asa/xjet vs. eagle
 

Let's try to keep this short and mods please close when the bs starts. I would prefer responses from current/former employees of the aforementioned companies. Im considering applying at both of these. I have 4000tt/2900MEL 145sic and 170sic "types". I used to work at S5... I pulled an office space and quit after those wonderful middle management types put me on unavailable after a paperwork glitch with my medical. Well I was eventually terminated. this was in late january. I swore to never apply at a 121 operation ever again. But now have had a change of heart. I've got rocks in my head.

So I just was wondering the pros/cons of eagle and cht. Im from SDF and plan on trying for ORD at either if given a job opportunity.

Please keep it civil. Im 28 and have 5 years in the regional gig. I don't have time for smart arse remarks. Cheers and thanks for any constructive input.

ASA hasnt had a class in while (as far as I know) but is rumored to have one soon. XJT is supposedly running 32 a month for the rest of the year...3 of the classes just all got IAH, the class before that was a toss up between ORD, EWR, and CLE. I imagine it will fluctuate as time goes on.

I know a guy at Eagle that likes it (flys a helluva lot), I know they've emailed me 3 times to interview since I cancelled...must need pilots.

Eagle is hiring a ton and cant seem to find enough qualified applicants (although they are still being picky as to who they interview)... Its almost guaranteed that at your age you can get ORD the first day, or by the time you finish training you can transfer bases the way things are going right now. The last class had 19 EMJ and a couple CRJ in ORD, and the class before that had 4 and 1 CRJ.

ASA has a class on 25th for ERJ. Eagle has a 60 y/o guy in their current class. toodles.

Worry about it after you get offers... What's with everyone wanting to make a decision before they even interview?

If eagle has a problem with people busting their private how do you think they will feel about a 121 termination? (honest question.)

Lots of movement at AE. 150 pilots will be going to AA as soon as the end of year. Word of AA hiring of the street by next spring that will trigger an additional 824 slots from AE.

I don't understand how Eagle ever plans on having enough pilots if they are so "high and mighty" they won't look at people with a couple busts or a drinking ticket from 10 years ago...... :confused:

Instead they are going to be back to hiring 250TT and 25 multi, guarantee it, especially when all the majors start hiring next year...sad because they are probably passing over some damn good pilots with their hiring practices, instead having guys that don't even have enough experience to CFI let alone be in the right seat of an RJ.....

I'll tell you what I tell my dad...ATA is dead and is never coming back!

What your that good, get to choose before u apply. And the whole getting this yr by another airline will make things hard. Try commute air

What you're that good, get to choose before u apply. And the whole getting this yr by another airline will make things hard. Try commute air

I met someone with your times and attitude recently at an airline interview. GUESS WHAT? He got boot from every regional because of his attitude.

The best is the recruiters from AE are on here and I would imagine same wuth asa/xjt. So when they see your app saying s5 145 hours 170, they'll recall reading on apc some some guy expecting to get hired. Just curious what BS do u want the mods to close this down for. Could it be the fact you flew a 170 for 145hrs and think that is worth something, or we're kind of confused on our attitude. I have a feeling the you got hired at s5 and no where else for a reason. I take back saying go to commutair, to good for you, I think you would be a better fit with a certain 1900 operator in florida.

Is it that time of the month princess or is this just a really emotional topic for you? The question was harmless and all some of you HS girls do is bite his head off.

Dude you need to chill out. The OP wasnt implying he had the job locked in, just wanted to know some information on the two companies. You don't jump down everyone else's throats when they ask. He/she said "if given the chance". Seriously are you just trolling here so you can take out your aggression on people?? You obviously have trouble with reading comprehension too as the OP said they had BOTH a 145 and 170 type, NOT 145 hours. Leave the immature crap at the door and try helping someone for a change.

Glad I'm not the only one who sees it.

Lol, this was the bs I was referring to. :) people immediately get combatative and confrontational here. Grow up man. All i was wanting was some discussion/opinions on contracts/attrition/growth and QOL of these two regionals comparatively. I dont know much about them and i have been out of the I game for a few months.


Im not "that good" but I wouldn't necessarily say these are "dream jobs" trust me when the regionals start getting desperate. A pulse and a smile will get you through the interview process. Cheers guys.

Thanks stryker, you got my intention.

Maybe he's just mad that The Ohio State is gonna suck for the next decade.

No problem scary. Too much of this dumb animosity on this board.

Trojan, you may have hit the nail on the head. Ouch...

And to samballs. Yes you should choose before applying. Because just taking the first gig offered isn't always the best course of action. Things change very drastically and very often in the regional world. Best not be caught with my pants down again like I was at my previous employer. Im looking for a good regional to camp out at just in case this "pilot shortage" is a myth. Sorry it may seem like a elitist attitude but its not going to be long before pilots start holding the cards. And maybe if more people had that attitude instead of flyforfood/sjs/take the first crappy offer that comes my way.....first year pay and qol might get better at the regionals. I love you.

Yeah I know man. I haven't posted here in awhile, but I've noticed some good talk on eagle and xjet. Problem is that eagle life thread has been going on for years and has thousands of replies. Really didn't want to filter through it all. But anyways I was just wanting an intelligent comparison of just these two.

Thanks to all for the constructive replies thus far. I plan on applying at both but feel my termination may be a deal breaker at eagle. Live and learn. Hopefully I could explain in an interview process but I hear that counsel of elders at eagle is tough.

If worse comes to worse ill keep playing shows/teaching guitar anyway. It beats fifth year pay at any regional but its exhausting and no benefits/"security".

Cheers guys.

I am in a similar situation where I COULD be choosing between Eagle vs ASA/XJT. Yes, I have not had offers from either and could just very well end up with "Thanks but no thanks" emails from both and be stuck where I am at. But in the most optimistic view, I could get offers from both. Both have pretty good pay but here are my views

-Both have ORD bases which are pretty junior (a goal for me)
-Both have roughly the same pay which is some of the higher in the industry sans first year
-I could probably live in all of ASA/XJT bases, but I could not see myself living in SJU with Eagle and its possible I could get stuck with ATR in SJU. Before anyone yells at me for having SJS, it's not, its Shiny Dollar Syndrome... jet at eagle gets paid better and has better bases. If that is still SJS, so be it.
-Eagle seems to be hiring like crazy. If I get picked up, thats more people to be put under me. ASA/XJT seems to be hiring moderately with only moderate future hiring.
-Along with Eagle's hiring, they are (finally) having lots of captains move on. Attrition at ASA/XJT again only seems minimal. Once that majors start hiring though, that could change.
-Eagle's future is unknown. There could just as easily be a divestiture next week which will cause big problems at the bottom of the list.
-ASA/XJTs future is a little more clear given the new contract with United/Continental.

So there are a few of my pros/cons when trying to decide in the perfect world what to do if I get offers from both. Right now my plan is "take the first, if either, that offers a job" and if the stars align and I get both, I'll have some heavy thinking to do.

Thanks for your comment sniper. Any big qol contract comparisons you can think of? I know xjet s contract is pretty top notch regional wise, for qol with min day guarantee, commuter clause, line bidding/vacation and 401k. Any comments on the pros and cons of eagles contract?

ORD Base @ ExpressJet is not so Junior any more. The last 3 entire classes all got IAH because of IAH upgrades going to ORD. As for Hiring we are projecting hiring 30/month for the rest of the year and into 2012.

I dont think leaving Republic has to be an issue. Life gets in the way sometimes. You spent 5 yrs flying 121? It is a tough career especially when you are not making a whole lot of dough and you can always say you were looking into other opportunites and the economy crushed those plans as soon as you left republic. I think the key here is to show that you want to be a long term employee, that your willing to suck it up and live on reserve or commuting (even if it is not entirely true), and that you are looking for a good company with a stable future to hire you.

ASA/XJT people are definitely starting to leave. I have ran into quite a few who are going to Jetblue, atlas, corporate,... etc and looks like it is just the beginning. There is a little uncertainty with 16 of our aircraft being extended or dropped by United. They have been extremely quiet about these aircraft that are on a short term deal with United and it is due for renewal or extension. The rest of our airplanes are being tied into a new 10 yr CPA with CAL/UAL that is being negotiated right now. Skywest and ASA have plans to re-fleet us with new possibly larger airplanes but nothing is set in stone. Theres a lot of unknows right now but i think the legacies are set to really ramp up hiring in the next 12 months. Getting hired and on the line ASAP building currency and flight time would be a far better place to be for when you get a shot at a major.

Eagle could be forced to compete with other regionals similar to what happened to us in 2006 and their current block hours could be reduced. Every regional has its downside. SJU isnt always a bad thing either. The pay is lower but it is cheaper to live and could be a rewarding experience if your young and single. Good luck.

I second this.. Im a feb 28th hire up in ORD and I am pretty near the bottom of the seniority here. I was pretty close to a relief line but then the IAH guys started moving up here and pushed me down a bunch. Hey.. thats the way it goes. Im heading back to IAH in september... easier commute and I will be a above a few folks. Just dont make your choice of airline based on one base alone. In a few months things could change per this example. Good luck!

thanks for the advice guys....i've been thinking about it a lot here lately and its a hard decision to get back into the ring. Who knows. I'm going to apply and give it a shot.

Cheers

Scary,

FWIW I think you'll see more attrition at ASA/XJT in the upcoming years than at eagle. Before the falling out with CAL, XJT had a rather high proportion of lifers (similar to SkyWest and Eagle) but things seem to have changed, and I think that pilot group now will see more guys moving on. Good luck :)

The next American Eagle flow trough to AA is projected for November. 250 guys... + 824 with preferential hiring starting probably next year = 1074 pilot attrition almost for sure + any other guys leaving to other companies.

Just saying... ;)

The next flowthrough batch is 150 NOT 250. Oh and those 824 with preferential hire. I wouldn't bet on it yet...

Just saying.

Are new classes still going to IAH? Houston is my goal as a hub and I have an interview with XJT on 2AUG2011.

The 2nd class that started after me im not sure what they got, but the the 3 previous classes before that including mine all got IAH. There is a new class that started today also.

All Fo's get paid the same the first year at Eagle so I'm confused about your Shiny Dollar Syndrome deal. With all the movement going on at Eagle and upgrades being awarded monthly (I believe our last vacancy had 80 captain slots) you can bid off the ATR after your probationary period ( 1 year). Even if you were (god forbid you gain experience in SJU) assigned SJU I believe most if not all FO's are bidding out of SJU to MIA and DFW therefore only spending a month out of training in SJU. At the end of the day you have to pick the company that will provide you the best QOL, my advice don't chase the aircraft!

Sidenote: I think new hires are holding a line faster on the props than the jets which also negates your SJS theory.