Great Lakes or American Eagle

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11-13-2010, 07:34 PM

#11

DashDriverYV

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

That depends. What are you looking for at a regional? Personally, I'm not looking at a regional as my final career stop. So I want a regional that is at least somewhat decent with good movement, so I can move on to where I really want to be: major/legacy. That's why I chose Pinnacle, along with 95% of other pilots who came to Pinnacle. Now no one saw the financial meltdown coming of 2007-2010 (except the corrupt financial/government officials, another story for another thread). So, we're all stuck now until the hiring picks up again. But I'll be honest. I'd much rather be a Colgan CA on the Q400 in EWR than a Eagle FO in DFW. But that's just me...

In my drunken stuper, I will try to pass along some hard learned knowlege. I chased the quick upgrade and found it. Then to be down graded and furloughed in a year. Pick an airline you can live with for a career if needed, or you might have the lesson like me an pick it the second time. Problem is "time". we aint gettin younger. Eagle is a place that will take care of you and you can work there with pride, not always looking for the next door out. Choose wisley, it may cost you in the long run. Who knows, if I had chosen Eagle, I would have just been awarded captain and not have been in Poverty the last four of five years.

11-14-2010, 04:14 AM

#12

PCLCREW

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

If her choice is Eagle, Great Lakes, or Colgan, do Colgan hands down! One thing is for sure at Eagle: long upgrades. Their most recent vacancy went to a 09/2004 hire, so they are "down" to a 6 year upgrade. Meanwhile at Colgan, the latest preliminary award shows a Saab Captain award of a 2010 hire! Add the fact Colgan is getting multiple Q400s from now until April 2011, your friend WILL upgrade at Colgan in less than a year, provided he/she has the time.

Keep in mind Colgan is about to go through a seniority list merger and become Mesaba Airlines... Who knows what will happen with upgrades over there.

11-14-2010, 07:37 AM

#13

1900luxuryliner

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Quote:

Originally Posted by maddog81

Does anyone know how senior the MKE base is for GLA? Or what the typical lines out of MKE are like, because don't they only fly to 2 or 3 destinations from there?

The FOs in MKE want to be in MKE, and are fairly senior. I don't know where they stand, with regards to upgrade, but I would plan for the entire base to close, before you have the ability/seniority to hold MKE. You'll probably have the seniority and time to upgrade to FMN, before you'd have the ability to get into MKE, as an FO. Same thing goes for the CA side of MKE. They all want to be there, and probably won't leave until the base closes.

11-14-2010, 08:08 AM

#14

minimwage4

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Position: Embraer Systems Analyst

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Quote:

Originally Posted by What

So lets say you have a friend who has a class date for American Eagle as well as for Great Lakes and an Interview with Colgan. Should he interview with Colgan? Should he take American Eagle and fly a Jet, sit on reserve for a while and hope to upgrade in the next 5 years? Get on with Great Lakes and probably upgrade in a year? Goal is to move on to the majors... help a friend out!!!

If you were already hireable with eagle and great lakes then you'd really have to say something stupid not to be hired at colgan. So I'd interview there anyways, if you want to get to a major that needs turbine PIC then don't go to Eagle. At great lakes, you'll get really fast upgrades but everything else will be crappy unless you happen to live at your home base. Colgan offers best of both Eagle and Great Lakes worlds. Though I've heard from friends that it still majorly sucks to fly at Colgan too. But you can't have everything in the regional it's either a sacrifice for upgrades or no sacrifice and long upgrades.

11-14-2010, 08:12 AM

#15

minimwage4

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Position: Embraer Systems Analyst

Posts: 1,853

Quote:

Originally Posted by DashDriverYV

EXACTLY. This is the best advice here.

I know to someone just starting, this probably makes no sense, to turn down the first turbine job in the name of future quality of life but it will 5 years from now. Many people end up lateraling from the crappy regionals to the better ones, so chances are that's what you're going to be doing if your heart isn't in it for the sacrifice. Choose the best place now so you don't have to lateral down the road.

11-14-2010, 08:28 AM

#16

filejw

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If the goal is to get to a major then go for the quick upgrade.You can always make that lateral move after you get your 1000pic and then just sit in the better QOL knowing you have one of the prerequisites to DAL SWA Fed Ex job.If you go to say Lakes and after 2 years you have that 1000 pic the majors will take a look at you. If you go to Eagle you most likely wont have the PIC time for 8 years. That's 6 less years of exposure to hiring sprees.

11-14-2010, 08:29 AM

#17

TrojanCMH

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Quote:

Originally Posted by maddog81

Does anyone know how senior the MKE base is for GLA? Or what the typical lines out of MKE are like, because don't they only fly to 2 or 3 destinations from there?

Rumor has it they are going to be out of MKE soon. This is just something I heard so GLA guys don't chastise me if I'm wrong.

11-14-2010, 08:39 AM

#18

ShyGuy

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PCLCREW

Keep in mind Colgan is about to go through a seniority list merger and become Mesaba Airlines... Who knows what will happen with upgrades over there.

First we need a JCBA, which very likely is not happening anytime soon. Then, we need a SLI, which cannot happen until we get a JCBA. I wouldn't be too worried about the merger right now.