What Regional lets your work the least?
 

Hello-

I have always wanted to fly and do something with business at the same time. I have had an offer from a business that would let me do this. However, my question is what regional will let you fly the least and still remain employed? Also, how much do they require you to fly? My theory is work in business (and bring home enough money to actually support myself) until I get upgraded to captain. Then I figure I will start flying more.

Thanks!

I think they'll all let you fly the least and remain unemployed. :D

Do you want to go airlines? If not, why not look at some cargo gigs? Flying a Caravan/Navajo nightly, while working your day job during the day, might be the easiest way to make that schedule work.

If you want to go airlines, you'll need one with very aggressive trip trading/dropping available, but that's going to be very hard to do until you're senior enough to be off reserve. On reserve and working another job, even in base? Good luck.

I think you mean employed, not unemployed.

Yes, made the switch thanks.

Simple. The one where you gain seniority the quickest. And unless you have a cyrstal ball that predicts the future, its a crap shoot anywhere you go.

I didn't fly much on reserve when I was at Comair. Good luck getting on with them though.

The one that lets you live in base and has decent work rules - especially on reserve.

For instance, I work at Eagle, live in base and am on reserve. I am home MOST nights, fly as little as I can (often 30-40 hours/month), and try to always give away my overnights to commuters. The result? I too work a second job at home that is flexible enough that I can make it work with flying.

This sounds almost perfect. How senior are you on reserve? Is this something you could do as a new hire? Could it be done if you didn't live on base or would that be too hard? I don't need to be home every night. I could probably do a few three day trips a month.

SkyWest ASE. Block 22, credit 83 home every day. Bid hard lines. (obviously most crappy lines is 80 block for 83 credit with only 15 days off)

How low time are you, lowtimepilot?

Most regionals have minimum total times required for upgrade.

Like others have said, living in base is most important.

After that, try to find a regional that has reserve that uses a "call first/call last" list in Scheduling. Ask to be placed on the "call last" list, and some months you might hardly fly at all. You essentially become like a substitute teacher -- they only call you when they really really need you.

Even after you get enough seniority to bid a line, you can bid reserve. This way, you'll hopefully fly less than you would on some crappy junior line.

Finding a regional that meets all these criteria might be tough, but if you can find it, you'll be golden and have plenty of time for your business.

Comair.
........

Well played sir.

Kalitta charters

ACA.........

Golden West.........

NPA, dba United Express
fbh

UFS, dba United Express with some shhweeeeet turbo props.

Well if you plan on commuting to said job, good luck. You do realize that many people consider this, and it is, a full time job?

Colgan by far. Where else can you sit at home making RJ Captain wages while your turboprops are all sold off to another regional and your airline disappears, while you are on the 9E seniority list.

This isn't true. There isn't a single colgan guy on RJ Captain wages sitting at home and waitin on class. And 9E doesn't have a seniority list anymore they are part of the ISL.

Yes, I do realize this. I have 3 family members who are at Majors so I do understand what it takes. However, I know someone who started and built an extremely successful law firm while working at a regional and then a major. Therefor I know it is possible and I know that some companies are more flexible then others. I just didn't know which companies were better than others.

Put your time in, gain seniority, then have the time off.

Or have the drive to work during your overnights, on your days off, and sitting on reserve. Because until you have the seniority, it will be like working two jobs.

Do you want to be an airline or something else, lowtimepilot? If it's the former, being low time means the only thing on your schedule is flying or thinking about flying.

GF

lemme get this straight...you want to sit at home and not work, yet get paid?? Dudes, you guys need to come to work where I work....GREAT money and people dont do Sh!t.......

I would prefer an airline but am open to other options. I should be able to meet the ATP mins by December so I am exploring my options currently. Also, if I have another job that would protect me financially, encase I get furloughed, I don't mind building time slower than others. I know this is a different school of thought but for me it would work.

This is actually what I planned on doing. I was just looking for an airline that would be the most flexible on this. I enjoy flying and the business world so I thought I would try to do both.

I tend to be near the top of the reserve and our reserve rules are seniority based. Most months I am in the top 1/4 of the list, with only senior guys who also bid reserve being above me.

Commuting/not living in base? Expect to be home 8-10 days a month. I would NOT do this job if I had to commute, let alone a second job.

I just assumed you were trolling, but since you appear to be serious, why don't you just find a local 135 outfit and fly some charter in your "spare time'? Doesn't sound like an airline lifestyle is for you.

Weren't there those off the props (that were leaving) and waiting for a class date on the 9E side? With full pay protection?

None are on RJ pay. You don't get RJ pay until u are signed off from OE. They are all on bankruptcy SF3 or DH8 rates, not RJ rates.

And It's not all roses for those guys an gals that aren't current myself including. It doesn't help getting hired anywhere that's for sure......

Sometimes easier said than done. Especially if the only 135 jobs are those where you're on a phone leash 24/7, few if any "hard" days off per month, they keep you out for weeks at time, whatever.......

For some of us this is a job, not a hobby... Going into a job asking how I can work the least, come on.

Head to a Hulas sponsored university and wait for the inevitable furlough.

There's your time off.

What do I win?

Yeah this thread is dumb. "Yeah, I'd like to be your CEO make a ton of money... Oh and by the way, I don't want to work all that much"

Come on...

Oh ok, that makes sense. Good luck to all. It would be nice to get a couple months off, but I understand the currency issue for job applications.

It is a legitimate question for anyone that wants to stay out of debt. Most pilots need to supplement their income somehow, there is no way to make regional FO pay work for the first couple of years without another stream of income. That is what this job has become, pathetic, but it is what it is.

Agreed. Many wanted the vacation with pay and bid that way on purpose such as an SF3 pilot bidding the Q knowing they would never go to class, but many weren't eligible for the earlier classes (Q guys/gals). Being current in the 121 world is definitely worth something.

PenAir in Anchorage AK. Home every night. Some guys bid reserve lines and work in there garage on stuff during the day. If they call clean up and go to work. Always back by the next morning.

Thanks Fatsopilot, you nailed it. I am just trying to see if there is a way to stay off food stamps my first few years as a regional FO. Once I can make a living wage I plan on doing it full time.