Well, not quite priceless, but....

Crash pad or a couple hotels per month: $1800-4800/year
Losing about 2-4 days off each month: ohhh, okay. You're right: PRICELESS!

Some things to possibly consider.

1.) Where will you be based at Silver? Silver appears to be in major transition with their bases. Some of the Florida bases appear to be closing as well which I'm sure is a major upset at Silver for the pilots that have been there a long time.

2.) How long to upgrade at Mesa?

3.) What will year 2 pay be at either airline?

1: I will be base in FLL and I am number 16 for FOs.
2: Upgrade I am told will be 16-24 months
3: Mesa is 29/hr Silver is 28.43/hr plus 6000$ bonus.

Here are some things to add to the list of pros and cons:

Flying turbo jet aircraft means you will be operating at higher altitudes, for longer distances and thus will gain experience in that environment.

You will experience swept wing aerodynamics, that you get with a straight wing turbo prop. For example, swept wing aircraft have a tendency to get squirrely when slow or hit with a crosswind.

The type of flying you will be doing is the same as at a major airline, just shorter legs.

In a turboprop you will be flying more shorter legs down in the weather, so you will get good experience, but you will definitely earn your $1.98/hr.

Overall TP flying is more exhausting, sweatier, louder, and generally less comfortable, but can also be a lot more fun for a while.

Not squirrelly in the least! They behave exactly the Germans predicted 60+ years ago. If you think it's squirrelly, talk to your training dept.

GF

have you started or completed ground ? if you have then stay there, if you haven't started ground or at least made it to the sim, then you owe them nothing, id say that if i was part of the recruiting team of a major and im looking at an applicant that left for greener pastures after only being on the job for a month, id have a bunch of fun questions in that interview, so you better have a good reason, and i don't know if the ones you have listed would cut it with me, remember your judged by all your decision even five years down the road

You heard wrong or you're making crap up. I think it is more so the latter.

There are 6 airplanes in service, plenty of staffing and there have been MINOR mechanical issues that are normal with new airplanes.

The UA CRJ operation has seen a remarkable uptick in performance since the entire operation was moved to IAD. We are talking 7 MX cxls in the last week, 4 of which were caused by ramp damage taking the aircraft out of service for the day and 1 other was a bird strike.

Thank you for the pros and cons.


I have 2000 hours in a tprop(C208)
I have 1400 hours Jet with 964 PIC.
5600 TT

and to Aksleddriver

I have been here at silver now for 7 months.


My question really is whats going to look better for a major?

Just like many other pilots your experience is in the realm of what is needed to be hired by a major, so I guess its just a waiting game before getting the call.

It's a tough decision- living in base vs. 121 jet time. I think either way you are going to get the call pretty soon from someone assuming your apps are out.

Do you have family? Would you be moving them now and again when the major calls? Would that be a factor or would you be trying to commute to FLL from Houston (or elsewhere)?

Did you get the big signing bonus from Silver? Any obligations there?

Sounds like you'll get a signing bonus from Mesa which would probably just cover moving expenses after taxes.

I'm like 51% stay at Silver to get some 121 PIC time sooner as I think that is lacking if I understand your posted hours correctly.

Where will you be least unhappy if, for example, ISIS gets going strong and takes over enough oil flields to destabilize fuel prices and all hiring comes to a halt?

Before anyone comments, it could be ISIS, or a hurricane in the Gulf, or speculators, or the great rerecession, or a couple planes hitting office buildings, or whatever.