Republic or ExpressJet Opinions
 

I am a new member here, a recent UND grad with about 450TT/33ME. I am instructing at Wright Flyers in San Antonio and I am looking to apply to the regionals in a few months, my targets being the Republic group and ExpressJet. My girlfriend applied to grad school in PIT and I would like to be based there or somewhere near there. I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on either airline's work rules, reserve time, my chances of getting based in the northeast, and upgrade time. Also, how easy is it to transfer between the Republic companies since there is one seniority list?

Thanks!

Hey, UND Alumni too. I've been at the Chautauqua side (EMB 145) of Republic Airways for about 5 months. From what I know Republic is hiring a lot on the 170 side. Its still kinda hit or miss about which airline you would be working for. If your looking to be based in PIT, you would want Republic Airlines. I've heard of people asking HR once they got hired if they can work for a specific airline cause they live at that base already. Upgrade time as far as I know is about 18 mths. Reserve time is all dependant on base. STL is about 6 months whereas BUF is about 2 wks. You can only switch from one airline to another when upgrading from F/O to Capt. I heard Republic is pretty strict on the 100ME. I made a lateral move from another 121 carrier and I'm very happy with Republic so far. I know on the CHQ side of Republic you can bid a Base every month.

where from?

800/100 are the mins and they are pretty strict about it. You are going to have to do a lot of flying if you think it will take you only a "few months". As far as upgrade, with your low time you are looking at 3-4 years. 2500 is the upgrade time. High wash out rate for the low timers. I think the lowest in my class for the 170/175 was 1500 hours. Keep instructing, it builds confidence. Great place to work though when you build some more time.

If you have your MEI you can toss the 100min rule out the window. I know of several hired without it. You will want more TT though. The ones I know of that didn't have the 100multi still had around 1000hrs TT

also.. as an FO there is NO moving between the certificates... you are locked to a certificate until upgrade at the earliest.

To answer your question from the XJT side of things:

Mins are 600/100 (500/100 if intern or internal candidate) and they do stick to them.

Single type (as of now) and single certificate so you can go to any base as long as you can hold it, including San Antonio.

Upgrade right now is running 2 1/2 years for guys hired over a year ago, and about 3 years for those hired in the past year (subject to change of course).

Pay and QOL are great here, with our bidding system you can turn a week of vacation into 24 days easily. So I would say that I average about 2 months of vacation a year.

Great company to work for, so is RAH, pick what works best for you.

Good luck

PIT is very very senior on the republic captain side. DOH for the bottom of pit is 11/2007 for FO and early 2005 for capt.

CHQ is has CLE and CMH base if you want to drive it...

RW has CMH as well. If you want to get to PIT eventually, that'd be the way to go. I hear the commute to PHL isn't as horrible as it used to be since you have SW as an option. Might be getting worse with Airways closing PIT though.

And most of the senior guys aren't going anywhere.. 1 "retired" jack a.. I mean guy, is trying to come back.

Also, be aware the a lot of low time people are not making it though IOE (referring to RW 170, as that is all I am exposed to). I just flew with a check airman tonight who said it is just downright scary what is being sent his way. The wash out rate is climbing sharply, as it probably should, for low time applicants.