ASA, CHQ or AWAC, career places or no?
 

Yes or no?
And why please.
thanks

IMO I think it depends on what you want to do with flying. If your content flying domestic doing some hopping around different cities and you don't care if you have to wait 10-12yrs to close in on 100k than go for it. I also think it depends on age. I am 21, I could go to AWAC or any of the others and sit there for maybe ten years and then what? I'll be 31 with another 25+ yrs to retirement. So my collective goal is to fly wide body intl, so for me I would rather do a short stint with a commuter then get on with somebody like CAL where I could hopefully spend a career and maybe if I am real lucky have some retirement when I am done. However, I do think these companies are okay, I do not work for any of them but I do know some folks that work there and from what I hear AWAC is one of the better more stable ones. Hope this sheds some light on your question. Good luck

Historically, AWAC, Skywest, horizon, COMAIR, and even ASA (probably a couple smaller ones too) could have been considered career destinations; some folks even like to pretend they still are.

The fundamental problem with most regionals is that they don't sell their own tickets, and only "lease" their market share from a major partner. You are likely to suffer these effects during a regional career:

Major moves your company to a new city (on the opposite coast).

Major fires your company (layoffs, downgrades)

When you get really senior and comfy (and paid a vaguely livable wage) you company will immediately find itself too "mature" to compete against younger regionals for the flying contracts. You will have to give huge concessions (putting your family back on foodstamps AGAIN) and endure more layoffs and downgrades, possibly in Ch.11.

Some of these bad things can happen at a major too, but at least you can see it coming, have more control of your own destiny, and are less likely to get geographically displaced.

SKW has somehow avoided most of these hassles so far. I'm not sure how, but maybe because they are pretty entrenched in their neck of the woods. Horizon has done OK, BUT they are owned by AK, and we all know what their current game plan is...

ok,thanks
what about the fact that awac "owns " 14% of us airways?
and btw what is AK plan?

You're right, AWAC should enjoy more stability since most or all of their flying is USA.

AK is on a MAJOR cost cutting crusade...

CAL sold off XJet and DAL sold ASA (and probably COMAIR eventually) during similar circumstances. QX might find itself sold off to raise cash, then immediately competing against Mesa for it's own routes.

AWAC owning 14% of usair (I think it's technically 13%) doesn't mean squat. It helped them get their 50 seaters placed but as for further growth it will go to the lowest bidder. AWAC will never be the lowest bidder.

If you come to AWAC you most likely will be on reserve a very long time (6+ months for now) because they will now just hire for attrition, which has come to a complete standstill.

I HIGHLY doubt AK would sell off QX unless they were in bankruptcy and it was purely a survival issue. QX has made money for AK and as far as I can tell has been a very healthy relationship. One advantage Horizon has over other regionals is that they are owned by their parent company so it would take a sell off to lose that flying (which I think is very doubtful). Horizon also flies their own colors / name and many of their tickets are sold through horizon - ask anyone in the northwest who Horizon Air is and they know right away, they know about horizon deals and they buy horizon tickets. Ask the average joe who Air Wisconsin is or Pinnacle etc. and chances are they won't have a clue. That being said horizon does do contract work for Frontier who could decide to renegotiate that contract which would lead to problems for horizon pilots. Upgrades are slow anyplace that pay is livable and the company is somewhat stable. Hopefully the industry will turn around and change that someday though.

Now there's a statement many of us never thought we'd see! Hope it's true.

Well ok that does sound kind of silly...

But it's not really USAir anymore; hopefully cactus can put the old airways to rest.

Why would they want to do that? America West is the one losing its name...US Airways will continue to operate. Cactus should lose its call sign sometime in 2007.

Those who are familiar with the corporate culture, attitude, and outlook of the old airways crowd will know what I mean. Those guys combined the best of Northern Hospitality and Southern Efficiency. It's not about the callsign, it's about the attitude, starting with management. Fortunately the management is largely cactus.

Ok, I see what you're trying to get across now :). Yes I agree, the "old" US Air was destined to go out of business. I have non-rev'ed on AWA quite a bit and if there was any company that had a chance at saving US Air, it would be them. DP and company will do a great job.

Why stay at regionals?
 

I might be opening up something that is going to upset some people here, but why in the world would you want to stay at a regional? The ONLY reason you should consider staying at a regional is if you are truly content, have a side job with potential, or for family reasons. Other than that, do you really want the regional lifestyle and work rules that some regional people have? Take Mesa for example. 8 days off a month if you are reserve! What is that?

Move on from that level and go to something bigger. I'm not saying that bigger is better. What I'm saying is NEVER be afraid to challenge yourself or your mind. I've flown in the past with guys at a regional that were there for over 15 years! Now, they are stuck with some pay cuts making $70K a year, whereas if you go to a major, within two years you'll be making that with the potential to make $180K.

It just makes sense to me. Never settle, always strive to go to that next level unless you are truly content with your lifestyle and income. Just some thoughts. It's not the gospel, so take it for what it's worth.

In some Cases for AE pilots making a career at AE might have to happen, considering the upgrade time is close to ten years!

I agree, but...when you decide to make the effort to get into this industry, you need to realize that some (or many) will not make it to the majors. This can be due to flying skills, people skills, education (lack thereof), industry timing and circumstances, medical, dui, etc. Before you enter the regional world it's a good idea to decide either a) I'm willing to stay at this regional for life if necessary, or b) I will give it my best shot, but if I don't get a major airline job I will leave aviation in X years.

You don't want to stuck somewhere in the middle with no plan.

Most people who complain about upgrade time are those who don't even meet their company's requirements for total time.

rickair7777:

I totally agree ;). I couldn't have said it better myself.