This question goes out to anyone who is applying, interviewing, or hired by Chautauqua Airlines (Republic Airways).
After applying to Chautauqua, how long did it take for you to get a phone call? Interview date? Training date?

 

I was just over the posted minimums but had six months 121 experience. The pool was pretty well drained at the time (spring), so things have lengthened based on my friends' experience recently but:

Sent resume Friday morning, was called Monday afternoon.
Returned call Tuesday, interviewed following Wednesday.
I was offered a class before I left the building, 16 days from the interview. I took it.

Good luck.

 

Thanks rytheflyguy. Do you enjoy flying for Chautauqua? Where could one most likely be based? How much do you fly?

 

I do like that it is a good company. Candidly handflying a turboprop is lots more fun, but I have a much better quality of life here. More time off, longer rest periods, no commute! I'm not sure where you'd get based on the 145. The 170 could be IND, CMH, PIT...I think ORD is the only really tough base to get but I'm fairly out of touch with that because I wanted to be based in my hometown, which is an easy base to get.

I fly about half the month. This month I have three four days and one three day trip. Last month I flew four four days, and that was like 93 hours, which was the highest I have had.

FYI, the gouge on aviation interviews was spot on - I didn't have one surprise.

 

Did you work at Colgan before?

 

Sent in resume, got call a week later. Went to interview and then waited three months for a class date. I've been having a pretty decent time since I got here and I commute. Today is actually the first time I've had to work and haven't been able to make it home the same day...so more often than not the commute works out well. The most likely places you would get based initially are CMH, CVG, or SDF. If you're on the CRJ200 it's IAH or SDF. The other 145 bases are IND, GSO, BUF, RIC, MCO (which doesn't really count anymore), LGA, and STL. You can pretty much get into any base you want either right outta training or within 1-2 months (the exception being LGA or MCO). As far as QOL is concerned, it's pretty run of the mill as far as I'm concerned. The overnights aren't bad, 1st year pay is decent for a regional, crew sked has helped me out several times, and they can't touch me on my day off. I think I would enjoy it a lot more if I didn't commute, but I like where I live too much to leave. If you PM me, I can answer any other questions in more detail.

 

It sounds like LGA is a senior base. About how long should one expect to wait in order to hold a line there?

Thanks

 

The most junior line holding FO at LGA has about 2 yrs. Maybe a bit less.

 

ouch. any idea on ballpark upgrade times?

 

The most junior CA in LGA has been with the company about 2.5 years. That's pretty much in line with the current upgrade time. Usually an upgrade also means a base change, so you have a lot of FO's that won't upgrade until they can hold a line in the base they're currently at. Right now we're in the middle of a huge hiring trend...I wouldn't be surprised if we hit 2,000 pilots next year and that's probably going to decrease the upgrade time a little bit. Of course, it's anyones guess what'll happen next month...