Help me choose?
 

If you had the choice between ExpressJet, Pinnacle, or American Eagle, which one would you fly for and why? I need help deciding on which way to try and guide my career path. I'm trying to get the low down on which regional between these 3 would be the most recommended and why you would recommend it. Thanks.

If you have not learned this by now, learn it quick. The best airline to fly for - the one who offers you a job!! Apply for all of them

It depends on your experience level, what your TT is now, etc. I personally wouldn't choose either of them. Do you have class dates with all three? You cannot expect to get hired at any airline, their hiring practices are wacko. Why did you limit your search to those three?

XJT. No Doubt. I think Pinnacle may be in trouble due to the big company Northwest. I just don't trust that management team to really do much good. American Eagle is a solid outfit with mostly good job security. However, upgrades are extremely slow. XJT has been notified of Continental's intention to remove 69 aircraft (25% of fleet) from the Continental system. If this continues, which it probably will, he first aircraft will leave the fleet in DEC. 2006. But XJT still has the option to keep the aircraft, so there may be no effect to the pilot group. It is just really too soon to make any assumptions about what will happen to XJT. But they have a great contract, and great pilot group, and we are upgrading classes all the way into the forseeable future.

XJT would be my choice.

Pinnacle kind of sucks, and is BK.

Eagle really sucks.

However, CAL is taking 69 planes awy from XJT next year, so you could get furloughed. But by then you should have enough time to go to any regional. Or maybe EXT will keep their planes and you'll be in great shape.

I am going to go against the majority here so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

That said, out of the three, Pinnacle would be the most aggressive choice. Pinnacle may suck as others have posted, however I still believe a two year upgrade may be doable. They are projecting to hire anywhere between 300 and 500 people per year. Barring expansion, this means they are expecting to lose that many per year. That will put you halfway up the seniority list in two years or less, and that in turn should give you enough seniority to upgrade.

Everyone likes ExpressJet, and they are a good company to work for. People tend to stick around and that means slow upgrades. Four years at the moment I've heard. May get very ugly depending on what happens with the 69 jet deal which is a big unknown.

Eagle would be the most conservative option. Ok company but people are unhappy and the upgrade is very long. Best job security.

If you are an ALL-OR-NOTHING guy go with Pinnacle or even Mesa or even Colgan (the most aggressive choice). You may be able to upgrade in a year or two, and then you may be able to get to a Major in another year or two of PIC time. That's the "ALL" part. The "NOTHING" part is that you may end up working for one of those for a while. Or forever.

With a better regional the upgrade time will be longer and you will be working there for a while. On the positive side you will be working for a better company. Also, if you cannot make it to the Majors at least you will be stuck working for a better company. This is the more conservative approach.

I totally agree with Fosters, and my advice would be to decide what it is exactly that you are looking for in a regional, and prioritize all of them and start working your way down the list. I wouldn't limit yourself to just a handful because in the research process, you may learn something about an airline that you really like, that you didn't previously know.

Respectfully Submitted,
CJ

I choose D. none of the above.

My advice is to look whats going on at the regionals. Look at the pilot group and who the regionals fly for. If one company might lose airplanes or due to a strike at the major your airline is affliated with your airline losses big your gonna be right back on here in a year from now asking again, "where should I look?"

Id say look into compainies like MESA TSA or Skywest if you hate it there do your time and "upgrade" :p

I am going to side with Fosters and CJ on this one. Don't limit yourself to a select few. There are MANY other options out there. Like others have said, look at the company as a whole. You want to work for a company that suits you because you may not be there for 2 or 3 years, you might be there for 10, or life?! Who knows? That being said, look at the companies stocks in the news paper/online, beneifts package, that sort of thing. Don't get caught up on what type of airplane the company flies - I know it is easy to do, but try your best not to. (Turbo-prop Vs Turbo-jet) Turbine time is turbine time. Yes flying a jet right away would friggen rock, but it may not get you the PIC time as quickley as you might think/like to. Just my 2 cents.

Good luck in your decision process,
D

You might as well just go to Mesa, Pinnacle will be gone, Eagle has a 10 years until upgrade and ExpressJet, just keep your eyes on the board, more too come.... JO's at it again.