Try starting out in an airplane.....what everyone here has been saying is it dosent matter what you fly.....just get on with someone...... Ask all your friends you have out there flying about there airline, just get on with someone. The last thing you need to worry about is:

A.) If you should fly a jet or not!
B.) If you should fly a jet or not!
And the most important thing to remember is:

A.) Stay away from Go Jets!
B.) Make sure your students don't kill you first in a C172!
C.) Apply everywhere, then worry about where your going to choose!

While it may be hard for many of us to comprehend, a CFI today probably DOES have choices in airline employers... :cool:

For the most part RickAir is correct. I have several friends at XJT and from what I hear they should be ranked up there with SKW.

As for AWAC, yes it's a good company with OK QOL, but if you're (RickAir) going to drop XJT out of the top list for losing 69 a/c then why is AWAC up there? They too are losing flying, Mgmnt seems to be clueless on how to compete and XJT Mgmnt is showing that they care about their labor groups. Read what Saab2000 has to say about AWAC.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/sh...?t=8198&page=2

Don’t get me wrong, AWAC is a good regional but I would put XJT above them.

DO NOT; DON’T EVER FLY FOR Mess-A (Mesa) & BlowJets (GoJet). EXPECILLY BlowJets. If you fly for BlowJets you WILL be viewed as a SCAB, even if you weren’t part of the original pilot group. Pilots will take it as though you don’t care about your brothers (TSA Pilots) and that you support BlowJets, NOT GOOD!!!!!!!!!! Mesa just sucks, search of threads on Mess-a and you will find out that they are bottom feeders with Sh*tty QOL, PAY Package and no real future.

Good luck and be very picky. The regionals are hurting for pilots, let this work in your favor.

I think you should put RickAir's rant as a sticky on the regional column, that way noone willl ever askk that again and theyll always get a solid answer

What flying are they losing? I know they just lost the bid for some new flying, and they lost the United flying and the 146s, but what flying are they losing now? I hadn't heard about anything else.

I would not have a problem recommending AWAC to a newhire. My biggest problem with it is the incredible amount of change we have had.

Also, contrary to popular belief, we are not losing flying. The shrinkage has all already taken place. The loss of the contracts to Skywest for Midwest and some other flying does not mean we shrink. It simply means we will not grow.

For a person who is happy on the East Coast, AWAC is not a bad place. We have what amounts to now an industry-leading contract (or at least equal to others), generally professional managers in the flight department and above all, we have what I would say is quite a good pilot group. We have lots of experienced pilots among our ranks.

The reason I ***** and moan about AWAC is because I did not sign up for what it became shortly after I got here. But all in all, it could also be a lot worse.

I will reiterate what the others say. Don't work for GoJet. It is a scab company which undercuts their supposed brethren at Trans States Airlines. Don't work for Mesa. They have attrocious work rules and a tyrannical owner who puts low costs above all else, including your QOL.

Mesa and Go Jet are the ones to avoid.

Air Wisconsin and Skywest are solid companies and I have no hesitation recommending them.

I can't speak about the others, but I think they are OK. I just talked to a Chautauqua dude recently who will be upgrading around 24 months (probably a slight exageration on his part) and he seemed reasonably happy.

Just don't go to Mesa or Go Jet because you surely don't need to. There are plenty of jobs which will allow you to avoid those companies.

I agree and thank you for the clarification on the flying. Best of luck to all pilots in 07.

Correct, my mistake.

My choices of regionals to work for.

1. Horizon - Best Pay, QOL, Contract, good relationship with pilots and mangement
2. Skywest - Ugrade time and Equipment (They are everywhere)
3. Express - Good Pay, good contract, equipmnet
4. Chautauqua - Ok contract
5. AWAC -
5. ASA - Your location
6. Piedmont - Good pay, you get on the line quick

Say away from
1. Mesa - You sleep on the plane and get paid sh!t.
2. Go Jets - Everyone will hate you.. Everyone
3. TransState - Pay sucks and mangement sucks
4. Pinnacle - You can get paid more to fly a twin otter
5. Messaba - NWA B!tch right now
6. American Eagle - Unless you are single and dont mind going to PR in the ATR (could be a plus if you are into latin women)
7. Gulfstream - you pay to go to work..

Nickair777 is wrong about major hiring. There may actually be a shortage by 2011. So don't worry and get in as soon as you can. Good Luck!