The ATR is a fun airplane to fly, the flight controls are not assisted it feels like flying a dump truck. It's hot in the summer, and the packs vary per airplane. There is no APU and the aircraft are old. There is very little automation and even if the autopilot is on the aircraft requires pilot inputs for trim (roll and yaw) and it's radial tracking it's not the best. With that in mind the cockpit is larger than any RJ, so you have room. The systems are complex but you will gain an understanding of how things operate that will give you a great foundation for the rest of your career (low automation). You will rarely get above weather so you will get to learn allot about it, has a great radar, you will need it. The aircraft is not a performer, it's extremely fuel efficient and the wing is generates lots of lift. This is why the airplane can be a bear to land, have to be careful on the flare because it's easy to tail strike if the nose attitude approaches 8 degrees. The airplane loves to bounce and weather vane . With all this said. The CRJ is the best aircraft in the fleet, fast can carry lots of weight, newer and the legs are longer so you work of the clock less. The ERJ has the most flexibility we have 4 times as many ERJ as any other aircraft. Both jets pay the same for FO. The ATR is the most fun and challenging to fly and learn. Flying the ATR you will fly to more interesting places and get to do interesting approaches. THe pay first year is the same on all of AE aircraft and after the first year your seat lock will be completed. THe jet pays around 6,500 dollars more second year just in guaranteed pay.

Now you have to look at quality of life, you life in NY near JFK. There are over 7 flights a day departing JFK for SJU. JetBlue has grown in SJU and their biggest hub is JFK. If for some reason the aircraft you are flying leaves your base you will be displaced into whatever equipment and base you could hold. The guys in the CRJ in LGA are junior to you (barely) so you will be stuck at the button for a long period of time. The ERJ is more senior and thus you will see an improvement in QOL over time. The ATR is very junior in SJU and you could hold a line very fast down there with a commute that is better than most, then after your year is up you can transfer to whatever equipment you can hold. If I was in your shoes and when my number was called the board still had ERJ I would pick this because you can always transfer to NY. The CRJ will be limited and with little movement. If the ATR is what is left, it's not a bad gig to do for a while in your situation (living in NY). Instead on focusing on this, spend time with your family and friends, study and make sure you have a full understanding of instruments. Have a good knowledge on Jepps because no one will teach you this, you will have to do ILS to mins on an aircraft that you have never flown before with call outs that you have studied but never practice in an aircraft before. All this will happen in your first hr in the SIM. Good luck, and the ATR could be the best outcome for you on the first year, look at the big picture and please don't ruin your QOL for a specific aircraft. They all sip jet fuel in a 121 environment and the hours go in the logbook the same way.

 

What has a great post . Very informative !Great to see a lucid accurate post that will be beneficial to folks coming to AE . I just want to add that younger guys and girls may get the ATR as happened in the most recent class (5 in total). The ATR folks actual fly under the "executive airlines " name .

 

Well...wow folks...thanks for tearing me apart straight off the bat...

I live IN NEW YORK!!! Therefore, I have zero desire to spend any time based SJU. I hope that explains the "obviously want to avoid the ATR comment". I never said there was anything wrong with the plane, it's just not for me...sorry to those that seem to have a thing for it.

Thanks to those that added constructive comments, I am probably going to try for the ERJ out of LGA for the best chance at being home often enough to make myself and my wife happy. I am 28 so I am assuming there will be a good shot for me to get my choice of base/equipment.

 

Heard from recruiting that Mondays class will be all ATR's with SJU having almost all the slots.

BTW You are not an AE FO yet. Not till you Finish IOE.

 

lots of guys got NY who want Mia ..at 28i think youre in good shape to get NY I heard that guys are getting TDY to NY .

 

Oh...and by the way...welcome to APC. You'll get your fair share of beatings on here. But were all friends.

 

Hey, I don't hold grudges...

 

Not to instigate or anything, but what if the class was to have limited amount of Jets and be mainly ATRs, what would you choose, the ATR or no Job?

 

ATR is a big sexy beast, that requires a real man on the yoke. Don't hate, haters.

 

Then I guess I am packing my shorts and heading down south...I'm not a fool. I've considered that possibility and if I wasn't going to accept it I would have never applied to Eagle in the first place. I'd just keep instructing...

...whatever it takes.