I'm curious for some PSA pilots' opinions. I'm prior military (helos) with my ATP (ME) but no 121 time. My wife is still on active duty, and we're getting transferred to Colorado Springs (about an hour's drive from DEN). I know that there are several regionals with domiciles in DEN/COS, but TSA has like 1000 pages of hate about getting paid, and it looks like right now, it would take me at least 9+ months just to even get reserve at DEN or COS at Skywest.

Between Skw and PSA, the base pay is about the same, but the bonuses are significantly higher at PSA. That said, I won't be relying on my airline pay to pay the bills at least for 3 years. My wife's salary and BAH will easily cover that...I just need to get established with the airlines before the hiring wave is over so that I have a job that will support us when she retires (after the 3 years.)

I hadn't been looking at the east coast regionals because I hear commuting is as bad as bad gets. I'd be commuting for at least 9 months at Skw, but I'd be commuting for at least 3 years at PSA. I read the last 40 pages or so of this thread because of some posts about being able to easily change your schedules, and that that makes a huge difference in QoL.

I guess my question is: Assuming that you'll have to commute for almost a year regardless, would you choose to continue to commute at PSA with your scheduling freedom, or live in base at another regional? Ignore the AA flow, and the extra money at PSA would probably be spent on the commute, I imagine.

Thank you very much for your opinions!

 

I would not like to commute either way, but once you have the schedule flexibility that we have, it is hard to give it up.

The awards just came out today for line holders. I was able to get about 75% of what I was looking for in my schedule. But it doesn't matter. I will be able to go in and SAP for the other 25% and get exactly what I want.

SkyWest is a good company with good pilots. I would not advise you to not go there, but I do think that we have a better thing going.

We have LOTS of military pilots, including helo. You will fit in well.

 

I'll add that we have several pilots commuting from Denver. I can't speak to whether or not it's easy though.

Also, being in base is pretty stellar even if you are on reserve. PSA has been mostly great for me. However, I would check out skywest. Just my 2 cents.

 

Denver is a long way, although we do have a few here at PSA that do it. I'd probably do Skywest. Hopefully you'll be picked up by a major from your military flying background. You won't be able to us the SAP right away so you'll then be commuting to reserve.

Good luck.

 

Skywest. No reason to commute for PSA.

 

Again, go somewhere with a quick upgrade and maybe a flow like PDT or PSA but Denver will be a long commute. As a military pilot, you won't be doing the regional thing that long. I will get hammered again but may I suggest PenAir or Gojets! Wait for it, here comes the hammer. You're looking for 121 turbine time and a quick upgrade. Trust me, commuting, no matter where, is horrible. If you don't have to do it, don't. You want to enjoy life as well! The airline bidness is not all that great so don't get caught up in all of it.

 

I agree with the GoJet suggestion. Upgrade as soon as you're qualified, easy commute to any base, and a DEN base when you can hold it. I don't know how long that will be. ( I'm guessing 8-9 months) St. Louis or Chicago would be a shorter commute than Charlotte or Cincinnati.
At PSA you will be looking at a 2 leg commute to Dayton until you can hold CLT or CVG. Probably only 1-2 months though.

Realistically if money isn't a major factor then the biggest factor is quality of life. The biggest factor affecting quality of life is the opportunity to live in base.

 

You'll get CVG right away and if trends continue, probably even CLT. CVG is nice since DHL also has DEN-CVG in addition to the passenger airlines.

 

Would Gojet really be a faster upgrade for me? From what I read on this site, most of the regionals are upgrading folks shortly after they get their 1000 hour 121 SIC time anyway.

Gojet also has a much higher percentage of negative comments in its thread than does either Skw or PSA. I already have about 700 TPIC time in airplanes, though it's all single engine, so I don't know if that's really going to help me as much as just getting some 121 experience, TT, and ME hours. QoL is the big thing for me right now. I'm just trying to get a feel for whether commuting with SAP would be better than living in base.

I also have one other issue...if my wife gets sent TDY for a week a couple times a year, being able to get that week off for sure to watch my kids without getting fired. Not sure what most regionals' policies are on that. I don't want to get paid for my week off, just not fired.

 

When bidding for base as a new hire, do you rank your selections in desired order? If you draw one of your secondary choices does the bid for your higher choice stand or do you have to bid for it again each month?

I'll be commuting from ATL. Thus, CLT would be my first choice. However, CVG looks to be a decent commute.