So after i retire from the Navy in a couple years and say things are the way they are now, how long would it take to upgrade at whatever regional you are at? I have 1500TT, about 500 multi and about 1100 PIC? This is just a stop while I build hours to make my resume a little better. Also I have been reading and some people say that this regional will never get a person to a major or that regional is no good. Is this just anger from people, or are there certain regionals that really are looked bad upon by the majors? Thank for the help!

 

Upgrade at any union airline is seniority based and your date of hire and open captain positions will trigger your upgrade. If someone senior to you based on DOH (date of hire) does not to take the slot, the next person in line gets a shot at it. Therefore, on your bid sheet (similar to the military dream sheet) you always put down what you want and not what you think you are going to get. At some regionals the upgrade is faster due to growth and attrition while at others it is longer. I honestly don't think that you will not be considered by a major because you were with a specific regional. As many have commented, target the one where you don't have to commute and if there is a flow through, it's worth looking at as well. BTW, start working on obtaining your civilian ATP as soon as you are able. And yes, some regionals are much better to work for than others, whether it's pay, quality of life, benefits, management etc. Upgrade times can change and it is hard to say what they might be when you retire from the USN. Right now, as you read this forum I think it can happen as quickly as 12 months(or less) as some regionals.

 

Is most of the anger that i read about just directed at the crappy working conditions while waiting for a major/legacy to call?

 

People will tell you some majors care but honestly they don't at all. Being Military you'll have a great advantage over many. The only thing you might need is some 121 time and probably just some SIC time only. I've flown with a few ex-military guys. One was an F-15 guy that lasted maybe 6 months and went to American, Another was a C-130 pilot and he went to JetBlue.
With your background I would look for an airline that is an easy commute especially if you are married with a family. Military folks usually have great connections and usually get grabbed faster then PIC Regionals.

2 years however is a long time in this industry and there will probably be tons of changes. One of those however won't be the retirements coming up.
I doubt you'll even need to go to a regionals by that time. What are you flying in the Navy??

 

I'd agree, the anger you see vented here & other places is the fact that most Regional pilots have been stuck there during the "lost decade" through no fault if thier own. They are flying around roughly 50% of Mainline passengers on Large "Regional" jets that are no where NEAR "Regional" and are doing so at a C scale wage with little to no retirement, horrendous work rules and drive by management.

If you retire "in a few years" you'll hit the biggest hiring wave in airline history (barring a black swan event). It would be a waste of your time and career regression to go to a Regional from the military. We have new hires now at DAL with your current times. In your years remaining fill out the IP box, squadron safety officer, anything else you can do to advance your resume'.

Best of luck.

 

I did about 600 hours in the EA-6B and most of my time was instructing in T-45s. It was a great experience. I just read through here and i see how so many people bash this regional and that regional. Just worries me a bit. I know there probably is some truth to what i read, but is it really as bad as some make it out to be?

 

Yes!


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No, it isn't as bad as people make it out...at all. Maybe they never tried another career field in their lives. I love my job so I guess it depends on the airline

 

Don't worry about upgrade time since you have mil PIC. You likely won't be at a regional long enough to upgrade anyway. Just go to one without a commute.

 

I think it depends where you are in your stage of life. I flew for the regionals in the 80's and 90's and I was single then. The flying was fun as were the people. It was a great learning experience flying FAR 135 for the first time (1900) and then moving on to FAR 121 with an autopilot and a F/A. The negatives remain the same--poor substandard pay for a professional pilot. It was never looked upon as a career because of that fact. We had a few "lifers" for a variety of reasons. Many guys had other jobs, businesses to make it. We had a few dentists and even an MD flying for us.
If I recall my first year at Eagle in 1991 (AMR Eagle Command-Flagship--now Envoy) on the ATR, I made around $15,000. We were told we would all upgrade in 6-12 months. I left after almost 3 years with no upgrade in sight. My classmate who stuck it out just made it to AA 23 years later. In 24 years, not much has changed with regionals still offering $25/hr for new hires. I do think everything is about to change. Regionals can't find qualified people anymore.