Where else but RAH
 

Hi Folks,

Unfortunately I did not heed the warning many have given on this site regarding working for RAH/S5. I have been flying for Shuttle for the better part of a year now and I am looking to bail soon. I still haven't been placed in the base I was awarded through the last 2 bid awards, due to low or zero reserve levels. The contract we were all but promised to be voting on by end of first quarter 2015 seems to be coming to a screeching halt from the last few union email updates. There are so few pilots, I cant drop trips or trade for different trips in open time. I truly understand the meaning of not having cancellation pay after these last few months of winter. I really blame no body but my self. I initially focused my search on a regional airline that has a NYC/PHL base however, with Shuttle I've been having to commute anyway. So I am going to ask the million dollar question that 100 other people asked on this site. I know all regionals are basically the same. I've played in this game and the part 135 charter game for a while, however is there a regional that's looking like its going to be the place to be in the next few months, upgrades, good pay, flow, etc? Or should I go back to flying corporate charter? Again, this was a mistake I made and I am not looking to flounder here for years. Thanks

And you are going to get the same responses as many other similar threads:
The undercover PSA recruiters will come in here and dazzle you with why PSA is soooo awesome.
The newly minted CQFOs at TSA, after having spent 5-7 years at Envoy and Xjet, are now so desperate for an upgrade that they would sell their mothers to slavery if it got you under them so they could move up.
People like me(Envoy guy) would say to find something with a good contract and an easy commute.
Where do you live?

If you want NYC I would take a serious look now at endeavor. With upgrades finally on the horizon as delta takes captains via the SSP(and people leaving for other airlines), and the highest pay for FO's in the industry for at least the next 4 years, the best delta connection travel priority, fairly good health and 401k benefits, etc. As a new hire you can almost guarantee yourself to be based at either JFK/LGA. Good luck.

The union is in bed with the company. I think the NC is legit, but they're in over their heads. No cba in sight....Ever. okay maybe when bb leaves in fifteen years.

Hey air Wisconsin is a good gig I know there are a lot of people that will say we don't have a future but I am believes things will be alright upgrades are down to 4 years and decreasing and they have bases in phl and LGA. We are also paid pretty good with a good contract compared to others. Good luck on your future.

Should we tell you how to cut your meat, too? No? Fine. Here is some info

PSA: 7 month upgrade with 1000 prior Part 121
Endeavor: Best overall take-home pay with 2 NYC domiciles.
Envoy: Downward spiral (staffing-wise for a while. Airline NOT going away)
TSA: I have no idea
Whisky: Good pay and contract. Good airline
SkyWest: 7-year upgrade, excellent flying, good company
Mesa: East Coast domicile (i think), growing fleet, 5hi77y pay.

DISCLAIMER: I probably have some of this wrong.

I don't know how RAH is recruiting anyone. Everytime I talk to an RAH pilot I feel like crying. Is it that ATP flight school feeding them fresh chum, is that the deal?

XJT: Long upgrade but at least you'll get paid when your flight is cancelled!!! :p

Try Piedmont... If you get in now you'll be Gold. About to add 20 EMB 120's to a small pilot group with a true flow to American.

Upgrade is about to drop to 2 years and the contract, workrules, insurance and pay are good. I'll say the most negative is our schedules as they SUCK and the fact we have outbases which make commuting a nightmare. But if you want to live in base it pretty good stuff because all our bases have a low cost of living. Plus if you get in now you'll be ahead of the RJ arrivals and flow is picking up.
RJ's should be Hub based. Piedmont is a gamble but it could be a really good one. Much better then republic hands DOWN. We are all enjoying the movement of the flow each month as pilots are leaving and the rest are moving up the latter.
Nice to see guys upgrade and hold atleast a buildup line in few months.

I'm not a recruiter, I just know how to do math.

EMB 145s, right? ;)

Piedmont is the best choice for a regional right now hangs down. I went to PSA before the official AA/US merger and before planned growth was announced because I saw it all coming. I knew I was going to get ahead of everything. Pretty soon tons of guys will be jumping over to Piedmont similar to what's happening at PSA. Why not get ahead of everyone? Someone hired at Piedmont now will easily upgrade to the E145 in two years and flow to American in five.

But but but......

Another 9/11!! GAS PRICES!!! ISIS!! KIM FREAKIN' KARDASHIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

No one can predict the future.

Go somewhere that will give you the opportunity to leave in a few years. All the places offering "quick upgrade" or "flow" right now are decent places to work anyway. PDT, TSA, Compass, even :eek: .....PSA

Or....you could go to a "good" regional with a "great" contract(hint: the good ones aren't that much better than the bad ones) and get FO pay rates for 7 years. Hey, at least it's the "best" FO rate.

AWAC or 9E

That 5th year as an FO is going to be BRUTAL. That's if Delta decides to actually keep that BONUS and not get rid of it after figuring out it won't work. If you think you'll upgrade within 4 years at Endeavor you're crazy. After making 40K a year with the BONUS money the first 4 years then going back down to normal pay you after that you'll have to make some serious adjustments.
Some on here say upgrades are on the horizon. Until it happens I wouldn't bet on it.

Had a relatively new reserve FO the other day that went through ATP Flight School. I shuddered when I heard his accounting of the experience. Among other things, he said he was sent to RAH shortly after his Commercial license was finished. Literally they flew him up to Indy and brain washed him. He said he felt like he needed to take a shower afterwards.
He said in his time there, he was pushed into interviews at several airlines he had no interest in. He didn't even realize they were voluntary. People just called him and/or emailed him and said "your going here for an interview on this day". He said it often interrupted his training.

Just go anywhere besides Republic and I'm sure you will instantly feel like there's no better place to be (even though its not true) coming from Republic. If you have the 1000 SIC time then to to PSA or TSA for the quick upgrade.

Did you sign the training agreement? Not sure if they are pursuing people that leave early for it but it may be worth it regardless to pay the prorated part back and leave if you can go somewhere else and upgrade in a year...

Many airlines are now paying for CTP course.

Just finished the training, Piedmont is the way to go.

hahahah yes! Just can't shake Turboprops!:eek:

Yes, the RJ will go pretty Junior also. Many don't want the seat lock because of the Flow and many won't leave current bases to commute to fly the EMB's even with the payraise. Senior guys just won't bid it cause its not worth the QOL change of living in base.

Many of our current Junior FO's will most likely all be line holding Jet Captains before the middle of next summer if it all works out like it should.

A year ago I'd say stay the hell away from Piedmont. Today, I'd say roll the dice the reward might be worth it. Very much worth it.

Aren't most of the Dash 8's about to leave? As in the airframes are timed out?

I don't know the exact numbers but they are slated to leave. We lose one this year and I think 5 in 2017. The Dash 8 fleet will probably be parked by 2019. They are few that they aren't painting in the new American colors so they will be gone in 2016 or earlier if needed due to lack of crews.

That being said after the 20 EMB's I have no clue. Even without the jets it's nice to see upgrades dropping. Just flew with a FO that was a 7 year seniority and is upgrading. The next guy I flew with was going to upgrade class had just over a 3 year seniority and they were only 1 month apart so it's dropping fast. However that was also a big gap in hiring at that time.

Like I said it's rolling the dice, but if you get in this year before the ERJ's you'll be mint.

AA in 5 years for a new hire from an AA flow program? Keep dreaming.

You just can't let it go can you? Delta can get rid of the bonus just like your company can stop paying you if they want. Which is more likely, Hulas stops and/or is unable to pay his employees or Delta stops paying their Endeavor employees?

That some serious spin!!

First, the last time I checked, a regional job ASAP is sort of the initial goal for a new pilot, unless you're thinking he should go straight to the majors. He's being offered multiple interviews at 121 carriers and real deal contingent offers of employment and he's just completed his commercial cert. He's sort of in the driver's seat. Whether we like the regionals or not, that's a pretty good deal from his position at that time.

Second, he still has to reach 1500 hours before he can actually convert that offer into an actual job at a regional. That's PLENTY of time (for a guy with wet commercial certs and only a few hundred hours) to scan the industry, fully inform himself and make an educated decision. To call one company's offer "brainwashing" is demeaning to your friend.

Depending on when many of us entered the regionals, I think plenty would have jumped at that sort of offer.

Go get an entry level job outside of aviation if you truly want a good perspective. Mesa has been really good to me, best job I ever had really. I think most regional pilots would come crawling back to their regional job on their elbows and knees if they experienced the crap waiting for them on the outside. I say most because most pilots aren't qualified for something else.
Anyhow, mesa would hire you, at least you'd get line guarantee, and a great pilot group to fly with. If there's a regional where you could live at base, that should be your first choice.

Actually once we get a few RJ's and the flow goes up to 5 a month 5 years from new hire to American won't be far fetched at all.

I don't really pay attention to who the "best" regionals are anymore so I can't comment on whether or not PDT is a good place overall. I will say through experience that flow agreements are not worth the paper they're printed on. For example look at the situation at AA this year, furloughees are coming back so the flow is essentially stopped for the year. Recalls coupled with the removal of the domestic / international fence are going to limit the amount of pilots AA needs to hire in the short term.

The way I see it flow deals are only good for guys who bust multiple rides or get in disciplinary issues and are not hireable anywhere but their flow destination.

I agree with a lot of this. I had a great paying full-time non-aviation job 70k+ that sucked the life out of me. On call all the time, carpet dancing like Fred Astaire for all sorts of bs, no thanks. I love what I do and where I work now. If more people had an outside perspective before joining a regional, they might appreciate what we have.

Actually at PDT they can't stop the Flow for recalls. We will be brought in right along with them. So this has no barring on our flow. But the best part of the flow is it has allowed our upgrade to continue to drop. Thus allowing pilots to upgrade, get PIC time and go to the airline of there choice.

I'm not saying that PDT is the place to come too. But it not the place everyone is avoiding now either.

Totally not true. I've seen a few people with spotless records not get hired at a major. You are never guaranteed a job with the big 3.

Does republic still have a training contract?

Are they getting many people in their classes?

Is it a good or bad place now?

While only 3 guys are moving up to AA each month, the seniority movement right now is at about 7 upgrades per month on average, and this is before the jets start arriving and we have more left seats to fill.

reading is fundamental

LOL

filler

When I interviewed w/ Eagle in 1999, SF3 & ATR upgrade was <24 months and they were advertising 5 yrs to AA. At the time AA was hiring 80/ month, and Eagle was hiring 40. All the other major and regionals were hiring full bore as well. By the time I finished IOE in early 2000 I was already starting to figure out that their math didn't work, and it would take longer. That was before 9/11 and the Lost Decade.

AA isn't hiring that much, the regionals aren't hiring that much, and it's pie in the sky. Recruiters and Crew Schedulers will tell you anything to fill their seats. Never forget that.

Sure, maybe there won't be another catastrophic event, economic downturn, or any of the other 100 things that affect airline profits and hiring. But maybe there will. Hope for the best, but PLAN FOR THE WORST. Go to the company that provides you with the best QOL and acceptable pay. Only you can know who that is for you. If that includes a flow through, then that should be your plan C or D. Don't let it be your plan A or B. Flow Through is a marketing tool to attract and keep regional pilots regional, not staff majors.

Good Luck with your decision.

I heat your pain, have couple
Of friends that had to quit RAH for similar reasons, just giving my two cents, try Air Wisconsin, 95% of the pilots love working here, and for the most part leaving in base changes your whole life. There is a great group of guys here and the best part is our insurance... So far i always try to calculate my pay for every month, but for some reason it is always more, the contract is pretty good, ohhhhh and my wife is pregnant and no lie all I have paid so far is 15 dollars.... I'm so happy here, I really hope ZW doesn't go any where, it's a good regional with a good group of guys, and a descent contract.

Tough to read this.