Which is best?
05-02-2012 | 09:54 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Left or Right, Whatev'
Doing a stint in the regionals is not always necessary. There are other ways to make it to a major/national airline as an old college friend just proved as he finishes IOE at Alaska.
Look at Ameriflight, work your way to the BE99 or the Metro, spend a year or two on that so you have the turbine PIC. Then get on with a corporate outfit and log the glass-jet time. If you end up going to a regional later, and you have 1000+ TPIC in the log book, now you can throw gear, grin and watch your resume get more competitive with each our of glass-jet, making the assumption you’re on an RJ, and wait for the windows of opportunity to open. 2 years at Ameriflight, a year on an RJ or a corporate jet and you are in position to competitively apply to some real airlines.
Two years on a BE99 at Ameriflight could prevent the seven year regional story. There are too many talented FO’s in the right seat that missed the waves of opportunity to upgrade and are stuck for years because they don’t have that PIC time. Hopefully the job market will take care of that. And the waiting continues.
Just another idea, I'll let the others bicker about who's the best one. Might as well find an olive for your martini in a jar of turds.
Good luck
Look at Ameriflight, work your way to the BE99 or the Metro, spend a year or two on that so you have the turbine PIC. Then get on with a corporate outfit and log the glass-jet time. If you end up going to a regional later, and you have 1000+ TPIC in the log book, now you can throw gear, grin and watch your resume get more competitive with each our of glass-jet, making the assumption you’re on an RJ, and wait for the windows of opportunity to open. 2 years at Ameriflight, a year on an RJ or a corporate jet and you are in position to competitively apply to some real airlines.
Two years on a BE99 at Ameriflight could prevent the seven year regional story. There are too many talented FO’s in the right seat that missed the waves of opportunity to upgrade and are stuck for years because they don’t have that PIC time. Hopefully the job market will take care of that. And the waiting continues.
Just another idea, I'll let the others bicker about who's the best one. Might as well find an olive for your martini in a jar of turds.
Good luck
05-02-2012 | 10:01 AM
#12
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
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Thanks for the info, plenty of good points to consider.
Snippercr, please read my question again. I want to hear individual opinions, what is your choice and why?
For the other members. We all know the regional airline system is less than ideal. That's not the subject of this thread.
Snippercr, please read my question again. I want to hear individual opinions, what is your choice and why?
For the other members. We all know the regional airline system is less than ideal. That's not the subject of this thread.
05-02-2012 | 10:42 AM
#13
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From: Pilot
Have you met me? No you haven't. I don't like the regionals because I have flown there and didn't enjoy it. I also have many friends that are at the regionals. Maybe you should stick to talking about things that you actually have knowledge of.
05-02-2012 | 12:11 PM
#15
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05-02-2012 | 01:31 PM
#16
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Joined: Nov 2010
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To the OP, don't listen to some of these blow hards on here. They are unhappy and feel like they need to bring everyone else down with them. This job isn't what it used to be, and the bar does need to be raised for regional pilots. Life is not perfect and neither is this job. Do some research and find what airline best suits you. There is so much to take into consideration that "which is best?" really depends on no one but you. And when you do finally make your decision, don't let anyone give you crap for it. It's your life, your career and ultimately your decision. Good luck!
05-02-2012 | 01:34 PM
#17
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Joined: Oct 2010
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To be fair, it's such a vague and useless question the OP made in the first place. That's like saying "Which car is the best?" Well, best for what, exactly? It's all personal preference.
Some people just want pay. Therefore, "the best" would be the one with the highest hourly rate and best chance of flying your FAR max.
Some people want travel benefits. Therefore, "the best" would be the one where you get travel benefits with high priority on mainline carriers, ZED fares, and cheap/free non-rev.
Some people want to be home as often as they can. Therefore, "The best" would be one that has a junior base where they live OR they could relocate to one. They also would want a low chance of being displaced or the base closing.
Some people want quick upgrades. Therefore, "The best" would be one where the upgrade time is shortest, regardless of all other aspect.
Some people want to fly big airplanes. Therefore, "The best" would be one which has the largest airframes at a regional (E175s, CRJ 900s, etc).
Get the idea? Asking for "the best" is such a subjective question that is open to anyone's personal preference. For me, the best is one where I am home the most. I would sacrifice some pay or upgrade time for that.
And the people who want the fast upgrades, is it worth the risk to go to a less than reputable regional to get those 1000TPIC... but then not having anything to go to? You may be stuck there a lot longer than you thought and the abuse continues.
Not to abuse the OP any more, but seriously... "Which one is the best?"
Edit: Also, forgot to mention. What could be "the best" one day suddenly becomes the worst the next day. For a while, Comair was "the best." Look at it now. This summer, Eagle was "the best." Look at it now. Right now, some people say Skywest is "the best."
Some people just want pay. Therefore, "the best" would be the one with the highest hourly rate and best chance of flying your FAR max.
Some people want travel benefits. Therefore, "the best" would be the one where you get travel benefits with high priority on mainline carriers, ZED fares, and cheap/free non-rev.
Some people want to be home as often as they can. Therefore, "The best" would be one that has a junior base where they live OR they could relocate to one. They also would want a low chance of being displaced or the base closing.
Some people want quick upgrades. Therefore, "The best" would be one where the upgrade time is shortest, regardless of all other aspect.
Some people want to fly big airplanes. Therefore, "The best" would be one which has the largest airframes at a regional (E175s, CRJ 900s, etc).
Get the idea? Asking for "the best" is such a subjective question that is open to anyone's personal preference. For me, the best is one where I am home the most. I would sacrifice some pay or upgrade time for that.
And the people who want the fast upgrades, is it worth the risk to go to a less than reputable regional to get those 1000TPIC... but then not having anything to go to? You may be stuck there a lot longer than you thought and the abuse continues.
Not to abuse the OP any more, but seriously... "Which one is the best?"
Edit: Also, forgot to mention. What could be "the best" one day suddenly becomes the worst the next day. For a while, Comair was "the best." Look at it now. This summer, Eagle was "the best." Look at it now. Right now, some people say Skywest is "the best."
05-02-2012 | 02:15 PM
#19
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From: doggy style
05-02-2012 | 04:33 PM
#20
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Capt
Now back to the OP.. There are one or two strong, growing regionals. There pilots are happy, for the most part. I'd think long and hard about the others...
