I second that. Don't just go somewhere to fly unless you don't have a life that would get destroyed.

just be prepared for life on RSV at PDT. 6 day streches with 2 days off in between, and during your 6 day streches you WILL be gone the whole time. I spent a year at PDT, and its true that the movement is slow, but I would not trade that experience. I flew with guys who have been at that airline for20+ years, and you will learn TONS from them.

[QUOTE=MustangFa1con;124790]but every thime I say that to people they argue back that it's still a turboprop (even though I would rather be flying the Dash)...[QUOTE]

I know what you mean... here I am all excited that I may be moving on to the next step, and when people ask me what plane they fly and hear that it's a turboprop, I get always get that dull "Oh."

Pdt?

-laff

The question is, will the "short upgrade" be a "short upgrade" in a few years? If it ends up not being the case (which has happened to a great deal of people), then you'd really be frustrated with putting in all that, well...frustration. Upgrades swing back and forth with about as much volatility as the stock market at the airlines, with just a few exceptions, in my opinion. Given your choices, I'd go with QOL, or build time until you have a few more options.

Piedmont..

So, if you're thinking long term, wouldn't second year+ pay matter the most?

When I am in a US Air express crew room I hear two pilot groups ****ing and moaning - PDT and PSA. PDT'ers seem to p & m about sitting around for 6+ hours with no hotel, being junior manned left and right because they are short of FO's (because they are all leaving for Republic), and PSA is upset because they have crappy schedules with little credit.

I personally, would not choose either of those companies. PDT could close LGA in a heartbeat - in fact Chautauqua is already reducing its flying out of LGA.

You may not like to hear this - but NYC isn't a great place for a regional FO to live, unless you can live room & board free with your parents. But then I'd still reconsider.

I'd go for Pinnacle or similar company, move to a cheap base, and save your money. Blowing it all at an expensive base just isn't worth it. I know a 1st year Pinnacle FO that bought a house in Memphis. Not too bad for a QOL.

Hes 100% right. I am excited for 2nd year pay just so I can get out of debt. I live in Northern NJ its rediculously expensive I cant afford anything here, even if I was a CA, meanwhile I know guys that have a house and cars that live elsehwere on 2nd year pay its amazing..............guess my g/f soon to be wife is going to have to be the "man of the hoouse" how depressing is that :(

That's right...for most, there won't be second year pay because there's no second year...you leave the first year (since there's no chance of upgrading)

...plus you're at Pinnacle for 3 years before the pay gets any better than PDT's, but I see what you're saying though

Well, the only reason I'm so set on NYC is that my home is there. If I can get on with a base in LGA or JFK, I plan to spend half my time at home (like for out and backs I guess), and the other half time (the days off) a few states south where my sig other has a house... it's rent-free situation in both places. :D