Staying at a regional

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06-19-2006 | 09:32 AM

#41

SkyHigh

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From: Corporate Pilot

Requirement

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brav989

So to get hired by a major airline, is it officially (or unofficially) a requirement that you have a Bachelor's degree?

A few were able to slip in during the late 90's but it is very rare to get hired at a major without a degree, and often almost half have a masters.

SkyHigh

06-19-2006 | 09:57 AM

#42

SharkyBN584

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From: ERJ FO

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyHigh

What I am saying is that pilot skills are not transferable to other careers. Most everything else is. I don't know what you are getting at but a pilot would not be considered as a strong applicant for an airport manager, grounds keeper, airport firefighter or anything else unless they had some other experience.

SkyHigh

Ok...with that I can agree. If the only thing anyone learned through college and most of their life was how to fly an airplane...then they are f*cked. I definately do not consider myself in that group of individuals. The only thing I was trying to get at is that you can have a degree in aviation and not have it be just about how to fly an airplane and you can work in aviation and actually make a meaningful and livable wage.

06-19-2006 | 10:13 AM

#43

rickair7777

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From: Engines Turn or People Swim

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brav989

So to get hired by a major airline, is it officially (or unofficially) a requirement that you have a Bachelor's degree?

Yes. You can always find a few folks who will say otherwise, and if you use selective hearing you can convince yourself that you don't really need the degree. But reality will set in cold and hard in about your ninth year at that regional...

06-19-2006 | 10:24 AM

#44

LAfrequentflyer

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Unless I'm missing something it seems more and more people are making the regionals their final destination. Why is that? QOL as a regional Captain? Does the grind of trying to get to that next level no longer seem worth it?

-LAFF

06-19-2006 | 10:31 AM

#45

Jakob

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I guess there are just no other possibilities for most of us. If we are realistic, we probably have to see that there is just a very small chance of getting hired by a big major. I personally am a very positive-thinking person so I still hope and believe, but I can understand evrybody who doesn't. Maybe times will change again in the future, but who knows?

06-19-2006 | 11:09 AM

#46

LAfrequentflyer

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I'm also positive. But, based on my research about aviation - with pay at the regionals being decent and with seniority system a 10+ year regional Captain can have a pretty good life for himself and family.

Seems to me w/ regional pay, home based, and modest lifestyle one can live well and still enjoy the world at FL300?

Did I miss something?

-LAFF

06-19-2006 | 11:25 AM

#47

surreal1221

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer

Nope, didn't miss a thing.

06-19-2006 | 12:51 PM

#48

rickair7777

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From: Engines Turn or People Swim

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer

You can, if your company has a domicile close to your home, and you have plenty of seniority in that domicile, and it is in a low-cost area...

Until the major partner fires your regional, or relocates your flying to another city on the other side of the country. Junior FO's can just pack up and move, but when the wife has a job (probably the primary source of income) and the kids are school it's a different story.

Majors don't appear very stable right now, but they are more stable than most regionals, and their bases don't change or vanish on a moment's notice.

06-19-2006 | 01:12 PM

#49

fly311

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I am a pilot who is still hoping this flying thing will work out, and so I'm about to go the the regionals. I have offers from Republic and Eagle, and I plan to take one of the two. Obviously, Republic is the ERJ170, while Eagle will probably be the 135/140/145. Any input to assist in making this decision is greatly appreciated.