If you want to play it safe go to Skywest. Otherwise just draw straws. Also work on getting a second career/job to keep your finances stable, if you have a non-aviation job right now don't burn your bridges.

 

So there may be furloughs among the regionals in the near future?

 

That's a funny question. Where have you been living? There are three things I'm sure of in the world. Death, taxes, and furloughs at the airlines at some point in the future.

 

Regional pilots are starting to stand up in unity against their low wages and pay, but there are already regional airlines that have packed up and scaled down considerably. The regional pilots want mainline to pick up more of the flying, instead of contracting it out to regional airlines. This means smaller/less regionals. The other aspect to think about is that a certain amount of people will buy airline tickets at a certain price, if they can no longer support that price (it goes up), less people can buy tickets, that might mean smaller airlines as well. Eventually many of the redundant and ridiculous Essential Air Service contracts may go away as well.

Are all of these things going to happen? Maybe not. Are they possible? Sure. Have we seen movement in this direction recently? Yes.

 

Thanks for the info JNB. As I stated earlier, I'm not too informed re: the regional industry as I am a CFI who just hit ATP mins. I appreciate the breakdown for me. Much appreciated.

 

Where do you want to be based?

 

To actually answer your question that you initially asked. Skywest has the best quality of life and schedules. Non bias answer.

 

Really? There are plenty of other places with great QOL and schedules. Skywest isn't that great people, they are good no doubt but everyone thinks they can do no wrong and are better than everyone else in EVERY department. Plenty of other places that are good.

 

The regional with good qol today may be garbage 5 years from now. Pick a place close to your home if you're absolutely dead set on this awful career and settle in. Even then that base may close (Eagle has closed both San Juan and LAX since I've been here) so be prepared to commute eventually. You're going to spend an extended period of your life at the place you choose so be sure you can handle it. A legacy or major job is not "just around the corner" unless you did an internship or happen to be some sort of minority.

In closing also be prepared for a multitude of scare tactics and uncertainty. It's been said in this thread already but it looks like we're starting a period of upheaval in terms of pilots rejecting concessionary contracts. Management teams are going to do everything they can to reverse this trend, be prepared for pain and don't give in, we can win this eventually. Also, please don't go to PSA.

 

He didn't ask about the people. I don't work there but I have friends that do. They have good schedules and pay. I know they produce the Embry-Riddle Gattacka test tube type of people but as far as schedules and overall happiness, Skywest right now seems decent for a regional.