Instruct. My story, instructed at UND for almost 2 years and then got on instructing for at another place for more money. Got more than the mins for Skywest and I'm here now on the RJ. To say the interview with be harder for a CFI vs 121, not too sure about that. Which aircraft would you rather have to draw out systems, ERJ/CRJ or Seminole/Baron. I'm not saying anything bad about going to a low time place (I got on with Big Sky but turned it down) but the important part is that your overall knowledge and experience with go way up once you move on from UND instructing. However, do apply to UND if you get the chance to instruct there. My two cents.

Go to a regional that does not have a training contract (TSA anyone?) and get the turbine time. Go to a SKW job fair with 800 TT (400 turbine) and SKW will hire you. A guy from the December class did just that. Passing the initial training at another airline and getting line experience will get you into SKW faster than any other way hands down. Why SKW? Why not CHQ? or XJT?

I was in the navy long before I started the whole airline thing, but if you want to do guard/reserves, definately try to get on with a regional before you go to military training. That way your seniority will accrue while you are on LOA.

You're a sick sick man (because that is a great idea)... We had a guy do that here. He went to war (gone for 2 years) and he is heavily resented. Good for him though.

Wow(not saying you feel this way, but apparently lots at TSA do), way to respect someone who was willing to risk their life to protect your way of life. Add another reason not to work for TSA.

I want SKW because I want to live in Chicago and fly out of ORD. My old man flies for AA and I've grown up loving ORD for some odd reason....I thought about XJT but I don't really wanna live in the south, and can't afford the west coast with a regional salary. Republic is also an option, but I don't agree with the EMB 170's pay scale and what they are doing to this industry....carrying more passengers for less pay.

Do any of you guys that are going to a 121 carrier and making a lateral move to another regional 6 months to a year later have any consideration of the ramifications this may have later in your career?

Don't you think the majors might look at this unkindly? Would they question hiring you if say, they aren't the highest paying knowing that you meet the minimums for others? Will they want to pay for your training to have you leave only a year later?

You don't agree with RAH's 170 scale but you agree with SKW's CRJ-700 scale and their first year pay? Sorry, I have to ask why.

Whats wrong with the Bro, afraid you might have to learn to fly?

Props are for boats, not planes.

Too bad you're stuck flying a seminole right now. You probably wish UND kept that Eclipse we had on order. Just remember the prop on that Bro is still powered by a turbine engine. When it comes down to it the engines all work the same, difference is what is on the front that is being powered by the turbine.