2 years will give you some good experience in the 121 world. Experience life on reserve, holding a line (hopefully), commuting, etc.

 

Just don't pay it.

 

True, it won't be as easy as Pinnacle/Mesaba/Colgan's.

Interview with both, and see who hires you. If you get offers from both, you're probably beter off at Republic. Our CEO has already made it clear Colgan isn't making any money, and if we can't get relief rom United, our Colgan flying is done for.

 

While Shy brings up the dreaded and absolute worst case scenario; he's not wrong.

But United has made it clear they want the Qs. I would put money on it that they're not going anywhere. And I'd say with confidence that we'll get more when we start parking the super-slaabs ... Whenever that may be.

Interview with both and go from there. I'd probably go with Republic though if I were you given the circumstances

 

Oh Shy... Been to Toronto lately? take a trip over to bombardier, there you'll see 5 count them 5 new Q400s with United livery on them....

 

A long long time ago, I asked an economist friend of mine a similar question on which regional I should join. What he told me is so true and I wish I had taken his advice. He said go to the absolute worst and lowest paid place around. If you want to get in and get out, you must go to a place with a quick upgrade (huge pilot turnover) and a low operating cost. There's no use looking at a place with a great contract, as in this business, it too often means they have priced themselves out of being competitive -think Atlantic Coast Airlines or Comair.

 

So Great Lakes it is......

 

I am not sure how we can pontificate about "taking it back" to the mainline, and "have some self respect" yet still advocate for the race the to the bottom. Don't people go to horrible places to slingshot themselves ahead of other pilots who trying hold out for somewhat decent pay and QOL?

Edit..I should add, this is not meant to be inflammatory or sarcastic. I believe that in the past CANAM and certainly many others have stated their desires to shrink regional flying and expand mainline. With the past and present paradoxic mindset of the pilot group, I am not sure how we can say certain things that to me, are completely counter to each other. I don't expect small planes to pay wages of the heavy iron, but paying for a job or being paid literal starvation wage mindsets..... I just don't see providing a strong foundation to a unified pilot group. And shoot, if pax want airservice that is convenient to only a few in Podunk USA, maybe they ought to pay a couple percent more on a ticket, just like any other convenience costs a little extra.

 

I hate to say it , but this is why I went to pinnacle, I knew that people wanted to get out. Sure there are a percentages of lifers like any other regional, but people were angry to get out. I came in under the old contract with crappier rules. Hence
The reason you have so many 20 year guys at Comair , I wish the flying had never gone to them in the first
Place , or any of us for that matter.

But everyone had Their reasons.

Good luck

 

You know, I hadn't thought about the contract.

Well, I always say, if you sign it, be prepared to pay it. Having said that, I have seen guys leave before the two years without RAH coming after them. But they could change that stance and start enforcing them at any time.

Bottom line, you're probably going to put in a year anyway. At that point you'll have to decide if a job you're offered is worth the potential cash you might have to pay, should RAH enforce the contract.