looking for some opinions of these regionals
 

expressjet, PSA, colgan air, and american eagle. Interested in the basics, especially upgrade times.

thanks

If upgrade time is number one on your list then scratch off American Eagle!

I have heard from a former employee at Eagle that AE treats their pilots very badly, I would avoid them. I'd go with Mesa, they have the fastest upgrade times beacuse nobody want's to stay there!

I would also scratch PSA

Masa
 

Masa is a ***** opperation,stay away!

Colgan is a great operation with a fast upgrade time. I don't know much about Beech upgrade time, but the upgrade in the SAAB is really fast. (typically a year, or as they need you, provided you have or are close to having the minimum time requirements) The generic requirements are 2200TT, 800-1000 in type, and the ever-so-obvious ATP minimum requirements - which you most likely have with these TT requirements. Oh yeah...and the ATP written would help too! :p

AE is a good company, but the upgrade time is horrible. Granted, you would most likely be put in the ERJ right away, but you would have about 5 + years until you upgrade. If that floats your boat (sitting 'shotgun' for 5 + years), more power to ya bud. You would be flying new(er) equipment, get glass experience, all that jazz. I actually know someone who flys for them, based in LGA, who loves his job. He wants to walk my resume in for me when I meat the mins. but I am a little hesitent, just due to the upgrade time.

PSA, I don't have much to say on. They have an average payscale and they fly awesome equipment (CRJ-200/700's). Their crews are very nice/very professional. That's all I've got on them...:p

GOOD LUCK!

I'v got a bud @ Mesa and their work rules are very bad. He said upgrade to ERJ (most junior jet) is currently at 24 months.

Dont go to AE, I have alot of friends their and it is a company that is at war with its self (flowbacks vs. everyone else) and that is the way management their wants it.

PSA is a good company but no growth.

Best of luck!!

(Colgan Air) The Upgrade time in the Beechcraft I heard in some cases was less than a year, and most cases not much more than a year. My buddy Flys them all the time on standby Between ALB-LGA to go home on weekends, his Dad is a US Airways Captain. So he talks to the pilots all the time. You are also home almost every night if you work on the UA/US Express side of colgan.

Colgan sounds like a GREAT place to work....but what is more important, just PIC Turbine, flying in the soup. Or PIC Turbine JET flying with automation and high speed/altitude experience?? Maybe I have a slight case of SJS!!

Get your real estate license.

Mesa ERJ CA is currently about 16 months. Their contract is up next year, so if you're a gambling man (or girl), you might be able to get in now, upgrade fast, and then enjoy the fruits of a better contract in 2009 (if you don't hired at a major by then).