Looking for the best (for me) regional
 

I'm currently flying right seat in various King Air models for a part 135 carrier and although going to just about any regional will mean a small pay cut for me, I can make more after upgrading at any regional than I will at my current company. I'd like to make the move around August-September this year.

Here's the situation: My girlfriend will be living in Clemson, SC then and I'd like to move in with her. Clemson is about a 2.5 hour drive from Atlanta Hartsfield. So my ideal situation would be being based in ATL and working for a decent company. I'd like to be able to get off reserve ASAP and then be able to bid lines so that I can make that commute without too much trouble. (I realize that will take close to a year anywhere.) By August I should have about 1000 Total Time, 700 Multi, and 600 Turbine.

So the big question is where should I apply? How hard is it to get ATL based with Skywest? What about Republic's ATL base? What are the chances that ASA will start hiring again by August? Since I currently have a stable job and am building time and making money, I can afford to be somewhat picky.

Thanks in advance.

its all a crap shoot my friend...... RAH's shuttle domicile in ATL has about 60-65 crews bunch of new guys just came on to the bid sheet this month. You might have to be based elsewhere with shuttle for a few months or as much as a year who knows.... the next 6-18 months in this biz should be a wild ride...up for some....not so much for others.

I would go to ASA. If you are hired by ASA, you will be based in ATL (it is their only base). No wild cards.

Both Skywest and Republic have ATL bases. Both of these airlines are considered slightly better than ASA, but there is a good chance you will not be based in ATL. Skywest is only hiring for the EMB, and that means west coast for atleast one year. Republic may put you on the Chataqua certificate (meaning 50 seaters), and thus you will not be able to bid ATL until you are able to change equipment (and I believe Republic has a seat lock).

ASA is a good regional. They are not one of the best (IMO), but they are probably the best choice for you. Skywest or Republic should probably be your 2nd choices.

I would go for ASA. In my compare-and-contrast conversations with friends at ASA they are comparable to RAH. Plus, you will be guaranteed to be based in ATL. Of course, when they start hiring again is anyone's guess. But that's the same for almost all regional's across the board.

Whatever you do, the profession will thank you for not working for:
Colgan
Mesa
Go Jet
Pinnacle

SkyWest's ATL base is very, very small...and most likely will not grow much at all. In fact, it's been shrinking quite a bit as -900 flying is re-allocated out West. I'd say ASA is your best bet!

If you want to live in ATL, ASA is probably your best bet... I am an Atlanta guy and ASA works out for me.

Although you will not get many arguments on your list the original poster specified that ATL was a requirement. Keep on topic please.

At least he got three constructive replies before this


(by the way, only one of those four have ATL as a base)

To try to be constructive:
With Clemson 2.5 hours drive to ATL, you would still need a crash pad while on reserve since i know of no regionls that permit 2.5+ hour call outs.

Also, I believe GSP is only about an hour from Clemson. You might consider it.

But then he'd have nothing to post about...:rolleyes:

The best regional is not to even go to a regional. I would have been sitting right seat in a citation but i choose to leave and go to a regional to this day I hate myself for it. If you can log some TPIC then do it you will be doing yourself a favor.

I think it was the most constructive reply of all doing the industry a favor

Obviously, as everybody has suggested your best choice is currently ASA. In a few months.... who knows?

When you leave your King Air gig, how about referring me for the job? Where is it based?

I don't know how much you get paid, but I've always thought that a king air job would be sweet. You got hired with 400tt 100ME? I'd say you're doing pretty well, and would assume that you would upgrade when you get ATP mins. I'd say stay where you are until you get to ATP mins and if you still want to jump ship then do it... Ever look at Planesense / Alphaflying. They've got an ATL base, pay well and you work 7 on / 7 off.

if i was to guess i would say he didn't get paid a thing. had a buddy who did the same thing, and he was from the atlanta area.

frustrates the heck outta me when people do this, but that's just the way it is. owners of those operations know they have you by the balls when you need that ME time.

Thanks for the quick responses. I think I'm just going to wait and see if things get going again at ASA. I heard some speculation that since ASA had to take over a lot of Delta's MD-80 flying while they were grounded, Delta may want ASA to increase their fleet size just in case something like that were to happen again. It's just something I heard through the grapevine and I'll believe it when I see it.

As far as GSP goes, it's only about 1:15 from Clemson and that would be an option for commuting. I'm definitely not an expert on jumpseating but I'm not sure if there would be enough flights out of there to anyone else's bases. If anyone has any input on that I'd appreciate it.

I've heard enough horror stories about Mesa, GoJet, Pinnacle, and Colgan to stay away. One day I was flying the King Air with the chief pilot here and we were talking about the regionals and when I mentioned Colgan his response was, "Why would anyone want to fly what is basically a longer version of this thing without an autopilot for eight hours a day?"

I would upgrade when I hit 135 PIC mins (1200 total, 500 XC, etc.) but only if there was a spot open to upgrade. And then it would be single pilot passenger charter in a Baron. To get any TPIC I'd have to wait until another spot opened up to upgrade to the 90. The flying part of my job isn't bad. Keep in mind that when you're the FO on a King Air (charter or corporate) you're also the flight attendant, baggage handler, caterer, and cleaning crew.

Other big reasons for me liking the regionals right now is the schedule they offer (I know you think I'm crazy.) Right now I get four hard days off a month and the rest of the time I'm on a one hour callout 24/7. So to me going somewhere like ASA where you start with 11 hard days off a month and having a 2 hour callout sounds like a good deal.

I thought Alpha Flying was only based out of somewhere in New Hampshire. 7 on/7 off would be amazing. I'll have to do some more research.

alpha is out of Manchester NH

Didnt ASA stop hiring?

The same reason people take a pay cut to go to the regionals. I am not trying to be snotty; I too took a big (50%) pay cut to come here. I fought the good fight as long as I could (trying to avoid the regionals and the pay cut), but only having single pilot experience, none of the majors or nationals would look at me.

And as to why I didn't stay 91/135, I was tired of working for companies that closed doors, sold out, or just got rid of the airplane(s). Believe it or not, a regional offered more security (at least the ice wasn't as thin).

Good luck whereever you go

They moved their operation to KPSM in Portsmouth NH now. They also do have a base in Atlanta, KPDK.

KPSM is only 6 miles from my house, I have to admit the thought of a 5 minute commute is enticing at times.

note: ASA does have long call reserve all though I suspect it goes pretty senior.