Are they still allowing to choose your base.

 

yes (this forum makes you type in at least 10 characters)

 

Cool. I guess with the shortage AE has to give you what you want minus the pay.

 

Pay is among the top for most regionals. Only thing that really sucks is the upgrade time.

 

Good point, upgrade time is affected by so many variables that I am not sure how muc to weight in a decision. AE is the largest carrier, and if they add the senority list with american that could make a huge difference in time. If the demand is there for more pilots I suppose the time will shorten. A little hope!

 

My best advice is go somewhere that you will be happy to live in base. There will be tons and tons of BS at any regional, but remember happiness depends on how long you have to drive to get to the beer in your fridge at the end of a crappy day.

 

Very true. I am looking at DFW or Mem, I am from ky and would like to stay in the south or west. AE, EXJET seem like the top picks.

 

Don't expect that AE/AA list-merger anytime soon ;-)

 

DFW is rather senior on the EMJ for AE, and IAH is for XJET. Buy you can get hired on the Saab in DFW no problem. You've got the NW feeders in MEM - Mesaba and Pinnicle, but I think they have some real QOL issues there.

Other than the staffing issue, I mostly like Eagle, the CPs are good guys, MX is sharp, schedules are not bad. Even the staffing is a two edged sword... on the plus side you fly like 90 hrs a month, and credit near 100. On the minus side, you can't get an extra day off, paid or unpaid. On the plus again, your time on reserve is greatly reduced. Zero in ORD, three months in the NE, a year or so in DFW...

The biggest downside to Eagle is upgrade time, but it will average out to somewhere around 4 years for guys hired today. (Unless the economy goes in the toilet, and even then you'll be at a decent regional, instead of stuck in the right seat at a Mesa wannabe.)

 

If you are put on the SAAB, how long at DFW to get on the emb. or crj?