Nobody has a crystal ball, but with Age 65 retirements coming and the new mins for 121 drivers about to kick in, how long would it take to get enough seniority at Skywest/Eagle/Expressjet to get enough seniority to hold a schedule like this?

Maybe someday it will be a pre-req to have a main source of income before becoming a pilot. Do what the other guy said...be smart about it and go rent a plane.

I do. All the time.

You're falling for the same line of BS most of us did. I have my doubts now, as many others do, that we will see any sort of shortage. The age 65 numbers are not overwhelming and the amount of outsourcing majors having been doing is more than enough to cover retirements. There will be hiring, just not the open floodgates many flight schools are peddling. Ask anyone who has been in this industry more than ten years how often they've heard the term pilot shortage.

Another thing to consider, and sorry if you already mentioned this I missed it, what is your home life situation? Married? Kids? Those two factors especially combined make this job even more difficult especially the first few years.

Now if you're single and have some money saved then go for it. You're not hurting the industry any more than PCLCREW did by accepting their job. Don't say we didn't warn you though.

My guess is that you're looking at about 10% of the picture: The flying part. Read up on the forums, ask questions, study the other 90% of the job, and THEN decide if it's still what you want to do or not. My advice: leave it at the weekend warrior level. Much more fun. You get to fly WHEN you want to and WHERE you want to.

Maybe you will think twice about that when your still "ERJ right" in another 10 years...

Hey I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy of your statement. Did you not also accept a job at a regional airline?

Can one get enough seniority at the regional level where they actually like the job enough to want to stay, and actually enjoy the flying? Or does everyone want to just do the trip and get home ASAP? The doom and gloom seems to dominate.

All kidding aside... I dont think you have clue what your getting into.

I bid in the top 5%, which gives me great QOL. However, I don't want to stay at the regionals forever. My feelings hasn't change from day one which is. I enjoy what I do, but I would rather be home.

Hence, the questions. I'm starting to get a pretty good idea though. Thanks for all the candid responses.

Despite what others say, there will be a massive pilot shortage in the comming years... it will last a couple months to a year, and be followed by a massive furloughing frenzy...