Which job offer do I take XJT or RAH?
 

Hello All,

Looking for a little help throwing out pros and cons. I have been offered a job at RAH to begin training in a few weeks. I have also been placed in to the pilot pool at XJT, training dates TBA. Here are a few of the bullet points I see: RAH is having labor issues, if they strike, I am now in a pickle being on probationary period for a year. They also have a 2yr training contract. On the plus side I can get to work sooner rather than later, they have larger planes with more on the way, and new flying coming in. 50 seat flying seems to be getting less popular and I expect will shrink and XJT has alot of them. Some of this may be absorbed by attrition but who knows?
XJT has less labor issues, and I think would be a better overall workplace, but NO classes scheduled. I am told to keep updating my times on airlineapps by the recruiter and hopefully I will get a class before 6 months has elapsed (or I will have to reapply!). There is also the chance I can be based where I live, not initially but in a couple years. I believe the payscale and QOL are also better here. Still the old adage " A bird in the hand versus two in the bush comes to mind". Any other considerations that can be brought to light, that I am not thinking of, would be much appreciated.

You dont have a training date at XJT. People have waited in pilot pools for years.

X

You could expect to see a class date at XJT in the Fall so you would come online in the W
inter.

Anyone care to speculate (or give insider knowledge) on the likelihood that RAH will strike?

Do you know how hard it is to get released to strike? I don't work at RAH but I work for a regional that voted to go on strike and waited 3 years to get released by the NMB. We got a new contract 3 years after we voted and were never released to strike. My opinion is to goto RAH. You have the class date and they are getting Q400's from Colgan. Always pick the airline that is expanding. Faster movement and upgrade.

RAH IS NOT GOING TO STRIKE. People get worried over nothing here. We'll get a contract before that happens.

Take the $5000 which should help you out on first year pay.

I don't mind working here unlike everyone else who is as bitter as they come. Most guys on the line are cool though. You've got your usual forum nazis who make the rest of the pilot group look bad.

Think about it like this:

It will be very hard for RAH to be released for a strike
RAH management could just hide under CH11 (they have mentioned they need to readjust cost by 60 million just on the ****ty-taco certificate!
RAH feeds American, US Airways, Alaska, United and Delta so it's fairly safe to say management will have a lot of people breathing down their neck if it looks like a strike is imminent and again there is always the CH11 trump card.
I think it will be nearly impossible for a strike to happen :(

If you decide to wait for XJT, what will you do for work in the meantime? Are you actively flying? Does that job pay the bills or just barely make ends meet?

Good to know the pulse of the group, thanks. The recruiters seemed great, just having trouble figuring which snapshot is accurate.

I have a great salaried part 91 job flying a piston twin, I contract right seat in a King Air, and I teach. I stay as busy as I want to be, and QOL is good. Money is not an issue, I married a smartypants. Been waiting a few years, so a few months isn't going to kill me for the right choice, but even though I'm in the pool, it hardly seems like a guarantee given the expiration date.