Whats the Better Regional?
 

Whats the better regional... Express Jet or PSA? and why?

Air Wisconsin!:D Quality of life, pay, and 14% ownership of mainline company makes this regional a hit!

Do the uncommutable schedules also make this company a hit? How about the concessions taken in 2003? How does that help the rankings? Do 4 year upgrades bring the company up as well? The ownership means NOTHING. I'm not sure why people think it's a big deal. The owners of US Air will go with the cheapest company to make the company as a whole more efficient. If that means using Mesa, they will use mesa, not AWAC, which costs 30% more to operate than Mesa.

You just got hired, didn't you? Wait till the $600 paychecks and 5 on two off weeks hit home and you'll feel differently, I guarantee it.

Fosters, A first year FO at AWAC makes $23 a hour with a 75 hour monthly guarantee. When you say $600 dollar paychecks, do you mean $600 a month or $600 Bi-monthly? Unless I am doing my math wrong, a FO at AWAC should make $1725 a month guaranteed. Dont get me wrong 1725 a month is still horrible,however, it is a lot better than 600 a month. I take it that you work at AWAC? and you dislike it? It appears to me that AWAC pay is one of the best for regionals. What is the projected upgrade time there?

Dittidano

Right now, Air Wisconsin. Continental can't afford Expressjet.

I don't know where you come from, but where I come from a "paycheck" is the two-week kind, not four-week kind. So, yes, that is every two weeks. Take 37.5 hours X $22.99 = $862 pre tax. Take out Tax, insurance (medical and dental), uniform allowance, and 401(k) and you're left with around $600-$650/paycheck = $1200-$1300/month.

If you do a lot of trips (which everyone is doing regardless of line holder or reserve status) you make $1.45/hr per diem (not taxed). Line holders are gone around 300 hours a month, so plan on another $400/month in perdiem that isn't taxed if you're a lineholder.

Second year pay jumps to $34/hr, but USED to be $39/hr before the concessions. Quite a difference, especially when earning so little. But that $34/hr is still pretty tough to live on!!!

Upgrade right now is around 3 years, which will go down in the next year but then become very stagnent IMO. Unless serious hiring goes on at the majors, this place will be the next eagle. Also, we have priced outselves out of additional flying because our contract is so good. Kinda sucks that a crappy company like Mesa gets the goods and the upgrades, but I guess that's how the world works! Just look at Wal-Mart!

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike it here, but it's just depressing to know that we won't be going anywhere for awhile, that's all...

Fosters, thanks for your reply. I wasnt trying to be ignorant with my question about pay period. I assumed you recieved a paycheck every two weeks; I was just trying to make sure on exactly what you were saying. Thanks again

Dittidano

Here is a small portion of a message that Mr. ~fosters posted on 11-6-2005. :D

"No one knows time on reserve. It could be 1 month it could be 6 or more. Right now it seems like I'll spend 1-2 months on reserve. Who knows..."

I find it ironic that a new hire, who may still be on reserve is trying to portray himself as a seasoned airline pilot. Nice try, but this senior line holder (who is also new to this website) is disappointed in the attitude! :D Lighten-up man!!!

BTW, Why is it that regionals pay alot less? Why can't an FO starting out make at least 30K/yr.? If these companies have ties with the majors...what gives with the rj's flight crewmember's salary?

Well back to your original question...I would have said Expressjet a few weeks ago, but now I'd say PSA.....since ExJ is getting rid of alot of RJ's.

I am going to take a lot of flak for this nomination, but here goes.

I think Mesa should possibly be viewed as one of the most stable from a career standpoint; despite their poor pay and shortcomings.

I don't have anything against Mesa...but man have I heard some "stuff."

Whichever one hires you!

PSACPSP

SkyWest
 

SkyWest..for several reasons...
1) Pilots are realizing this may be a permenant place for them and there is a genuine drive to make it one of the great airlines

2) People are generally happy because of reason # 1. People here like each other. Pilots, Mx, Flight Atndnts, CSRs and usually management.

3) It's safe. Safe equipment, safe work rules and (relatively) safe future.

Notice I didn't mention pay..cause it's low. Almost everyone here wanted to be at FedEx or UA or AA or someplace else back before 9/11. But the reality is different now and the pilots here know we are in chrage of our own future. We still have a lot of KoolAid drinkers on the property but they are coming around.

Do you want 50k - 60k and be happy or 60-70k at another airline and be moaning? How about 150K and be moaning....where do I sign?

To ATPwannabe.

The short answer is, most really don't have any ties to the larger carrier aside from the paint on the side of the airplane and the flight number. They are simply a contracted air carrier that is basically a form of outsorcing for lower yeild routes. With a few exceptions, almost all of the regionals are operating codeshares for a number of different airlines at the same time. The market is also saturated with pilots willing to make next to nothing (or pay to work) simply to get the experience or because they have "SJS" as the joke goes on another thread. The supply far outweighs the demand.

That really wasn't a very short answer was it?

Wow, slow down with the "losing a lot of RJs" stuff. ExpressJet and CAL have 9 months to come up with a plan of action here. It will be at least a year before the first jet is taken off line, and even if they are, ExpressJet has the rights to them before CAL. Negotiations havn't even started yet. This may be the best thing to ever happen to EXJ. They still plan on hiring 300 more before may and then 12 a month for attrition after that. I may only have a few weeks with the company, but so far all my time has been with the training dept., which gives me a look into the hiring and workings of the company. So far, everyday, a managment pilot has talked to us in class, and that topic is always first to come up. On my first day the COO spoke to the new hire class, and he was firm in his belief that EXJ will always be on top.

What's the COO doing with his XJet stock?


-LA

Yummy...Kool-Aid! What, do you think management is going to come into a new hire class with the doom and gloom speech? And by the way, passing through the training department with the "deer in the headlights" look on your face for 2 months doesn't give you any insight into the inner workings of your company. It's amazing to me that you can be an expert on the subject when your entire airline career is a whopping 2 weeks old. Don't worry though...the Kool-Aid will wear off.

Sorry to be so harsh, but someone had to b-slap you back to reality.

There is a difference from a b-slap and just being a b. I dont mean to single you out a lot of people on here are like that. We are all adults. lets be respectful. State your point and lets all just get along.

To nominate a good regional to work for....

......may I suggest Republic/Shuttle America/Chautauqua. Now that the two outstanding integration issues have been resolved, and that 145 new hire classes ad 170 new hire classes are ramping back up, it seems all the ducks are close to being in a row. Pay is on par with other regionals, hiring is ongoing, and the contract is pretty good for a company that could hardly spell the word jet 5 years ago. The contract is up for renewal in '07, and I think a reasonable (read "kinda small") pay raise is on tap, along with some fine tuning of work rules that were more applicable to prop hopping than jet operations. Also, the 170 program is beginning to mature and take shape, and at the same time the 70 seat market for jets is beginning to gear up for modest growth. ReShuttlauqua has put itself in a good position for the upcoming years, and could be one of the most stable regional rides out there. give it some thought.

The crack pipe is a harsh place to hang out, You can't say anything on here without someone coming in behind you to put you down.


classy

props are for boats b!cht

Correction...props are for pilots...pilots who like to FLY their airplanes. Nothing against jets...I plan to fly one someday soon myself, but you gotta give props to the props. I think every pilot could benefit from flying a T-prop for a couple of years down in the stuff.

[QUOTE=Rightseat Ballast]To nominate a good regional to work for....

......may I suggest Republic/Shuttle America/Chautauqua. Now that the two outstanding integration issues have been resolved, and that 145 new hire classes ad 170 new hire classes are ramping back up, it seems all the ducks are close to being in a row.

Any idea when the 145 class will be?

Regional airlines pay pilots the rate they do because they can. When the supply of pilots goes down, the rates will go up. It's really that simple.

..."IF" the supply of pilots goes down the wage will go up. With all these programs out there its easier and faster than ever to become an "airline pilot".

Seems as though I may soon read on the back of the airplane... We are hiring Drivers - Paid Training CPL call 1800UCANFLY...

1800UCANFLY, thats funny, that is the Delta Connection Academy phone number. Dead serious.

Why not consider a fractional like NetJets?

--First year FO pay: 39,000-46,286, plus per-diem & overtime
--Company-paid medical/dental/vision for whole family
--Six weeks vacation per year to start, 12 weeks after 5 years, 16 weeks after 10 years
--401k match of 50% up to 15%
--Free crew meals (they're good, too!)
--many, many more benefits & perqs
--Check out the salary scale on this site

Good luck!

I've ruled out the regionals, LCCs, and majors.

For me the fractionals are a better fit. I believe I'll enjoy that type of flying more...

-LA

Need to put some pressure on the regionals. If enough quit for this, than maybe things will improve:)

6 weeks vacation?! Don't you mean 2 weeks, which leaves you w/ two 3 week off periods if you're on the 7 on 7 off sched?

All the benefits in the world could not make me want to sit permanent reserve...Most "airline" guys don't like the schedules so well at fractionals. "Airline" Guys know when they start, (For the most part) when they finish, and where they are going (unless Unusual circumstances arise). And the pay at Net Jets just went up so it wasn't that great until recently.

Airline jobs are not for everyone and Fractional jobs are not for everyone. I find it interesting that the original post was the individual asking about two seperate commuters which we should assume they have applied for and may have interviews coming up. The individuals we (PSA) are hiring are probably not qualified to apply at the Fractionals. Considering most of the people we hire have between 750 and 1200TT, I don't think that the fractionals will hire with these times, correct me if I am wrong but does anyone know what their minimum times are (competitive)???

Good Luck,
PSACPSP

skywest hiring
 

So when is Skywest forcasting to start accepting resumes again!!!! I'd like to hold out for them but Horizon at least is hiring and pays a bit more!...might not mind a CRJ career out of Denver or SEA!