Shuttle jr base?
 

Any other input/advice appreciated.

Thanks!

LGA, pretty much sums this up.

What about ORD, wouldn't Chicago also be junior?

Right now because of the upgrades people are able to move around a little bit. But lga is almost certain. But for people who are in training now there is some hope of other bases. It's all about seniority right now! Ord was somewhat a mixed bag. Not as sr as atl but not too far behind. Good luck!

I JUST finished my interview with RAH today. They said a Shuttle America training class will be in August sometime but there may be one earlier depending on many variables. I'm scheduled in the XJT 06/20 training class in Houston. I hope RAH doesn't leave me hanging because without knowing, I'm going to go ahead to Houston. Any thoughts?

Waiting on an airline that you like is only going to get you further down the seniority list. I took the first class I could get at Shuttle, and I got my first choice in base at ORD. Timing is everything! XJET has an ORD base too...good luck on your choice! We are starting to hire a good amount of people!

Go wherever you can get a class first. Seniority is everything when deciding between regionals.

Go to XJT!

Are you THAT blinded by the 170?

Thems fightn' words son! But XJT is a good company with pretty good work rules...once you know the contract! But the longer you wait the lower on the list you go!

Considering that I already have been assigned the June 20 XJT class, I am really not missing any seniority. You are both correct that XJT is an excellent choice from the carriers who are placing pilots in jets right now. Being assigned to a 170/175 means the possibility of a brighter future than the 145 due to the fact that once the 50-seat aircraft are being eliminated(by Embraer & Bombardier models), I will still be flying. The other benefit is that experience operating an aircraft with a greater mgtow opens many more doors in the future per the wise words of some high-time 121 guys.

I plan to be in Houston on the 20th. If RAH calls and places me in a class before then, what else should keep me from going? I know there's turmoil at RAH right now but can you honestly tell me there isn't at almost every single airline?

Republic has a lot of 50 seaters with senior pilots flying them. It also has a failing airline. All of these pilots will be senior to you. These senior pilots will be displaced into your seat while you are furloughed. You will not still be flying. The greater MGTOW between a 70 seater and 50 seater is insignificant. They are both small jetliners. Your logic does not make any sense.

Not like the mess we have going on right now. We're in the middle of a civil war with FAPA and a fistfight with management. The Frontier operation is close to failing. If that happens, there will be roughly 300 furloughs on the RAH side of the fence. Plus, we may strike within the next year. I don't know anyone I fly with that isn't thinking about an escape route right now. Honestly, I'd go to Expressjet. Be very weary of this place.

PS- I've flown the 170/175/190 here and without an ATP it hasn't opened up any doors for me.

You can't be far from an ATP, can you?

5000 tt, all the xc and other requirements met, written passed... But until I get an upgrade, no ATP.

Is there company policy preventing you from getting ATP part 61? Unless there is, that's the route I would take.

Nope....but.....unless you're going to take the time to go get to be eligible for another job, it's not really worth it. I plan on doing it though.

What a bunch of crap! I see you took the job at RAH and opened up a spot for someone more deserving at XJT/ASA. Enjoy flying that E170 for peanuts!

Hey! Take it easy. You see nothing, sir. I have until the end of the weekend to make my decision. I'm sure I can't count on YOU to contribute to the discussion in a constructive manner.

I digress. Factors I have considered: General movement within the pilot group, Equipment average age & type, Labor contract quality, Number of codeshare network partnerships, General route geography, Base locations, Time on Reserve, General quality of life and the "big picture", including all factors together.

If there is any truth to Oskeewowow and AirbornPegasus' posts, that kind of attrition means serious movement.

I will not make a regional my retirement home. It is simply a stepping stone. The quicker I get in, the faster the movement through, the quicker I pop out the other side with turbine pic.

Argue that.

Why would you even consider RAH right now? The company is very unstable, and has a divided pilot group. If you want to fly the 170 go the Compass. BTW the upgrade at RAH is at least 5 years for a new hire. Dont believe what HR tells you!

Please go to RAH!

HR actually said they didn't know & that so much was changing and about to change that it would be unfair to speculate. I appreciated the honesty. It is pilots from multiple carriers including CHQ and S5 that tell me first hand about the movement.

I am not going to have any fans or friends on this forum no matter what I do or don't do. I am simply trying to obtain all available information to make the best decision for mine and my families best interest.

Emotion and opinion only aids in deconstruction of the process. I am after facts. Those of you offering them are very appreciated.

Compass would be a good choice if my current quals supported getting an interview. Who wouldn't take a pic type out of the gates?

I have til the weekend to make up my mind, anyone with verifiable facts to throw in are gentlemen.

So go to Lakes, Gojet, or Colgan. We don't need any more of your type at RAH.

As we fight for an improvement to our quality of life, your comments are disrespectful.

I disagree, most guys I talk to now see it exactly like this, and are stilling willing to fight to make it better. We all started here to get to something better. This has not changed.

I left RP last fall, but still stay intouch with many of the pilots. According to them, most of the attrition is from FO's leaving. The current upgrade at RP is about what it is everywhere else, but the stablity is not so great. If your low time, RP might be a good place to get some time, and move on. Yea, most pilots at RAH don't plan on staying any longer then they have too. If you do go there, be sure to read your contract, and keep a copy with you!

LAXSAAB is right about most of the attrition being FO's. I checked with a couple of my buddies over at RAH and last month the attrition was 27. 7 Capts. and 20 FO's. According to him the FO's see little future at RAH. They have the top 500 Capts. that are mostly lifers. Many of them did not plan on being lifers, but got caught up in the stall of the hiring at the majors. They now have a decent QOL making a somewhat decent wage and are going to wait it out to see what shakes loose at RAH and the majors over the next few years.

Consequently, any movement is coming from only the bottom 500 Capts. That leaves little hope for the over 1,000 lifers. It may be a long shot to go with RAH, but you might move up the FO ranks, but upgrading could be a really long time. Also, just about anyone over there will tell you that a furlough is very likely. Between the bleeding of red ink and BB needing playing the mgmt strike playbook, there will be furlough in the next year or two. You won't make it up the seniority list quick enough to avoid it.

Both of my friends said -- "Tell him to go to Houston" -- both are current FO's.

How senior is ATL at Shuttle? Also is hired, is it possible to change certificates?

Can you request a specific certificate at the interview?

Thanks

1. Very
2. At the company's whim, not yours
3. You can request whatever you want, but they will do whatever they want with you

250 of those 500 are going to spittin out that Kool Aid after they get downgraded in 2017, when RAH is reduced to operating 23 Jungle Jets for US AIRWAYS. Thats my prediction.....

Go to XJET. Their pay and work rules are much better.

FWIW, everyone I talk to is planning on bolting, even the senior guys. Just no where really to go yet. Given what's coming with duty rules most of the outstation bases are going to have be severely downsized or closed. Most of the super senior folks are in those places based at home. I expect the attrition will pick up from those high end guys once they are forced to commute. Upgrade is attrition and growth based anywhere you go. Airlines can barely see 6 months into the future, so what looks good today might be crap in 14 months and vice versa. 2012 will tell some of the story regarding upgrade.

The upgrade time will probably be longer than that. When Frontier fails or is divested we will shrink significantly. Many furloughs and downgrades. The top several hundred rah types aren't going anywhere until they are 65. Seek a place with rapid upgrade unless you're choosing a particular regional for what you hope will be your lifetime. That was good advice years ago and was never more true than now. Re-read the post by Mr. Pegasus. He has a good read on things here and good advice as well.

How many RAH pilots are flying Frontier out of DEN and MKE. Would you guys really furlough and downgrade if Frontier fails?

With LGA being jr, how painful will be the commute from PHL or BAL? Given that the commute is "always painful."

Also, how long do you think one would currently have to sit reserve at Shuttle?

Training time? Location? Single occupancy hotel - company paid?

Thanks again...

Roughly 300 total pilots are involved with the F9 operation, however those pilots are not going to be specifically at risk, anyone in the bottom 300 of the total list is on the chopping block. We are so short handed right now that I don't worry about a mass furlough all that much. Honestly F9 will be running for at least 12 more months and at that point we'll have hiring going on at the big boys. WE need to run another upgrade class here pretty quick. I still think 2 years for upgrade unless/until F9 fails.

Training will be in IND then STL. Double occupancy and hotel is paid for. Plan on about 6 weeks from start to IOE.

6-8 weeks before IOE. There is a lot of training going on right now. Flight Safety is slammed! But the rest is accurate and complete. The Holiday Inn kinda sucks FYI...but at least it has a pool!

2 years for upgrade? So you think upgrade today is 2 years for a newhire? The upgrade is over four years right now.

You can not judge an upgrade time of four years being that the company hasn't had any hiring or movement in near 3 years. I'd say the 2 or 2.5 years is accurate.

Training contract at RAH?

1yr $14000

It's actually 2 years.