IDIOTPILOT

Haven't done a 4-day since my time on reserve years ago. Even if you can't hold it, how much you can trade makes a difference.

Santos Dumont

At Mesa IAH, it takes about two years to be able to hold purely 3, 2 and 1 day trips. We have a few Check Airmen that live in base, so most of the few day trips that we have are generally reserved for IOE. Regular line F.O.s can't get them.

lalo

Yes. Yes it is.

Geardownflaps30

At Republic it's NOT primarily 4 day trips. If anything, in some months we could use MORE 4 day trips as some months, less than 20% of the trips are 4 days.

That said, it is HIGHLY base dependent. Some bases (like LGA) for example are by far mostly 1-2 day trips due to the type of flying and RON (remain overnight) aircraft there. Others lean towards longer duration trips. Overall, there's a good mix here but it does vary from base to base so your experience may vary. However in no way is it mostly longer trips. Also the ability to trade or drop trips below 75 hrs has never been better, but that will last only as long as we are "overstaffed" (company term, pilots would argue "properly staffed").

So in summary, depending upon the base, it would be very easy for a junior pilot to hold a schedule of just 1-2 day trips at Republic.

hawk21

SkyWest here.

Lots of stand ups available. 1-2 day trips are obtainable depending on base.

Utah

I've done less than a half dozen four day trips and probably only a dozen or so three day trips in the last 5 years. And I've bid those on purpose. Usually only fly locals, split duties, and the occasional 2 day. Pretty typical that I only take the overnight bag out once every two to three months. Mid level seniority (as in close to 50 percent) at OO in SLC.

That same level of seniority in MSP might mean nothing but four day trips. It really varies by domicile.

rickair7777

It's going to depend on base and major partner more than regional airline.

The length of trips really isn't up to the regionals, practically speaking. They get assigned flying from the majors, and much of that flying includes the last evening flight to the outstation, and the first flight morning flight to the hub.

Both of those flights are each going to involve a RON crew, unless it's a standup/highspeed which will require one crew. The number of outstations served by a hub, and which flights mainline covers, is going to determine the need for RONs...the regional then has to build trips which cover all of the RON's. Regionals would vastly prefer to NOT buy you a hotel and to NOT pay your per diem and trip-rig while you sleep.

For those of you who don't understand why there aren't more locals, it's because Locals cover zero RON's.

Two days have a 50% RON coverage/Duty Day ratio.

Four days have a 75% RON coverage/Duty Day ratio.

Standups have a 200% RON coverage/Duty Day ratio. If mainline's schedule (and the stage length) allows legal standups, they are best RON bang for buck.

MIAMIA

Looking to get an update on this. From what I’ve been seeing, it seems like almost all regionals had moved to exclusively 4-day trips. How accurate is this? What about Horizon?

LoneStar32

Go to a Regional that has a base in NY, move there, and you can have as many one and two day trips as you want. That's because NY based airports are mostly commuter bases because nobody in their right mind would want to live in that overpriced, over polluted, over crowded, liberal hell hole. Commuters usually want 3 to 4 day trips so they have less commutes/nights in crash pad.

herewego

In the five years since you first asked this question things have only gotten worse.
Staffing is worse which leads to more 4 day trips, with inefficient locals added to get you up to max duty days for minimum pay.
Flight Schedules have been cut which leads to longer sits between flights, which leads to less efficient trips which leads to max duty days for minimum pay.
Pay is up from what it was when you first asked, but inflation is up even more, so your pay and per diem for overpriced airport and hotel food don't go as far. That is if you can actually get something to eat between flights because of the excessively long lines to the understaffed airport concessions.