Rebuplic, Envoy or Other
 

So I'm looking into possibly going back to part 121 once my training contract for my 135 gig expires or at least pro-rates down to point where I can pay it off. Likely Jan/Feb of 2019

My question here is, where to go?

I'm 37, I live just outside Chicago (so ORD/MDW ideal bases)
Masters Degree
I have 3500 hours total
900 Turbine (all jet)
150 PIC Turbine
and around 160 hours of 121 time from years ago.
No accidents, incidents, no failed checkrides, no DUIs or other disqualifying factors.

So to ideally stay in Chicago, or at least get back here from a short stint commuting, what is my best option? Envoy? Republic? Other?

Don't quite have enough time for the LCCs, but being 37 I don't want to be stuck either.

I've got CJO from RAH and SkyWest and ideally want to hold ORD soon after training, I'm trying to make my decision now as well. I think your decision will be based be based on several options including: do you care with airframe you fly, how much are you wanting to fly, is upgrading quickly a goal, QOL considerations (you are already living on base at ORD sounds like).

SW ORD CRJ- ORD is very junior on CRJ FO and CA side. From what I've been told could hold ORD right out of training on CRJ, reserves would be minimal, and you would fly a lot. QOL may be less, but upgrade times quick (12-18 months).

SW ORD ERJ- Most junior FO 8/16/18 , Jr CA 10/01/2015 Still pretty JR, I've heard expect LGA first but you could transfer fairly quickly. Could sit reserve longer (5-6 months), not sure if you would block less time in ERJ vs CRJ (if that matters to you). Upgrades are 2.5-3 years.

RAH (all ERJ)- ORD you could hold as FO within probably six months of training. Most junior there is 6/25/2018. But CA is different story at RAH. ORD is the most senior and we're talking like 10 years.

If you dont care about airplane- On CRJ class date is fast , reserve less, lots of flying, upgrade quickly.

Other considerations: RAH training is backed up more than they are telling people, pay is equal now first year with the SW new TA. RAH has 17,500 signing bonus SW has zero, RAH is union with slightly better contract (IMO) than SW, but I think pilots are happy at both places overall. end of day they are both regional.

I completely forgot about SW. RAH and SW both don't have any flow agreements, Envoy does, but Envoy I've heard has a terrible QOL

I hear you on the flow agreement, but Flow is at least at 7 years or more currently, Envoy is a very disorganized company, and it seems to have some QOL issues. If you want AA eventually, maybe a consideration, but with your time if you choose a regional where you fly often, build time, upgrade, and have good QOL all the while, that would be hard to beat and hopefully you aren't waiting 7 years to move. Keep you airline apps updated and shop yourself, dont just get lazy and wait for flow. If there were an economic downturn and you got stuck, RAH has the best QOL and Skywest is a huge company that has been around for a long time, and most of SW pilots seems to be happy. You'll have good QOL living on base as well. You could hold ORD as FO and CA with SW as well on CRJ.... Just food for thought. Tough decision as I am going thru it right now and time to decide..

For someone who lives where you do and wants to move in quickly the CRJ at Skywest is a slam dunk. If you need the FO bonus and don't mind a year or two more at the regional level, nothing wrong with Republic. Seems like your call.

The fact that Envoy is hiring DECs ought to warn you about them but to each his own poison.

Are they still doing the $7500 bonus for guys with a turbojet type rating and 135 experience?

Yes.

Filler

Skywest? So they say...

"SkyWest is currently offering a $7500 bonus for those currently flying for a FAA Part 135 or has a type rating in a turbo jet aircraft > 12,500lbs. To be paid out upon completion of IOE."

But I'd verify the specifics with a recruiter and get it from then in writing, if you are interested.

For a current- RJ rated pilot.......

I've got types in a Hawker, Lear 35/55, and Lear 45/75 as well as an SIC type in a ERJ-145

SkyWest removed the bonus for 135 pilots, and now it is for Jet type rated pilots. Many of my friends received the bonus for flying a caravan at a part 135, but that was not the intent of the bonus.

My friend recently received the $7500 bonus for an SIC type rating in the Learjet, and he was not flying the jet when he started at SkyWest.

The wording is now:

Maybe that will qualify, the wording I have seen is vague.... I have a current 525-S type but not sure that is a "RJ" from OO viewpoint. TBD, it would be nice if so.

**Republic......wow I wish you could edit a thread title......

If ORD is your goal SkyWest is your answer. ORD is our most senior captain base at Republic, and while it might be nice as a FO you’d probably never make it back after upgrade unless the base grows again.

Don't cut yourself so short. I have buddies going to Majors with those times at a few internal letters of rec. Skip the regionals and give them a shot - especially Frontier or Spirit, you'd get in with a solid interview.

You suggest frontier as though it would be a good idea to go there

I got the bonus from Caravan time, don’t feel one bit bad about it. :D

Fixed it for you...

Yeah, haven't heard much good about Frontier.

I've considered just shooting an application to some of the LCCs, mainly Spirit, but if I can get in with a regional and make CA fairly quickly (once I hit the 121 time mins) AND then stay at ORD it would be great.

I'm def gonna give SW a serious look, can't start until Feb/March though due to a training contract commitment with the 135 op I'm with

Good luck with your decision. I think I'm going to SW due to ability to hold ORD as FO & CA, I'll probably start a couple months ahead of you so feel free to PM me when your closer if you want to see how its going for me. RAH was my top choice, but it only really works for me as an FO, as a CA I would be stuck commuting to LGA.

If I were you I would consider interviewing soon, your CJO would be good for 6 months and most companies I've talked to have been flexible on the class date. It's slower in winter anyway, so maybe you shorten your reserve time by starting in march.

Pick whichever one can keep you in base as long as possible both as an FO and a CPT. Do not commute to a regional job. That is never worth it.

Good call, ORD SkyWest is the best move.

Appreciate the help! I need to do some financial planning and thinking about this. The initial huge pay cut from my current position will be hard to swallow, but the long term benefits of going back to 121 may outweigh the short term hurt

I'm in same boat, going to tighten up a bit and hopefully ride the 121 hiring wave and then be back into better money. Another consideration is that although SW is less FO pay first year than RAH (with less or no signing bonus), if you upgrade year two, with CA pay it makes the amount you will make over 3 years be about the same whether you went RAH or SW.... again, assuming fast upgrade...

Thought they were both $45 year one $50 year 2 right now. SkyWest upgrade bid that came out yesterday is 1.5 years. (ORD CRJ CA)

yes, but RAH also has the 17,500 sign on bonus paid over 24 months. OO has the 7,500 if RJ typed but most won't qualify for that. RAH upgrades around around 2.7 years currently, could go up or down who knows.

Ya. The Captain that Upgrades next month would get about 7k for the PPS if the fly a lot.. and about the same in company bonuses.. don’t come to SkyWest for a ERJ upgrade.. going senior now. And after the holidays it will continue that way for awhile.. can’t go wrong with both OO/RP. I almost went to RP in 1999. Went for the shorter commute...