I'm here to learn. I'm just a CFI trying to get a feel for the 121 side of the industry.

What are your feelings on riding right seat for 5 years in a crj, when your friends at other airlines have been captains for the last two?


What are your top 5? Why? What makes a top regional?

that sums it up!

How is the working environment? How's the management?

HotMama will know more about that. all i can tell you is my buddies at Republic and Shuttle America love the 170, the flying is great and theyre happy. But dont take it from me, i guess you need to hear it straight from the horses mouth

good working envir., no junior manning, a pilot group that don't get pushed around, management is not bad(relatively speaking).....bryan bedford does a lot for the company. who called me a horse?:mad:

I live in California, so the American Eagle over Republic seems kind of funny. Usually I would switch these two in order, but this is MY top 5.

1. Skywest
2. Express Jet
3. American Eagle
4. Republic
5. Horizon

Skywest, ExpressJet, and Republic are the top regionals to be at today. Skywest and Republic are growing, while ExpressJet is experiencing a lot of attrition due to CAL hiring. All three have good pay, good work rules, and a quick upgrade.
Horizon is a quality regional. In fact, they are so high quality that people stick around for a long time. So the upgrade is near 6 years. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, or you are looking to end your career at a regional (because you are getting old or like the northwest), Horizon would be a great place to go.
American Eagle is going to have about a 3 year upgrade (t-prop) if you get hired today. The flowbacks are leaving, more flowthroughs will likely go to AA, older Eagle captains are retiring, and AA will be hiring around 2009-2010. They are a quality regional, they just have been getting a bad reputation because of the upgrade. And that is changing. So they are on my list because of the LAX base.

They all suck!

I say it's all about where you want to live...for instance Pinnacle and Mesaba would be my choice seeing how I want to live in Minneapolis...but if you don't mind the commute...shoot pick any regional except Mesa and Gojets (of course).

If you are all about the upgrade pick a regional that will get you to the left seat in a hurry then start pushing apps to the Majors. But to answer the question top five:

1. Pinnacle
2. Mesaba
3. Express Jet
4. Skywest
5. Republic

New to all this, what is junior manning?Thanks

Well, here goes...

If there is only one thing to remember, then this is it... This industry changes so rapidly, that a great carrier can turn into a memory overnight. It is true that at present time upgrade at AWAC is longer than other regionals. But this can change to be shorter, or longer depending on the company and its decisions... Just because it's 5 years now doesn't mean that it will be a year from now, or such. In a likewise manner, a 2 year upgrade now, doesn't mean that it will still be 2 years from now. My opinion? Go to a place where QOL is best for you. What does this mean? It means there isn't a universal "top regional" because everyones QOL has different needs. My top 5? Here ya go and they are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER...

Skywest
Horizon
Expressjet
AWAC
Republic