Good luck! Most regionals are so short staffed you'll be hitting your 1000 hours per year with only ONE job.

Thanks for all the replies guys, I sincerely appreciate it. I know...it sucks that this question has to be asked, but it's the world that up and coming guys like myself have to deal with; we didn't create it, but still have to live in it. Again, thanks for all of the insight.

I work charter and I think I'm going to do uber on my days off

Maybe not directly on point to this thread but with a bit a twist. I already have a non-aviation job that allows me to be highly flexible and I can work on the road during down times. I flew for a 91 flight department for 12 years doing this until 2013. I fly for the enjoyment and dont financially need the job...I just want to do it.
I have been offered a job with a regional and I am wondering if maintaining my "real job" and flying for a Regional is possible. I can do about 4 days on the road before things start getting backed up in my real job. I am unfamiliar with the 121 world. So, What I am asking is whether scheduling within the 121 world allows for down time such that I can do my other work remotely. Are there others out there doing this? What kind of latent problems are there to this sort of arrangement? Thanks in advance.

This is not meant to be harsh or demeaning, but I will point it out. Flying for any airline is not a hobby. It is not something to do to cross off the bucket list. If you are going to be thinking about all the problems you are dealing with at your "real job" while in the cockpit, you are no help to the captain and a liability to the airline. We have enough people that chose the profession for the wrong reason. Nobody wants to fly with them and we can't wait for them to leave. This needs to be your main real job and you can have a gig like turning wrenches or selling houses on the side. If this came across as harsh, I am sorry. We just don't need any more guys that said "I just wanted to try this airline pilot thing out for a while".

I have a full time flying job with a defense contractor, but since the monthly flight hours are so low I also fly Part 91 corporate and flight instruct on the side. They are on a not to interfere basis. I do all this and still don't clear more than 40 hours per month.

Having said that, if and when my full time job becomes an airline, whole different scenario. I think if you are a line holder flying 80+ per month it's just not possible or even advisable.

There is no way you could keep a full time non-flying job and fly regional. We had a pilot at my company try that. He was always disapperaing to fly for his regional job at the wrong time. He almost got fired for it and so he eventually just had to quit his regional gig and stayed on as a full time engineer last I heard.

This X1000! You guys are airline pilots remember? Under no circumstances should anyone be working two jobs to get by. FO pay should be 40 grand bare minimum. Fight for it, you're professionals!

I was in the same situation and I gave it a try - working for a regional and kept my full time job. I had to go to part time for about 6-8 months for training and to gain some seniority which allowed me to get creative with scheduling. The first month of class expect to have no time other than studying. I'm back to 4 days per week at my other job and still full time at my regional. Yes, it can be done. If you work at making your schedule what you want you can average 19 days off.

If your employer is truly flexible this job can give you plenty of time off if you get creative with scheduling. If you're able to live in base (and better - if your base is junior at your company) its obtainable.

Back when I asked the question I was on the outside looking in; as a flight instructor I didn't know what the life of an airline pilot was really like. Now I am flying full-time with a regional and the most I can fathom would be sweeping popcorn at the theatre down the street like once a week. I get it now how important the rest time is, and more importantly the family time. I don't want to miss out on spending time with the wife and kids during the few hours I actually have at home.

Airline flying is the easiest and least time consuming job I've ever had. It would be very easy to do additional work on overnights and on days off.