In addition to applying to regionals try applying to F9/NK as well and see what happens, career fair next month in BNA- drop an app and you might become quite the data point.

Qx pilot here. Horizon is OK, training is usually backed up several months on the jet so if you want to start right away you’ll probably want the Q. That being said, jet drivers are getting a couple hundred more hours a year than Q guys.

I hear Skywest is getting 11 more 175s in SEA so more junior guys are getting it (2.5 years to hold it as a captain from what I heard). No idea how many hours these guys are getting.

Air group is giving away more of our flying to Skywest.

Does it make any sense to take advantage of any of these entry programs from the airlines such as PSA's "Cadet" program or United's "Aviate"?

Taking a cursory glance at them, it seems like they are simply giving you a hiring bonus up front in exchange for your career development to be tracked towards them.

Is it better to remain a free agent as you make your way to 1500 hours?

In todays market? Depending on how long you have until you have your mins, you’re probably better off a free agent. Those programs will lock you on for a length of time or you’ll have to pay it back. With the way things are moving, you might find a better opportunity and won’t want to owe your regional anything.

Plus, who knows what regionals will look like by the end of the year.

True. What are we talking about though? Packing up and moving from a 4 bedroom house, or a studio apartment?

Free agent 100%

Myself and my friends who picked the "free agency" routes got to majors pretty quick. We still have a lot of friends left at the regionals who picked the flow/aviate paths though and they're looking at about 3 years longer to get where they want to be.

E3 applicant here.

What’s the general consensus of the ranking of these regionals:

Skywest
PSA
Commutair
GoJet

Obviously, being an e3 rules me out from capitalizing on any flow programs.

Depends a little on where you want to fly, but it looks like you already have them in order

Will PSA let you flow to mainline?