Best QOL Regional
 

I'm going to be retiring from the Coast Guard as a helo pilot and am considering the airlines. I'm looking at relocation to either Denver/Colorado Springs, Chattanooga or Nashville. I'm slightly considering eastern PA since I have family in the Northeast and could work out of NYC, Philly, Baltimore or DC. I'm looking to minimize nights away from home since I have two young kids. I know it might take a few years to build the necessary seniority. Is crazy to consider staying at a regional? It seems to me that the quality of life of a senior regional Captain must be pretty good. 80-100k annually plus my pension will be a decent income. Seems everyone is only interested in moving up; I'm not interested in constantly upgrading and changing companies, only to be the junior guy with a crap schedule every time. Recommendations for companies that could meet this goal?

Whatever regional will allow you to drive to work after you decide where you want to move. The rest doesn’t matter.

If you end up in DEN/COS go skywest, I spent 3 years there it's a good company. If you end up near DCA/PHL definitely go republic. Avoid mesa, trans states, go jet.

Thanks for the opinions. I know it varies, but how long do you think I'd wait for a schedule where I work no more than 15 days? Is 10-12 days/month possible? Or are there schedules that keep you home most nights (aside from reserve). I'm looking at long-term QOL vs. helicopter EMS, which I could roll straight in to working 7-on/7-off at $60-70k/year.

What you’re asking has so many variables from airline to airline.

Pick the regional that allows you to drive to work. The rest doesn’t matter.

If you can drive to a republic base, it’s a great QOL choice.

Yea the one u can drive to then hope they dont close that base

Sounds like a corporate type gig would be more in line with what you want

My buddy showed me his schedule monthly and was holding 18 days off every month and that was his first year as an FO. I’ve thought of EMS but I don’t have the Mil retirement to supplement so the money just isn’t there for a family but it seems like a good gig

If you end up in DEN/COS go Skywest or even XJT, they’ll be making an appearance soon in DEN. If you end up near DCA/PHL definitely go Republic Avoid Trans, GoJets, and the worst Mesa

Yes, it is crazy to consider staying at a regional. Pay, QOL, benefits and contract are 10000000× better at a legacy.

^^^^Agree with this guy. Sure, you CAN do pretty well at a regional, but it's way, WAY less secure than a legacy/LCC/ULCC job.

There's a saying that's been around a long, LONG TIME;

"Your worst day a legacy beats your best day at a regional"

If you're about to retire from the CG, I'm assuming you might have some additional quals? EP/IP/Stand eval/NTOPS/Safety boxes checked possibly? If so, go to a regional that's doing a rotor transition if need be. bide your time, then GTF0 ASAP!!!!

DEN/COS? Target UAL (duh) and Frontier. NE PA? All the big 3, Spirit/JB. BWI/IAD? Again, UAL/SW

None of us can predict the future. And those of us doing this the last 20+ years have watched this industry turn onto its arsehole multiple times. But if you can get on with a legacy in the next few years, it's NOT an issue. Get to the legacy, stay on the narrow body, accrue seniority quicker than anyone in the last 20 years.

Easily collect just under 200K, plus the 16% DC, profit share when it applies, AND your check of the month club.

Miami. Drop your schedule and pick up key west turns and work 10am-1pm. Get min guarantee and spend the rest of the time with family for breakfast and dinner.


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Thank you all for your opinions. One thing I hadn't though about when creating this thread was job security. I'm aware of how often regionals close/combine/get sold. The best job in the world isn't worth much if it's not secure.

If you’re looking at flying out of PHL, PSA, Piedmont or Republic are all valid choices. The best QOL is a drive commuter regardless of carrier.

i don’t think PDT should be on the radar for QOL. I am fairly senior there and 14 days off per month is still out of reach. Better then that does not happen.

Neither should Endeavor. We will get burned out very quickly with the company's current staffing model.

Yeah, it's crazy to stay. Some people have really weird reasons for sticking around. They've settled. Whatever.

New to the forum, wanted to get some some input on the same question. I'm starting to apply to regionals in about 3-4 months. Which ones are better for QOL and schedules?

For now considering Republic, Envoy, PSA, Horizon, Skywest, JSX, CommutAir, maybe Piedmont.

We're planning to move our family to where I will be based. Open to almost anything, except Chicago, New York, and Detroit. My partner has a wonderful remote job, so we are flexible.

Pay is really NOT that important to me. Seeing my family more often is MUCH more important to me. We accept the fact that being a pilot means being away from home, but trying to find a pilot job that minimizes that. I have 2 young kids. If I could spend at least 20 nights/month at home, I'd be very happy!

Thanks guys!

If I were you, I’d get very used to the idea of only being home 12-14 nights per month.

EDIT: ignore the above, I got my math wrong and was mixing up two different things.

Is it really always that bad? I’ve been reading the forums, and I keep seeing even some junior pilots mention that four 4-day trips per month is the norm. That leads to roughly 12 nights away (or 18 nights at home) per month. Or am I understanding that wrong?

I guess that's possible if all of your trips are commutable on both ends or you live in base.

Honestly, going back and reading my post, I’m not sure why I wrote that. I think I was conflating two different things in my head and in my response. I must be tired, sorry.

But yeah if you live in base you won’t lose any nights commuting, so 14-18 nights at home is probably a good range, depending on whether you have a line or are on reserve.

No worries, and thank you so much for your input! That definitely makes me feel better!

Thanks! Yep, planning to move to base.

If you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate any regional recommendations!

Well, it depends what you want. You said you want to be home more vs making more $. There are places like Silver Airways where they mostly do day trips so you'd be home every night if you don't mind living in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale or Dallas (Dallas does night flying FYI but still you come home at the end of the out and back) but you're going to make around $50 an hour vs $90 an hour.

Otherwise, I'd stay away from places that solely operate the CRJ200 or EMB145 as those aircraft seem to be getting retired or those airlines might not have a contract extension coming up. The United CEO said they do not want to operate 50 seaters around in the near future.

With that all being said, if you don't mind being away for a bit then go for the money at the AA wholly owned airlines. Envoy, PSA, Piedmont (although Piedmont solely operates the 145).

Also, I've heard "don't move for a regional"... if your goal is LCC you might be at your regional an extremely short amount of time and be moving again.

I wouldn’t move for a regional because bases open and close more often at the regionals vs the Majors. Pick the regional will try e closes bases to where you are and save the move to base idea for the Legency job. Unless you are okay with the potential of moving your family every time a base opens and closes at your regional…

Thank you! We’re okay with potentially moving 1-2 times (preferably, just not more than that). My partner works remotely, so we’re pretty flexible. Just trying to figure out the best regionals for QOL

Thank you so much! It’s always been my dream to fly turbine, so I think we’re going to look more into Envoy and PSA then. Being away for a bit is not a big problem - just trying to choose the options that keep that to a minimum (like about 10-12 nights away a month would be great)

Currently at Republic and managed to get 16 days off in July. I’m on reserve, but I was able to drop a bunch of reserve days and pick up trips. Additionally, if you live in base and don’t mind reserve, you’ll be probably be hanging out at the home awhile not being called. RPA has a ton of FOs so it’s easy to drop reserve days or stay home and not be called, totally up to you.

Our junior line holders consistently get 15-16 days off and around 80+ hours a month if not more. We’re currently in contract negotiations so pay will come up, but if you want QOL at a regional, hands down Republic is the way to go!

That sounds amazing - exactly what I was looking for. Going to put Republic at the top of my list then. Thank you so much for the recommendation!!

No problem!

Also at RPA. Consistently average 13-16 days off a month. Bidding in the top 50% in base in the right seat. I get the days off I want and I typically get what I bid for. I live 40 minutes from the airport and my QOL is fantastic. Obviously we have some issues going on with management not wanting to pony up on a contract, but the pilots have all the leverage so we'll see. As of now I have no complaints at Republic.

I guess it’s possible to only spend 12 nights away per month if you only get four 4-day trips a month, but with every regional being short staffed, they’re flying everyone as much as they can. I’ve been flying 90+ hours every month for a while now. Usually five 4-day trips a month. It sucks and I’m sick of it. I’m bouncing soon.

Doesn’t five 4-day trips go against the minimum day off guarantee? Five 4-day trips means you work 20 days per month, and from what I’m seeing most regionals promise 12 days off per month. Or is there something I’m missing?

That sounds wonderful! Thank you sooo much for the info!

At Endeavor the min days off for a line holder is 11. If you have a 31 day month you’re likely looking at five 4 days.

Oh, I see. Sorry, I was thinking in terms of Envoy, PSA, and Republic.

Yeah this thread is for best QOL regionals. I shouldn’t have brought up Endeavor as it has no place in that conversation.

Mesa is leaving this conversation. Lol