I realize this varies with situation and employer)
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Old 03-09-2018, 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by 123494 View Post
Other than Republic, I wouldn't want to go to any non-wholly owned carrier. There are just a lot of unknowns with the pilot shortage, WO's increasing pay that contract carriers can't compete with, mergers, etc. Not saying the WOs are perfect, but I'm happy at PDT.
You can't go wrong with Endeavor. The only thing that would keep me from Endeavor if I was in your shoes would be a more difficult commute. Not sure how it compares to other options.

You can't go wrong with PSA.

PDT's only two negatives that stand out are their schedules and struggle for growth. If they can ramp up their NH output and increase their pilot group then I would say their schedules may start to look a bit better. Also, there is the ever impending merger with Envoy people think will happen.

Republic may also be an option. Lol. It's crazy how a regional goes from crap to top tier in two years.
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Old 03-09-2018, 12:15 PM
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In my opinion, there are two ways to look at a regional:

1.) How great this year will be
2.) How great your career will be

Personally, I'm not at Piedmont so that my today will be the absolute best it can be. If I was dead set on that, I'd probably be at Republic. I'd be flying a more comfortable airplane on better routes and making more money, all while living in base. Sounds pretty sweet honestly.

I'm here to get to mainline as fast as possible. Upgrade quickly, get some 121 PIC, and get out. If that's through the flow (mine looks like it'll be about 5-6 years total), that's great. If it's sooner, even better. Either way I'm building a great resume and you can't argue with that.

My schedule could be better, my paychecks could be bigger, and my routes could be more interesting. I can deal with that for now. I'm confident I'll spend the lion's share of my career at a company that can provide me those things. I'm also confident that this place won't be able to grow unless they approve upon these things, and soon.

We can all agree that no regional provides the pay and QOL that mainline does. So for me, the decision was between spending more time at a mediocre job (read: regional), or gritting it out a little bit and achieving the end goal of a mainline job as fast as possible.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to fight for the pay we deserve or better schedules. I'd be fine shutting this place down until we get the improvements we deserve. My point is that I'm playing the long game with my career, and that means embracing the suck (for now)
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Old 03-09-2018, 01:28 PM
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I think a bunch of the differences between PSA and PDT are going to be going away here shortly.

Both will probably have PHL and CLT bases
Both will have closer flow timelines for new hires. (Piedmont Expansion will make it shorter for folks on property as flow slots are increased... we’ll have to see the new PSA flow language to get a more accurate comparison).
Both will lose their current scheduling in favor of PBS.
ERJ vs CRJ: Meh who cares.

Differences will likely be personality driven. The recruiting and training department mentalities between the two are vastly different. PDT tends to put more effort into screening folks who will be successful and its training Department works to make sure they get through training as long as they’re improving... PSA tends to take everyone (including folks PDT gives a TBNT to) and put them into training and has no qualms firing Half of a new hire class before their check ride.

Pick the place that feels right.
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