Which is best?
 

If you could choose to work at any regional airline, which would it be and why?

Gojet of course!

with THAT response, this may be the fastest thread lock in history! hahaha

1. The one that offers no commute or the best commute
2. One you don't mind being stuck at for 7 years

Ya, I would just choose the one that has a jr base in/near where you want to live.

None of them, they all suck.

Whatever one has a base where you live. But I think where I am at; Air Wisconsin is a great place to be. Best pay for regional pilots and a great contract especially for commuters due to the commuter clause in our contract. Also there is a pretty good amount amount of movement going on, people who take the most junior base (ORF) are holding lines as soon as they are getting done IOE or a month after. Neither of the 4 bases we have are to senior to get with less than 6 months seniority. The planes are also maintained very well and more often than not don't have any MELs.

Very informative post for the OP. im sure he appreciates it.

Ya...have you met red? He has an odd deep seated hatred of regional airlines and regional airline pilots.

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."

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

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.

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.

I never thought I'd see the day, when someone is using a web forum to figure out where they want to work.

Yet here you are, trolling through the REGIONAL board on APC. Wow, what a life you must lead!!! Got anything planned tonight?! Maybe a six-pack of High Life some left handed typing while trolling through APC. Have fun!:D

Sounds like a personal problem. Just because you had a bad experience doesn't mean you have to pi$$ on someone else's corn flakes. I've been at my regional for almost 7 years now. It took 6 to upgrade! Has the experience been ideal? Not exactly. But what I can say, is that I enjoy my job every day and look forward to where my career is taking me next.

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!

. Wrong highest pay rate does not equal biggest paycheck.... I have also yet here someone say Skywest is the best place to be right now :p

The one that gives you the most time at home. Forget about the money you can't replace time with money no matter how good it is.

Your question made me think of this:

What kind of bear is best?

Yeah..when I flew a 601 in Cali I would run into many corp guys who just hated airline guys. I could never figure out if they were like the stereotypical FAA guy who just couldn't hack a 121 gig or if they were just ignorant.

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...

Watching you on TV was a lot funnier...:cool:

I've worked for two regionals. I'd like to think I have a working knowledge of the regional airline world. I also have many friends that are at regionals. I know lots of people who enjoy their job. Me included. We show up. Do our job according to the SOP, FOM, and FAR/AIM and go home. Sorry were not all as gifted and talented as you flying around your sweet Citation. But d*mn dude, give it a rest. Get off your ivory tower, And to be honest...literally NO ONE on here cares that you didn't like flying for a regional. Now...be a big boy, free yourself from the bitterness and hatred you have for regionals/regional pilots and move on with your live. Youll be alot happier.

http://www.attractionmarketinginside.../11/Whiner.jpg

if you can live in base, that has a huge cost value as well as QOL. I would avoid Silver/Lakes even if in base since the pay and work rules blow, same with Commutair. If you can work for Skywest/Expressjet/ASA and live in base thats my advice. Airwilly is ok, but keep in mind they only have 50 seat jets, and the contract ends in 2015. They also have an insanely high cost structure, which the industry has shown is not a good thing for an RJ airline. Great pay, Great Workrules, Great airplanes, Great MX.....that means your ripe pickin for a place with low pay, crud work rules, old planes, and shady MX! Honestly I am surprised TSA shrunk!

You didn't SERIOUSLY just give this advice on the REGIONAL forum did you! :D
That would be the death of this forum and APC in general!

USMCFLYR

I can hear accounts closing as we speak....

I would avoid any airline that wingtips is at..

I would say the same about this poster, since they work at a place started by an Eastern Scab known for pay for training. Unless you want to fly 1900s for $19/hr, in east bumble....

DMB,

I never questioned you not knowing what it is like to fly for a regional. I was referring to the point that you seem to know me and to have met me, which you have not and therefore have no knowledge of. It's funny how regional pilots can ***** and moan all day long about their jobs and that's ok, but if I say something negative because of first hand experience it is suddenly whining and trolling. I guess you have only ever posted in the regional forums since you seem to infer that because I no longer work at a regional, I am no longer allowed to post an opinion here. Finally, for the SECOND time, I have no hatred towards regional pilots because many friends of mine fly for several. Now be a big boy and work on your reading comprehension.