Regionals with best schedules
 

1500 hours is coming up fast. Most of my fellow peers are picking First Officer jobs at regionals based on money, aircraft type, or upgrade time. For me schedule flexibility is by far the most important job criteria. Does anyone recommend a regional airline that is known for having better schedules for lower seniority employees, or maybe has higher turnover so that moving up in the seniority ranks (and being able to choose a schedule) is easier? Any regional airlines that are known for having horrible schedules that I would want to avoid working for? I will relocate to any base in US, so I'm flexible on that end.

Here ya go!
Let me google that for you

No offense do your own homework...

There is a regional thread for almost every regional airline. Start reading and stop asking people to do your homework for you bro...

Unfortunately you're going to be met with a lot of negativity and angst on this board. There is much info for you to sift through on virtually every topic pertaining to regional pilot life imaginable. My advice is simple...a regional is a regional is a regional when it comes to schedules. They are all going to be very close to the same. If you have a family I would suggest picking the one that you are interested in and moving to your domicile. If you are single and don't care where you live I would suggest possibly looking at which one will give you the opportunity to advance and get out sooner than later.

Some, possibly many, will most likely say I am completely wrong simply because they are bored and hate their life. It's what you make it, and a good time to get started. This is just food for thought, not backed by anything other than what I've learned in 5 years in the regional business. Good luck!

No, you are not wrong; you're dead on. Live in domicile, stay away from commuting to work. IMHO. Good luck.


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I would say it's the airline you can move up in seniority the fastest.

Next question

High turnover means you move up fast but there's a reason for the high turnover. Usually that reason is that the pilots hate the company they work for. Low turnover usually means the pilot group has a good contract and the senior people are less likely to feel the need to leave. You move up slow and sit at the bottom longer.

Pick your poison. Try to live in base.

Lotta douche for one thread.....

1. Try and Live in base, it can make 11 days off and reserve, or a horrible line feel like a cake walk.(I personally commute, I dont have kids so it doesnt bother me spending up to 12 hours extra per trip commuting. Usually more like 6hours total roundtrip. Sometimes the night before. It would be nice to live in base though. Just prefer where I am at now from a social life standpoint)
2. Pick the airline with the most seniority movement. Many regionals are top heavy with "lifers", while others have almost none. Im not gonna name them all, but some have much better movement than others due to this fact. Pm me if you want to. Iv been at my airline less than 2 years, usually hold 16-18 off and an 80 hour line as an FO, or could be almost off reserve as Capt. I also commute, but thats a personal choice. Would be even better if I lived in base, but I like my current town better and the commute is easy.
An airline with alot of movement DOES NOT mean pilots hate the company. Especially at the regionals. At a major level? Sure, thats not a good sign. But regionals? No. The whole point is to get our time and get out. Movement is a good sign.
If people are turning down better jobs to stay at a regional, they have drank wayyyy to much company koolaid. Take compass for example, lots of movement, very happy group. Attrition out of 800 or so pilots is 10-20 a month. Sometimes much, much more. All majors/legacies. Maybe 5 lifers. Other places, a good portion of the Capt list is lifers. Thats not good for younger guys looking to move on.

Yea it's a bit of a difficult choice. I don't know if it exists but you have to go to a regional that attracts the most pilots. The last place you want to be during these times is at the bottom of a pilot list because thers not a whole lot behind you trying to get in. My regional Tsa, it's got fast movement but it's because nobody actually likes the company, most of the guys I fly with are literally updating their applications every trip talking about when they'll make it out. I'd go to a regional that has 70 seaters, preferably new coming, and has a deep route and mainline partner structure. Skywest comes to mind, I don't think I've met anyone that didn't like that place.