New Hire's Perspective
 

I have been observing this site for a little over a year now and never had any intention on signing up until now.

All of this hate to PSA has made me want to share with you how is see things from being someone with low time ready to enter into the airline industry.

I have done a ton of research on every regional also so I am pretty familiar with contracts and what is going on everywhere. I have had multiple interview and have 6 offers in which I am very grateful to be able to choose where I'd like to go. The first was with Eagle. The interview was a blast, however everyone there and even now has said stay away and do not go there. The place is shrinking and upgrade is forever so why would I go there? Next was SkyWest, but I live on the east coast and would much like to stay here. Also as some of you know school and ratings were not easy, and with training pay and first year, I would be unable to afford my student loan payments. So not only is this not a wise choice, but it also is not a smart move for me if I wish to not miss a payment. Next was Republic. Every interview I had there were at least 2 Republic guys there tr ting to "get out." On top of everyone saying how bad it is to work there. Plus with no cancellation pay, I chose to not go there. Then we have Mesa. Quick phone call and I had the offer. But as stated before, I have student loans and I couldn't afford to go there and suffer for that first year or two. Quick upgrade sounds awesome, but it can't rely on that. I also intviewed with Express and the interview itself made up my mind. 8 hours there with only an hour actually doing something. The other 7 were sitting in the cafeteria, the two interviewers seemed like they hated life and didn't wanna be there, and every pilot walking by said do not come here. I got the offer but am in a hiring pool. Then I applied at PSA. Like most of you, I was completely against it given there rep on taking concessions. But they explained the contract and scheduling to me a bit more and I actually being to think this was it. A pay I could survive on, scheduling that I can make work for getting time off when I want. A decent upgrade, and a growing company. So I have a place where I don't have to commute, where upgrade is decent, and where I will personally have a pretty good QOL. I wanted to go to Eagle, but at this time PSA is the best place A new hire can go. I really do feel bade for Eagle/Envoy, and I understand why you would hate the PSA pilots who said yes. But PSA is growing so fast and some of our careers can't take us continuing to instruct in piston airplanes while everyone else "takes a stand." I need to start getting 121 and turbine time. So my question is how is it that every PSA pilot a scumbag? After all my research and waiting and everything, this is the best place to go right now. To take the vote of a few a while back out on all of these new hires go in got an airline that really is the best place as of now is just ridiculous. And to think that pilots will despise me because I chose a place where I could enjoy living in base and have a good QOL like THEY SUGGESTED is absurd. I just want y'all to take a second and see it from a new 121 pilots view, and quit this petty bickering. This is the best thing for me, why hate me for it?

Good for you. Welcome to the 121 world. Bickering is a daily event, you will be there very soon, sooner than you think.

And it doesn't stop, go sit on a mainline jumpseat some time. No matter where you go, there will be grumbles.

Go to the delta thread and see how a 51% increase in pay is what is desired for next years contract.

There you have it envoy guys and gals. FNG's going where 12/4 pay scales are.

The new breed of pilots dont give a turd.

Pay his bills and he may go wherever you want him.

until then, hush

Ha ha ha!!! Pay his bills? Even if he goes to PSA, he will still need someone to pay his bills for him.

Is that so?

Till he upgrades in 2yrs. Then he will make more than every sr. FO at envoy. He might buy you a cup of coffee thanking you for drawing the line.

Seriously how many more psa threads are we going to lock? Sick and tired of these psa people who come out of the woods and try and stir the hornet nest.

He will only upgrade if people follow him over there. There aren't too many new people like him entering this industry. As long as people don't jump ship, and I think they won't, hell be an FO for a while.

Please, don't fall into that lie. Alpo said the same thing to envoy pilots.
"no one can't staff the flying". etc.

For the love of bandwidth can we please make tl;dr a thing around these parts?

I have been told they are already placing people for mid oct.

The only why that can't staff the flying is envoy.

I have a buddy at Envoy. He doesn't agree with what PSA did, and he thinks they are all jerks. But he and most of the envoy people I know outside the forums keep it professional. Fwiw.

Go where you want to go and disregard the ignorance of the very few so called "Airline Moral Police" on here. PSA is the new target now. Before it was PFTers, Mesa, GoJets, Gulfstream, etc. I know pilots from all of those "career ending blacklisted" airlines that are now flying for either a legacy or a major. So regardless of what you read on this site, make your own decision based on what's convenient for you. Get the fastest upgrade and move on. Because this industry is the most arse backwards, petty, unloyal, backstabbing industry. Unity doesn't exist in this industry! Unfortunately It's all about me, me and me. Nobody is going to pay your bills, I know Alpa won't. When I was furloughed I had to send Alpa several letters because they still wanted their dues...

What AAG is doing with Envoy is very sad but its the nature of this pos industry. People need to understand that this is AAGs call, they own the airplanes and they place them as they see fit, regardless. I really hope Envoy can negotiate something good for their pilots.

New Hire's Perspective
 

Just because they're filling classes today doesn't mean they will be able to continue to to where the can double in size...

Ugh.

You're welcome to future readers :)

Realpilotsdon'tevenusespaces.

I'm not defending going to PSA at all - but as a new guy did u know that much? I could maybe name 3 regionals when I got hired at Cjc. I was told by pilots from majors to go there for the upgrade. I didn't research any regionals. So I don't fault people for not knowing.

To the OP,

I feel your hesitation to go to PSA, but you need to do what is best for you. I also have this dilemma because the only airline that fits my profile is PSA. I have decided to live in base to avoid communing and spend more time with my wife and daughters. Also, I need to consider my wife's job have bases in Dayton and Charlotte, PSA seem to be the one. I live in phx and there is no way I am getting base here, and communing seem to be a hassle.

Yeah agreed. Not every pilot goes on APC to see the gossip and B/S about each airline.

Good for you on your choice. You are still not welcome on my jumpseat..

To the original poster: Do what is best for you, I read that post and aside from a few rambling sentences and some misspelled words, it did make sense coming from the perspective of a new guy who isn't that familiar with what is going on.

I will tell you this though: EVERY regional will go through it's "ups and downs"...5 years ago Pinnacle was growing with -900's and they were quite proud of themselves...now they can't attract anyone, 5 years ago Republic was once "Regional Airline of the Year"...RAH is a train wreck now. In 2011, GoJet was awarded growth CRJ-700s that they underbid from SKYW and ASA and now they're stagnant and those pilots are realizing that perhaps the "quick upgrade" and selling out to "advance their career" might not have been so smart after all. When I was hired at ASA in 2010 it looked like a bad move as the ERJ side of ExpressJet was hiring in DROVES and upgrading in DROVES between 2011-13, while we on the CRJ side went into complete stagnation mode...the fate of XJT as a whole is still undecided...

Point is, EVERY Regional IS and WILL continue to get very hot and very cold, PSA will do the same, it all depends on the timing. They are undoubtedly the best place to go right now due to growth, but as hot as they are now will be as cold as they are in a few years, it is simply the cycle. Just know that there is a chance you get stuck in the right seat, and don't for one second think that just because you've upgraded and are a PIC does that mean that a major will be knocking down your door.

Choosing a regional is like betting at the roulette table, pick a number, place your bet and let the croupier spin the wheel...some win big, some lose big, some win a little, some lose a little and some break even.

Best of luck with your career, be a professional, be considerate of others, do your job with pride and regardless of where you work you'll do just fine.

Very professional and sound advice. +1

-2263

Simple, because some people didn't get what they want. And these people, when they don't get what they want, act like 2 year olds.

Go with the job at PSA! I turned it down, personally, but there are many pluses to going there. Ignore the idiots on here.

+1

Solid advice

With that writing style you shouldn't have too much in the way of college loans to pay back.

I have been in the exact same position... had my eyes on Eagle for while and really wanted to work there but it just can't be a good idea to go to a downsizing company who is losing work.

People like him is what gives this business a bad rap.
You don't own a jumpseat to start with..I would never purposely hinder a man from getting to home or work based on childish animosity towards a specific company. That's just inmature and unprofessional to me.Youre a real class act.Just remember what goes around comes around.

Instead of the 1500 hour rule there should be an "act like a grown up" rule.

To add...rreeeealrjjjpilottsdoontuussespacces

Well the ATP does require one to be of "good moral character"...

A whole lot of "I" and "What's best for me." Hopefully, at some point in your career, you'll think in terms of "WE."

Good luck to all of us.

Not sure I understand how you can't afford Mesa, but can afford PSA. Aren't they pretty much the same pay? If anything, isn't medical insurance at PSA more?

But yeah, not commuting is definitely a good call.

75 hours min guarantee plus perdiem paid during training. As well as single occupancy hotel room. That's better deal than even L-Xjt. They also have a pretty good commuter clause at PSA.