FWIW I am a 3 year Captain on the CRJ series but for a 121 charter operator. Not quite a regional but same equipment. We are paid salary which is also night and day, however my salary for year three is $98,000. This exlcudes perdiem.

Yes. I was taking hourly times 1000.

That’s a good start. That’s only 83.33 hours a month though. At many airlines, it’s common for the company to require an average line value in the high 80s, especially during the busy months.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s a good way to plan, in case the surplus flying goes away. But top earning potential right now is much higher due to premium pay at a lot of places.

It’s pretty sad that this has become a discussion of how you can plan for your great career at the regionals.

What's wrong with having a career at a regional?

A lot is wrong with it.

Nothing at all...unless you listen to some of the pontiffs on here. If I didn't have the flow this fall, I would probably go try the training dept. route. I could be quite comfortable there for a very long time.

Weeelll....

A comfortable career at a regional, that doesn't terminate in downgrade, furlough, or liquidation about when your kids start college, depends on some degree of luck.

Same could be said for some majors, but I'd argue the risk is lower and you can usually see it coming far enough out to react.

It's the nature of the business model, and the reason it exists... to enable them to cut you loose when you get too expensive. Or if you somehow manage to stay cheap, you can probably keep undercutting other regionals forever.

Also, the regional industry is likely to evolve over the next decade, into who knows what. If I was a regional pilot younger than 55, I'd be looking for a way out while the getting's good. You won't have a job if you don't have any FO's.... https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/f...-airlines.html

Nothing if you like lower pay, qol, retirement, and benefits. Anyone under 63 considering staying doesn't understand math.

There more to it than money. You must be young with no kids.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope. I just understand that staying at a regional long term isn't a good financial choice. It's because I have a family that I'm looking to move on ASAP. Like I said, retirement, QOL, benefits, AND money. Probably in that order for me.

I'm old-ish w/ kids. First year at a legacy was better than any of my 10+ years at the regional. Except the training part, that's never much fun.

This. Said by every senior regional captain that finally got out of their comfort zone and made the switch.

And how do you rationalize the hit to your senior schedule?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lol. Said everyone until actually flying a major schedule.

So weekends off with holidays or being able to hand pick your schedule within a matter of months?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How many first and second year major pilots have you talked to? I think you’d be surprised. By all means though, stay in your happy place.

Holidays, no.

Everything else is much mo bettah. Is it worth staying chained to the RJ oar for 1/3 pay for the rest of your career in order to be home on holidays for the next 2-3 years?

For me personally, no. All I mean by all of this is that I don’t fault guys that decide to stay. Everyone’s situation is different and I think it’s arrogant to think because it worked for you and was good for you it’s good for everyone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not arrogance. I knew it would be better, but didn't realize how much better until I got there. So I'm inclined to share that in no uncertain terms with my fellow lost generation pilots.

Obvious downside... I'd probably get furloughed if we got hit by a large enough asteroid.