Best Regional for commuting out of TPA?
 

Looking for some advice on what Regional would be best to fly for while commuting out of TPA. I am separating from the Air Force in January and my wife is going back to school in Tampa.

I was originally planning to fly for Silver, but it appears they are about to go under so I need to look at some other options. I logged plenty of Turbine PIC in the AF so I'm not worried about upgrade times and I'm not too worried about pay either.

My wife and I have a 2 year old son and I just want to be home as much as possible to help her out while she is school. I understand there will be a period of reserve status that we will have to deal with, but after that I'd like to make the commute as easy as possible. Thankfully she is using my GI Bill to go back to school so we will be receiving about $1500 in BAH per month while she is in school so that should help supplement my regional pay.

Thanks for the help!

I would do PSA out of CLT if I were you.

PSA, shortest reserve, most income during training, and ability to drop down to 65 hours per month to be home more while your not making much on 1st year pay anyway.

Wow you PSA kids..

I have no clue about US airways flight loads, but look into reserve rules, extensions, and contract with PSA. Why I say this is because as PSA will struggle to get people in the door soon. All the captains in the future have already been hired. When there are no quick upgrades at a low QoL carrier, people do not come. Don't agree? Ask GoJet what is going on there. That is when junior man, extensions, etc... happen. That will kill your QoL and drive your wife farther away from you.

I am XJT and honestly would NOT recommend us because TPA-ATL commute is terrible.

CommutAir might be an option for you, while not the greatest pay (apart form the highest first year pay) they historically have a short upgrade time.
Out of TPA you'd have 3 United flights/day to IAD,
or you could take one of the 9 flights to DCA (JetBlue, Southwest, US Airways), and then take the Metro to IAD.

They also have a commuter clause that's unheard of in the regional industry.

Why are you looking at a regional with all that time and mil background? I'd be looking at an airline with Florida bases if being home is so important. Regional contracts, even holding a line are horrible compared to mainline contracts when it comes to commuting and being home.

I'd seriously re think going to a regional if you can get to a major or an LCC.

Go to Allegiant. Pay is a little better and you can do day trips out of PIE. The work rules suck but better money than a regional FO salary

How much total time do you have? Why not just apply at the majors

I'm sitting at about 2000 Total Time and 1500 Turbine PIC. I feel as though my total time is still low for the Majors and just want to get my foot in the 121 door and pay the bills until someone calls.

Have you looked into Allegiant? If I'm not mistaken they have a base in St Pete, and they fly almost all day trips (no overnights). I hear they are hemorrhaging pilots right now and with your background you might be able to skip the regionals altogether.

It's worth a shot.

Really? Delta is my number one choice right now and figured a TPA-ATL commute would be super easy...

Florida commutes are tough, but as a Delta pilot you would travel at a higher priority than us at xjt because nearly all the flights are mainline. But there are a lot of Delta pilots and FAs living in Florida to compete with. Some actually choose to commute to DTW over ATL.

I can attest to this. I live in FLL and have commuted for almost 3 years and the commute can be a bear if you're not savvy on all the tricks and tips of the trade. I once heard a guesstimate that it seems like 1 in 5 airline crew live in FL and I often think that's probably not to far from the truth.

-2263

Florida commuting in general is tough, and TPA is one of the hardest cities in the state, and TPA-ATL is brutal, and all of these cities are only magnitudes of order worse as a regional pilot (lower boarding priority).

I agree: try Allegiant first, and with your time, try Southwest.

Envoy is pulling out of Miami but Republic is moving into Miami. About a 4-5 hour drive from TPA.

Home a lot and regional flying can not be used together harmoniously. If you go to a regional, you will be gone a lot, and if you maintain your homestead location, you will be gone even more. I do not recommend flying for a regional at this point in time. Please reconsider, there are better things you could be doing with your time and experience. The Majors will be looking to you soon enough if you allow your patience to prevail.

Yes, if you are DL then it is MUCH better. The FA jumpseat becomes available and you are above retirees. Plus, you are on equal ground by DOH with the family vacation, flight attendants, and their brothers/sisters/kids. But until then, STAY AWAY from that commute on Delta.

US airways goes by check in time I believe??

eff the regionals. Do guard/reserve, commute to the unit; make more money and be home more. do life smart, not hard. Good luck.

I was also going to mention Republic. Except I was going to say to shoot for SDF (still junior enough as a new-hire the last time I checked) as a base. Drive to MCO and jumpseat on UPS.....very easy with no headaches and no pax terminal BS.

TPA to ATL is regularly oversold. Not generally a good option for a junior regional pilot. It's possible, but very difficult.