Yeah i wouldent suggest a move to another regional. quitting 9E as an F/O would be a good decision if you where getting out of the industry altogether, or going to the corporate side of flying. but hopping around regionals without any PIC time can make for a very long haul. i would say, stay with 9E for now. I am personally trying every angle i can figure to get out of flying without going into major debt.

If I were in you shoes I'd look for a job that would provide turbine PIC as soon as possible. More than likely that would be a 135 company that would hire you into the left seat. That or just stay put at this point. Hopefully attrition at Pinnacle will allow for some movement. When hiring picks up in the next few years at the airlines that fly Boeings and Airbuses you don't want to still be sitting right seat in an RJ.

My guess for ORD RJ CP upgrade will push out to beyond 2-3 years. We now have over 1100 FOs on the seniority list that will have a crack at it before any newhire right now.

That said there's always a few rumors running around about new flying. 900s back east for USair, replacing MESA in PHX, 50 seaters for NW, etc.