Clue32

The 1900 is a great airplane and anyone that has the fortune to fly it will likely agree. Stable, smooth, easy to operate, a bit of a pig when heavy above 10000 but it makes you feel like a real pilot and not some geek on a computer.

Now if I could only find the 1900 job that paid over 100K and I only had to work 12 days a month.

otter

The real question is, can the Regionals as we know them now, handle a large amount of there pilots making over 100K?

MatthewAMEL

Well, as a former CHQ CA who just made the jump to AirTran, my choice is obvious.

However, I can say it wasn't without a bit of agonizing about it.

The difference is already huge. Cannot be scheduled for more than 12 hours of duty. Can't be scheduled for less than 12 hours on an overnight.

While on RSV, every hour flown over 3.5 per day is ON TOP of the guarantee. Lots of the guys on RSV are making more money than they did as RJ CAs.

And, this may sound silly, but there is something about finally flying for your own flag.

Fly safe out there...

Flyby1206

If everyone in the regionals made 100k then the regionals would have to charge more for their feed service. I think it would get to a certain point where Regional carrier feed would be more expensive than having mainline fly the RJs themselves. At AE the top half of the seniority list (top 1500) are all above 8yr payscales (making $70k-100+k) AMR has noted that AE is too expensive and so they seek to sell the company to find cheaper regional providers. If AE represented the average regional, then there would be no cheaper solution and AMR would be forced to pay the AE payrates, or have mainline do all the regional flying (which probably wouldnt be cheaper when you add in benefits, pension, etc).

Utah

At age 40 with a stay at home wife and 3 young kids (no not LDS -but nothing wrong with that), the thought of starting over at just half or lower the pay I'm getting now just isn't very exciting. Not to mention the QOL hit that would be there for years. I've got 8 years seniority which puts me in the top 20% of the seniority list with 2400 pilots below me. I live in domicile and seldom ever do trips longer than 2 days. Last year I averaged under 200 hours TAFB every month, while making just under 100k. I've got decent seniority in domicile which allows me to bid around the days I want off.

I commuted for 5 months and don't want to ever again. Any other job I go to I have to be willing to live in one of their domiciles. Here cost of living comes into play. I've got a 2 year old 4500 sq ft house which I paid under 300K for. Theres no way I can replace this on one of the coast, or in many other cities.

Commute to reserve, no thanks. Then what crummy 3-4 day trips working every holiday and weekend for years. I much prefer my home and hobbies to work and flying. Starts all over again when transitioning or upgrading.

Airplanes, could care less what I fly it doesn't define me. I don't really like flights longer 2-3 hours either. Destinations, my favorite is my home airport.

Not that my job is all that great. Many things that could be improved, but thats another thread.

flyguyniner11

I can understand the guys who dont want to lose seniority and cant afford to live on first year pay at the majors but I think you should really look at it long term. The regionals are always subject to the majors while majors do come and go sometimes I feel like its a less volatile enviroment. Also the potential salary long term depending on the airline would probably surpass what you would make on the regional level.

Superpilot92

If you look past your nose then its a no brainer. Long term there is no question you need to move on. I say long term because older guys it may not be worth it. I have 38 potential years left in this business and there is NO way i would roll the career dice at a regional over a major. I didnt care how good my regional was or wasnt. I have a family and it still made sense to move on. Sure making regional captain pay was nice but if anyone thinks 70k is a lot of money they are crazy. I will be back to my Regional capt pay once i hit second year pay. To each their own, everyone has their own reasons for everything.

Deez340

I've flown for two of the top regionals (for about ten years.) (don't forget what's considered "top regional" changes every 4-5 years or so) and one major. My worst day at Delta was still 10 times better than my best day at the regionals. Even post 9/11. It's just two different worlds, night and day.

frozenboxhauler

If you're happy being a big fish in a little pond, stay at the Commuter/Regional. If you'd rather be a little fish in a bid pond, go to a Major. If you can't live on $100,000 there's NO WAY you can live on $200,000.
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frozenboxhauler

38 potential years left? I think I'd shoot myself remember,...these are the "good old days".
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