skystruck

I am hoping some XJT pilots can let me know how life is at XJT. You don't see a lot of posts on this forum about XJT. Questions are:

-How are the work rules? Pay? Is it Union?
-Where are new hires getting based? I heard ONT/LAX?
-How are the lines/schedules? (early shows/late releases?)
-How long will a new person sit reserve?
-How long was training? Where is training? Are you paid while in Training?
-Is there truth to a rumor that SMF might become a base?
-Upgrade times?
-Can you where a leather jacket?
-Company culture? Are you happy? Are the people who have been there longer than you happy? (I know "happy" is relative; I mean are you looking to leave as soon as possible or would you be happy to be CAP at XJET for a while?)

I know that's a lot of questions. Feel free to answer any or none. Just looking for information. I'm considering applying to XJET but don't know that much about it. Thanks

skystruck

I forgot to ask an important question in my first post:

-Does it look like XJT will be hiring into 2008?
-What is the company's growth driven by?

mking84

-How are the work rules? Pay? Is it Union?
-XJT is ALPA. Pay is some of the highest in the regional industry with excellent benefits. Work rules are also above the standard.
-Where are new hires getting based? I heard ONT/LAX?
-It changes all the time. In my class most everybody got their first choice. Mostly IAH.
-How are the lines/schedules? (early shows/late releases?)
-Depends on the base. IAH is very commutable and with so many FOs right now getting released early is not hard to do.
-How long will a new person sit reserve?
-Depends on the base. IAH is about 4 months
-How long was training? Where is training? Are you paid while in Training?
-Training is about 1.5 - 2 months. It is at the training center in Houston and you are given a per-deim check for the training period. You dont get paid again until you pass your PC.
-Is there truth to a rumor that SMF might become a base?
-Thats a new one.
-Upgrade times?
-From what I hear right at 2 years.
-Can you where a leather jacket?
-If you want to shell out the money yes. They are part of the uniform.
-Company culture? Are you happy? Are the people who have been there longer than you happy? (I know "happy" is relative; I mean are you looking to leave as soon as possible or would you be happy to be CAP at XJET for a while?)
-For the most part yes, but this is the airlines.

N2rotation

Check your PM. You'll find that ExpressJet is a much better place to work than most other regionals.

U-I pilot

This is further on what mking has already said.....
Work rules are pretty good, pay is among the top highest for 50 seaters, yes we are ALPA. Current contract good through 2010.

New hires are MOSTLY getting west coast (ONT/LAX) however many are still getting COEX bases (IAH/CLE/EWR)..... wouldn't take more than a couple months to get where you want to be either through bidding or base trading.

Lines/schedules vary by month, by base and by person. Commuters of course always look for late start, early finish. If you plan to commute this is something to look for. If you are living in base, people prefer days off typically. Reserves get min. 11 off, lineholders min 12 off per month. Your schedule/line will improve with seniority as it does anywhere.

Depends on the base. CLE might be 1 year or more. IAH/EWR maybe 3-6 months. Branded/Delta (SAT/LAX/ONT) would be shorter maybe 2-5 months id guess. SAT is getting longer but LAX/ONT seem to be the shortest.

Training is accomplished in Houston at our training center at IAH.

Training from day 1 through the end of IOE is 2-3 months. 1 week basic indoc (company/faa rules/regs.) 2 days CRM, 2 weeks aircraft systems, 1 week (5) FTD sessions, 2 weeks (7) simulator sessions. Then the PC (checkride). Add days off in there and you end up at about 2 months. IOE will add on another couple weeks.

For what i described above from day 1-PC you are paid a per diem check (about $1500). After the PC you get Min. monthly guarentee of 75 hours.

Never heard of that and I wouldn't plan on it.

These are getting longer..... 2 years is no more.... 2.5-3 years currently and I'd honestly expect that to be closer to 4 for a new hire unless something changes. The current/expected times right now for LAX/ONT are about 2.5 years. IAH/EWR/SAT are moving closer to 3. CLE is 4+.

Yes if you buy one.

Culture is good. The pilots overall are happy to work here and know that we work for a solid company. I am happy and most pilots I fly with are too. Many pilots will stay here for the long haul if that says anything. Many are leaving to go to majors as well..... depends on the individual. Not many FOs are leaving unless they can get on at a major..... There really arent any "better" regionals so any move to another carrier would be a lateral move. This is definitly a step up from the TSA's/Mesa's and we get many people from those companies..... Id venture to say you will never find an XJT FO leave for those companies.

Hiring will be for attrition/growth only. If you can figure out how many of our captains will be hired by majors I can tell you a number...... (its anyones guess). My guess would be in the 400-500 range for 2008.

Currently there is no growth. Growth will be driven by the success of our Branded, Delta, and Charter operations. Also, our future with continental will play a large factor in this. Growth will come if/when the company decides to order more airplanes. Until then, expect normal attrition rates of about 30 CA's/month to majors.

Hope this helps

On Autopilot

Are mins still the same? 600/100 and for internals 500/100?

Andym037

Just wanted to point out that reserves also get 12 days/month in a 31 day month. 11 days off in a 30 day month. Right now, XJT is a great place to be. How long it will stay this way is anybody's guess. Regionals are rather volatile by nature, but historcally speaking XJT has been very stable. If CAL decides to take away more flying, things could get bad here but then again the same could be said for any regional. My advice would be to go the regional that has a base where you live, or a base where you would like to move. Commuting is rather undesirable. EWR for example has mostly uncommutable pairings. IAH has quite a few commutable lines. It seems like EWR is now the shrinking base unfortunately, but right now things are good. Reserve times vary by base, but being on reserve here really is not bad (our rsv work rules are good), especially if you live in base. EWR is probably going to see an increase in reserve duration once the Colganites infest Newark. Based on what I can see as of right now, I would say this is one of the best regionals. Next week however, who knows?

P.S. The blazer looks better than the leather jacket. Still, I must ask: You're looking at companies to work for, and one of your first questions is regarding a leather jacket? Is that honestly a consideration for you? lol

Andym037

Just wanted to point out that reserves also get 12 days/month in a 31 day month. 11 days off in a 30 day month. Right now, XJT is a great place to be. How long it will stay this way is anybody's guess. Regionals are rather volatile by nature, but historcally speaking XJT has been very stable. If CAL decides to take away more flying, things could get bad here but then again the same could be said for any regional. My advice would be to go the regional that has a base where you live, or a base where you would like to move. Commuting is rather undesirable. EWR for example has mostly uncommutable pairings. IAH has quite a few commutable lines. It seems like EWR is now the shrinking base unfortunately, but right now things are good. Reserve times vary by base, but being on reserve here really is not bad (our rsv work rules are good), especially if you live in base. EWR is probably going to see an increase in reserve duration once the Colganites infest Newark. Based on what I can see as of right now, I would say this is one of the best regionals. Next week however, who knows?

P.S. The blazer looks better than the leather jacket. Still, I must ask: You're looking at companies to work for, and one of your first questions is regarding a leather jacket? Is that honestly a consideration for you? lol

contrails

A new-hire going into EWR right now would be on reserve 8-12 month at least.

U-I pilot

Yes they are....