vagabond

Seems like since the first day I joined this forum, all I ever hear is the poor conditions at the regionals. Our old friend, SkyHigh, used to write eloquently about how a person should not go into aviation because paying $40,000 to $150,000 in training for a job that pays $16 an hour was simply stupid. There have been threads about packing food for a 4 day trip (difficult, but not impossible), taking on side jobs (anybody become a bouncer yet?), whether one ought to accept a job at GoJets (consensus is NO), whether the flight attendants at Skywest are hot (apparently they are), whether going to ATP was better or worse than the local FBO (jury still out, but FBO is pulling ahead), and whether your wife should work (apparently she should).

We have all heard of the hiring frenzy that is still going on. Over the last few months, several have said they are new FOs, and now I am curious and would like to know how you are doing.

Is it what you thought it would be? Would you do it again? What would you change? What do you see as the biggest challenge in the next 3 months? What advice do you have for others who may want to follow in your footsteps? Do you think you will stay with it or change careers? Do you have any regrets?

I am interested in personal anecdotes, but not antidotes to the ills of the industry. You don't have to say which airline you're with or reveal any details that might identify you. This is my first thread in Regionals so try not to say things that will cause the moderators to shut it down.

Spartan07

I'm not a regional FO yet but I -am- a bouncer to help fund flight training

Pilotpip

It's pretty much been what I thought it would be. Then again, I've worked in the industry in other capacities for quite a long time before I started flying them. Airport reserve sucks when there's nothing to do. I'd rather be flying.

I've already had the "Are you old enough to fly?" question posed. The other thing I've learned, the stripes on my shoulder automatically mean I know where every bathroom, Starbucks, and gate at every airport in the U.S. is.

diamnd15

Well this seems like a god thread to be a part of. I have been a regional fo since about January. I must say it has been a very fun part of my life and I wouldn’t go back and change the way I did it. I worked at trans states airlines, and now xjet. If I can say anything about tsa is they have a great pilot group, but the company sucks. The short time I spent at trans states was fun and bad, and for most I would just say stay away unless you don’t want to just wait a little bit for that better regional. Since being at xjet flying the jet and being the airline pilot is it what it is. You can always want the best, but just be prepared for the worst. After the first few months you kind of get the hang of things and the job just gets more fun with the time. If I can offer any advice to other aspiring pilots is that patience is golden. Don’t got to places like GoJets, Mesa, etc…just be safe and you can have a great time just traveling all over the us and meeting all sorts people

vagabond

Thanks for sharing guys. I really do appreciate it. Life is sometimes all about choices and luck. Nobody can help you with the luck, but real stories on the forum may help you with the choices you make.

chitownpilot

I knew what company I wanted to work for, and waited till I had 1000 & 100 (actually had around 1600/300) so I could work there. It worked out, and I'm glad I didn't sell out to a company that hires with nothing and treats their employees like crap.

TristarJS30

I'd say it was pretty much what I thought it would be. I had friends in the industry before hand and was pretty involved in reading the message boards and speaking to everyone I could before deciding to join the industry last November. I would do it all again, from instructing for over 2 years getting experience to the regional I chose.

My biggest challenge for the next three months? Trying to stay a line holder. At my company its not the base closures that will push me back to reserve, it's a combination of a slower schedule and the fact that every new hire wants out of JFK and I continue to get closer to the bottom while not getting any farther from the top.

My advice for people looking to get into it - Don't go to a pilot factory. Don't go to Riddle or one of the expensive universities. If you want to go to an aviation university, see if your state has a state university that could save you money. Save your money and go to a local FBO and work hard. CFI for longer than 6 months -1 year. Don't spend more than you make (but thats just general advise for all of America).

When picking a regional, don't pick one for fastest upgrade or easiest place to get hired with the lowest minimums so you don't have to "waste time instructing". Pick one that works best for you. Meaning, a domicile close to home or an easy commute. Pick a place that if God-forbid something happens to our industry again and that "fast upgrade" disappears or the majors stop hiring and your stuck at the company you are at you can at least stay there somewhat happily and afford to live.

As far as changing careers... sometimes during cruise on a crystal clear day looking out over the country I couldn't imagine being couped up in an office doing the same thing day after day. But again, it's not that I COULDN'T do something else, it's just that I wouldn't want to.

*Steps down from soap box*

t-cart

Good post. FLY SAFE T.C.

jedinein

And for those that haven't already figured it out, the music is slowing, not certain if it's going to stop or worse, but it is slowing. Get in to your 'favorite' airline now.

AKfreighter

The music is slowing? Darn. I didn't know. That's why I read these boards.

Tristars post is great. Particularly the part about going somewhere you can stand to be for a few years at a minimum, just in case.