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Which regional to get back on career track?

Old 02-21-2018, 02:06 AM
  #1  
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Default Which regional to get back on career track?

First post but been "creepin" APC since 2006.

Long story short, worked at a few regionals throughout the years but thanks to poor managment, bankruptcies, and furloughs, my flight times are still pretty low for my experience. Typed on the three RJ's, part 135 and 121 experience. I want to get back to the airlines. This time, though, I'd like to make an informed decision on where I go instead of picking the first company that offers me a job.

Which brings me to this:

Which regional should I consider as a good one? I know there really is no such thing as a good regional. Just looking for insight in to
1. Quality of Life/Work Rules
2. Benefits: how good are they where you work?
3. Potential flow: yes/no?
4. Upgrade: with prior 121 how long, realistically?
5. Domiciles: Prefer something in Central time zone.
6. Pay: What is the approx NET income for 1st-3rd yr FO's?

Been to END, RAH and XJT in the past.

Preferred options:
1. Envoy
2. Skywest
3. Horizon

and maybe options:
4. Compass
6. Commutair
7. PSA
8. Piedmont
9. Mesa (but everyone in aviation knows their reputation).

1800TT
500tMEL
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Old 02-21-2018, 05:49 AM
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SKW is still filling classes, so they are not paying as much as some others (still way better than your previous regional life). They are working folks like dogs, I stayed at SKW for QOL, and fortunately was able to get out when the page turned on that. If you want to live in one of their bases and build a lot of time, it would be OK.

Horizon has very lengthy upgrades. Risky to try to get to a major without PIC.

Mesa... just don't.

If the domiciles work for you, I'd look at an AA regional with flow.
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Old 02-21-2018, 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by CaptDave View Post
First post but been "creepin" APC since 2006.

Long story short, worked at a few regionals throughout the years but thanks to poor managment, bankruptcies, and furloughs, my flight times are still pretty low for my experience. Typed on the three RJ's, part 135 and 121 experience. I want to get back to the airlines. This time, though, I'd like to make an informed decision on where I go instead of picking the first company that offers me a job.

Which brings me to this:

Which regional should I consider as a good one? I know there really is no such thing as a good regional. Just looking for insight in to
1. Quality of Life/Work Rules

our schedules are not as efficient as other airlines, and as a junior captain I would get used to the idea of 11 days off. Some months you may squeak by an extra day or two when people want the holidays off but I wouldn't count on it. Our most senior lines get 14 days off at the moment, I am optimistic that will improve when negotiations conclude or management decides to make this place more attractive to potential applicants for recruitment purposes

2. Benefits: how good are they where you work?

Our healthcare is top notch, and we are currnetly paying 3 times min day (12 hours total) to pick up overtime. You would get an extra 4 hours if its on a day off. Its not unusual for our pilots to regularly credit 150 hrs a month regularly, especially the FOs that get displaced for OE.

3. Potential flow: yes/no?

we currently flow 5 a month, and that increases as we continue to grow. I estimate flow for a new hire at 5-7 years (wild a** guess)

4. Upgrade: with prior 121 how long, realistically?

As soon as you finish FO training. Rumors of Direct Entry Captain coming soon, but not at the present time

5. Domiciles: Prefer something in Central time zone.

Our only base is PHL. The schedules are easily commutable for the most part.

6. Pay: What is the approx NET income for 1st-3rd yr FO's?

A friend of mine did 80k as a year 1 FO, he spent a few months picking up a lot and the rest enjoying an easy schedule. It would really depend how much OT you want to do, I think the base salary with bonuses for a year 1 FO is 60k. I did 120k as a year 2 CA

Been to END, RAH and XJT in the past.

Preferred options:
1. Envoy
2. Skywest
3. Horizon

and maybe options:
4. Compass
6. Commutair
7. PSA
8. Piedmont
9. Mesa (but everyone in aviation knows their reputation).

1800TT
500tMEL
Current PDT CA, see bold for answers. feel free to pm me any other q's you may have.

Edit: I apologize, i didn't realize you asked for NET pay. That would greatly differ based on your personal circumstances; Figures listed are gross.
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Old 02-21-2018, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
SKW is still filling classes, so they are not paying as much as some others (still way better than your previous regional life). They are working folks like dogs, I stayed at SKW for QOL, and fortunately was able to get out when the page turned on that. If you want to live in one of their bases and build a lot of time, it would be OK.

Horizon has very lengthy upgrades. Risky to try to get to a major without PIC.

Mesa... just don't.

If the domiciles work for you, I'd look at an AA regional with flow.
Horizon junior Q400 CA is a 10/17 newhire, not even off of new hire IOE yet. That doesn’t seem like a long upgrade to me...
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Old 03-10-2018, 03:57 PM
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Pick a regional with bases you like living in or wouldn't mind commuting to. Central time zone leaves ORD, MSP, DEN, DTW among others. Those are junior bases for SkyWest, Air Wisconsin, and Envoy (I think.)
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Old 03-10-2018, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by clb2vnav View Post
Pick a regional with bases you like living in or wouldn't mind commuting to. Central time zone leaves ORD, MSP, DEN, DTW among others. Those are junior bases for SkyWest, Air Wisconsin, and Envoy (I think.)

Better tell the cities of Detroit and Denver they are in the central time zone because I don’t think they got the memo.
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Old 03-10-2018, 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
SKW is still filling classes, so they are not paying as much as some others (still way better than your previous regional life). They are working folks like dogs, I stayed at SKW for QOL, and fortunately was able to get out when the page turned on that. If you want to live in one of their bases and build a lot of time, it would be OK.

Horizon has very lengthy upgrades. Risky to try to get to a major without PIC.

Mesa... just don't.

If the domiciles work for you, I'd look at an AA regional with flow.
Horizon has people upgrading before they are off IOE if they have the total time. One of them is on this forum.

To the OP: You know if you go back to EDV (if you left on good terms), you get your longevity back that you had when you left?

I would say a wholly owned personally. If you must go non wholly owned, SkyWest and Republic are the only options I'd say are viable. I'd put the AA and DAL wholly owned carriers above any of the United ones and with the forced upgrades to NYC I'd put Envoy at the bottom of that list.
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Old 03-10-2018, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by CaptDave View Post
First post but been "creepin" APC since 2006.

Long story short, worked at a few regionals throughout the years but thanks to poor managment, bankruptcies, and furloughs, my flight times are still pretty low for my experience. Typed on the three RJ's, part 135 and 121 experience. I want to get back to the airlines. This time, though, I'd like to make an informed decision on where I go instead of picking the first company that offers me a job.

Which brings me to this:

Which regional should I consider as a good one? I know there really is no such thing as a good regional. Just looking for insight in to
1. Quality of Life/Work Rules
2. Benefits: how good are they where you work?
3. Potential flow: yes/no?
4. Upgrade: with prior 121 how long, realistically?
5. Domiciles: Prefer something in Central time zone.
6. Pay: What is the approx NET income for 1st-3rd yr FO's?

Been to END, RAH and XJT in the past.

Preferred options:
1. Envoy
2. Skywest
3. Horizon

and maybe options:
4. Compass
6. Commutair
7. PSA
8. Piedmont
9. Mesa (but everyone in aviation knows their reputation).

1800TT
500tMEL
Three regionals and a 135 gig, three jet type ratings and only 1800TT and 500TMEL? Be prepared to explain that to the recruiters when you talk to them. I understand the lost decade was a different time, but don’t be surprised if their first reaction is to think you were terminated during probation at each airline until you explain it.

Are you flight current at the moment?

Depending on your answers, you may not get to pick who you get to work for for your first job back in 121 as much as the company may pick you...
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Old 03-14-2018, 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Otterbox View Post
Three regionals and a 135 gig, three jet type ratings and only 1800TT and 500TMEL? Be prepared to explain that to the recruiters when you talk to them. I understand the lost decade was a different time, but don’t be surprised if their first reaction is to think you were terminated during probation at each airline until you explain it.

Are you flight current at the moment?

Depending on your answers, you may not get to pick who you get to work for for your first job back in 121 as much as the company may pick you...

This is honestly my biggest concern. While I know I'm in good standing at all prior employers, it's hard to know exactly which company works for you and how they run their ship until you actually jump on board. At that point, you either take it or leave it. Either way, it sticks with you.

Not 121 current, ATM, but I've never had any issues or failures during training, never busted a check ride or knowingly/intentionally violated a reg. FAA/Pilot record is blemish free, other than the work history at a couple of regionals that just didn't suit my life. Unfortunately, that is an HR blemish.

The low times with three types comes from starting my airline career with 650(?)TT back in 07. Rough times during the recession and didn't even attempt to go back until 2015. Even then, I took the first one that called without knowing too much about the company. (Example: 2wks into INDOC at EDV and was told the company consisted of Pinnacle and Mesaba crews....#mindblown) LOL. I was so anxious to get back flying that I just mass submitted resumes and took the first thing.

Regrets are like.....well, I've got'em. I'd like to learn from my failures and move forward with my life and career before I'm too old to do anything about it.

Really enjoying all the responses from everyone, too. Keep'em coming.
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Old 03-14-2018, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by CaptDave View Post
This is honestly my biggest concern. While I know I'm in good standing at all prior employers, it's hard to know exactly which company works for you and how they run their ship until you actually jump on board. At that point, you either take it or leave it. Either way, it sticks with you.

Not 121 current, ATM, but I've never had any issues or failures during training, never busted a check ride or knowingly/intentionally violated a reg. FAA/Pilot record is blemish free, other than the work history at a couple of regionals that just didn't suit my life. Unfortunately, that is an HR blemish.

The low times with three types comes from starting my airline career with 650(?)TT back in 07. Rough times during the recession and didn't even attempt to go back until 2015. Even then, I took the first one that called without knowing too much about the company. (Example: 2wks into INDOC at EDV and was told the company consisted of Pinnacle and Mesaba crews....#mindblown) LOL. I was so anxious to get back flying that I just mass submitted resumes and took the first thing.

Regrets are like.....well, I've got'em. I'd like to learn from my failures and move forward with my life and career before I'm too old to do anything about it.

Really enjoying all the responses from everyone, too. Keep'em coming.
So you left Endeavor after two weeks because you didn’t like the heritage of their crews? I’m not sure any mid 20s/30s HR professional screening your application is going to understand that... in recent history (since at least 16) Endeavor has been a highly regarded airline on the regional level.

The part I find about your path most intriguing is that XJT was a top regional back in the day and now Endeavor is the top regional for pay/QOL and Republic has a new contract that puts them on parity in two more years.

What I’d worry about with your resume is the appearance of a lack of follow through professionally.

The good news is that most of the regionals you listed are desperate for pilots and will give most anyone a shot at training and let the dice roll.

If you’re even remotely serious about a 121 career I’d probably tell you to stick with the AA Wholly Owned regionals unless you’re going to be content being a regional lifer elsewhere. Unless the pilot shortage gets pretty bad your historical lack of ability to stick it out in 121 jobs is probably going to make a major leery of you unless you have years of solid work history at your next regional... and even then it could be a crap shoot. You probably want to go someplace with a no interview flow through to a major as a backup. The AA Wholly Owneds are the only ones offering that. If you apply to all three, my guess is that one or two will offer you an interview.
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