Eagle CRJ or ERJ?
 

I am scheduled to start training soon and was wondering if any Eagle folks out there on the line could tell me the advantages of picking one A/C type over the other? I am hoping for a ORD base, so my choices are the CRJ or the ERJ...or whichever is available. Thanks in advance!

More bases and more lines and more flexibility with the ERJ.

...i like your signature!!!! great attitude to start off your career! :o

The CRJ...You can tell everybody that you fly a widebody.

ERJ, more people to trip trade when you want time off.

ATR to start with. It will make you a better pilot in the end.

I'm starting with Eagle pretty soon and that's what I've planned on doing but they haven't been offering ATRs much lately.. like one or two SJU-ATR per class at most.

Are the CRJs a lot quieter in the cockpit than the ERJs?

I don't quite agree with this. I've flown everything from Navajos to Gulfstreams and can't say that any one is harder than the other, or that one somehow makes you a better pilot (just more "clerical" work to do in some - I can't say flying a cabin or balancing fuel is really that tough). That being said, if you don't know what the automation is doing and never learned the basics in the first place, there's an issue.

Stop trying to plug your BarbieJet to the poor kid, slacker!! :D

Everytime I get food delivered to me in flight, I am very glad to have chosen the CRJ.

Me too! The fake cheese and cracker trays are to die for! :rolleyes:

Yeah, unless it is one of those whacked out salads with blueberries, buffalo chicken, and raisins, or some other oddball combination!!

Then top it off with some raspberry vinaigrette....Ewww!!!

if you live in base...CRJ...longer legs, quieter plane, free meals. I was on it for 4 years. Now headed to the ERJ for QOL.

A bit off topic, but are the current interview gouges still accurate over at Eagle?

I've heard a lot of people who have experience on both the jets. I was under the impression once you are on one airframe you are not allowed to switch since it is technically going to a same or lower pay scale (I realize ATR->Jet is possible). Are the only way people have both jet experience is to fly one as an FO and switch when they upgrade?

Nah got displaced from DFW CRJ to DFW EMJ.

Anyone can fly jets. They are way easier to dominate than a turbo prop. With the prop, for example, you will be subject to fly in the mid teens, dodging storms all day long, while in a jet, autopilot on at 600' climb, nav mode all the way to the top. Try 5-6legs a day in and out of busy airports in a prop.Then let me know.

I mean this with respect, but explain to me how you are where you are now? I remember you being a happy Airwisky FO of 3+ years saying you did not think you were ready to upgrade yet because you wanted to learn more. Now almost a year later I see you fly an ATR as a new FO and are asking about Eagle. Just explain to me please what I am missing? I am just hoping I am confusing you for someone else, maybe an avatar steal...

This is very off topic dude!

They are very accurate. I interviewed there two or three weeks ago. There was not a single question that I was asked in the tech that I wasn't already prepared to answer, they were all in the gouge. The sim is exactly the same, G1000 Baron, they're looking for basic instrument skills and basic CRM.

I agree, the gouges are accurate. I was going to post an update but I would just be reiterating what everyone else already wrote. Very straight forward and they do try to make you feel as comfortable as possible. I'm looking forward to working there.

As far as being with Eagle, I'd choose the ERJ definitely. More bases, routes, flexibility, etc. ERJs at all bases except SJU, with CRJs nice if you live in base but possibility of them switching bases like they did with DFW then you have to commute.
There's really not a huge difference between the ERJ and CRJ but if you talk to a lot of CRJ guys they act like their flying a 777 compared to the ERJ. Quote from a CRJ FO I jumpseated with once, "I would never want to fly the Embraer". :rolleyes:

I won't live at base, but ORD would be easier for me to commute to and will stay with family while on reserve. Is time spent on reserve shorter with the ERJ over the CRJ? If I get the CRJ there may be a chance they will move it out of ORD?

Generally speaking, Embraer aircraft are better than Bombardier. This is coming from years of experience with engineers, test pilots, airline pilots, etc...

With that said, Eagle's CRJs are newer models than the E-145s...kind of like comparing a 2008 Jeta to a 1999 Mercedes. So...they kind of cancel each other out as far as which plane is "better".

The ERJ has FAR more pilots, bases, and routes which means greater flexibility with your schedule.

Fewer pilots on the CRJ side means less time on Reserve. I have actually heard of some CRJ guys who had a line their first month.

On the ERJ side it is currently 7 to 9 months before you can hold a line. However, with enough people below you on Reserve you actually have a higher QOL than a line holder. That is the situation I am living right now...I pick the flights I want, when I want. When I want extra days off I just bid a RAP and sit at home.

The CRJ has first class built in which means you can score meals and drinks that go beyond the ERJ's almonds/cheese tray/water options. This may seem like no big deal now...but trust me when I say that after a LOOOONG duty day, as you get to your hotel at 10pm when everything is closed and you are starving....some almonds and a big bottle of water will make you want to throw the hotel phone out the window.

I chose the ERJ without hesitation. For me the choice was easy as I live in DFW, but even if the CRJs were still based here I still would have picked the ERJ. Like I said before, greater flexibility, more pilots to trade with, and more bases to choose from if/when I move. I just wish we had first class with some nice meals...but oh well.

To hold a line in ORD CRJ if you got hired by jan, you would had a line in june. BUT I think that changed since there are no more deliveries and I say is almost staffed. CRJ slots in the last months have been reduced.

I finally hold a line in ORD for October after 8 months. I've only flown like 15 hrs this month (including yesterday and today), I proffer RAP, they call the guys junior than me and I never get a call. After all, I sit home, eat my food, keep the same 75 hr salary and expend less money. :D

Yes but fly less, get less time toward upgrading, less time on your resume if this place goes south to get a new job, and less time in the plane that you will want for the probi ride.

Just so I am hearing y'all right, if a new hire right now picks ORD CRJ they are going to have a short if no time on reserve? My class is this Monday, and I thought the CRJ choice would doom me to eternal reserve?
Thanks

That sounds like jets to me in the NE US.

I personally hand fly as much as possible... Usually until at least 18000' but sometimes up to cruise.

On landing I'll disengage the autopilot the second I see the runway, even if we are still miles out. I actually love flying the erj and hate to lean on the autopilot the way we all did during our first few hours in the sim.

I have held a line on the crj right out of ioe. All I heard in ground school was how I was doomed to reserve and stupid not to pick the erj dfw. They are all still on reserve and even people in classes ahead of me. I have weekends off and it's all commutable. Every capt I have flown with on the crj has said that the embryo is a giant pos. Only thing they liked about the plane when they were FO's was the anti ice system.

How about this??? I made 500hrs in 6 months. My line is about 85 hrs for october. And I got here with 1500 total time, with 1300 PIC, so I have the time required by any other regional. Those that got hired with less than 800hrs are the ones that have to get worry if this place go downhill.

The probie ride is just another checkride, if you did it with only 40hrs of sim, you can do it with more than 400 hrs on the plane.

And yes, the CRJ you fly more, you will have more flight time, but not that much landings like in the ERJ. So I rather have more approaches and landings that flight time.

Just my .02 cents.

Been there and done that. Try flying an Atlantic crossing and negotiating a French arrival/approach. Then let me know:roll eyes:.


I've flown turboprops in weather. I've flown jets at FL450. Each has its own challenges.

Go San Juan ATR!

You could have the same experience negotiating with french arrival/approach down in the islands...:rolleyes:

If you are that hungry and the restaurants are all closed, why wouldn't you pick up the hotel phone and order room service? Most hotel's room service stay open to at least 11pm, if not later.

Think future...
 

While I really enjoy flying the Embraer - look to the future.

Their days are numbered, the CRJ's are the newer favorite choice...for now.

Also, with Eagle's impending divestiture, scope could change dramatically allowing us to fly the bigger a/c's.

ya so pick ERJ and get displaced to a 90 seater!

Except IMC conditions down there occur about once every three years in the windwards/leewards:).

I'm bowing out of this one. My perspective comes from multi-leg turboprop/turbofan regional flying and international operations. I found the former to be challenging and the later to be challenging. Your mileage may vary.

"us"? IF and thats a big IF; AMR gets scope relief, AE will NOT get those "bigger" a/c's. The best protection for Eagle right now is APA scope.

That's because few of them have ever flown a jet other than the EMB or CRJ. Comparatively I'm sure the CRJ is better. I've flown the CRJ 200 (but not the 700, whole different animal from what I hear) and still consider the EMB to be a decent airplane.

It's not about the airplane, it's about the QOL. Don't forget that and you'll have a much better career.