Regional choosing/researching help, please!
 

Hello,

I am currently looking for pilots that are willing to answer a few question about his/her airline for me in exchange for a drink or two on the road in the future.

Please PM me if you are willing to help! Either a quick phone call or exchange of PM will work perfectly.

Here is the list for the company I am looking for:

1. Compass
2. Horizon
3. Republic
4. SkyWest
5. Mesa

Thanks ahead!

If I were picking a regional now it would be a wholly owned regional. The American regionals have a flow program. Do your homework. Horizon is a WO, BUT they have no bonus, no flow through and first year pay you would have to work a job on the side to pay your bills in the PNW.

Compass just lost 6 airplanes and are now overstaffed and no training dates until March. Why is MESA even on your list - again -do your homework. You can PM me if you have any questions.

Where do you live??? Either way, this list makes me scratch my head

The thing that all companies in his list have in common is that they have Ejets. I am not sure if that is his motivation for making the list or not. Envoy also has Ejets.

Ahh another newbie with Shiny Jet Syndrome!

And a NIFA competitor to boot..... can you even buy drinks yet?

After 6 months in the regionals you won't even be able to recognize an E6b.

Like an above poster said, the AA wholly owned carriers are the current flavor of the month. PM if you have any questions about PSA.

Whatever airline you end up, the most important question to ask NOW is where do you live, or want to live? Work backwards from there.

And if you really are that stuck up on E-Jets, just remember that no autothrottles means you're a better pilot. ;)

You guys are smart! I'm aiming for Ejets. And sorry it's not SJC for me. I would be flying A330s now if I want to. Taiwan national airlines hire 250TT and even put them in the right seat of 74s or triples, and yet I'm flying 208s to build time...

My situation is a little bit special: non-us citizen with only 3 year of working visa, which could be extended if airlines are willing to sponsor (currently not). I want to stay here just because I would like to explore more in US while building wider network.

I'm aiming for Ejets also because they are heavier, which equipment weight actually matters in international market. I'm not too sure if I go to companies with CRJs I would be guaranteed for 900s. Also, there is a couple contract E170 captains opening in Asia I am willing to do in China; also interested in some corporate/charter outfit, which I need to build more flight time.

A lot of people said I should just go back after the election results, but I like here to much so I'm taking my chances. Pursuing my American Dream. Hopefully living somewhere in west coast or even PNW.

My priority now: equipment weight = flight time > upgrade > bases

Thank you for every one that PMed me! In all, I'm still opening for suggestions and insights for all airlines! Not going to be able to start any ground school until May for now...

And yep, I'm ATP qualified age now 👌🏼

I would def pick a wholly owned regional right now.. Some day United will learn as their feed will start to dry up and it will be impossible to staff places like XJT, TSA or even Mesa because more and more people are looking for that legacy seniority number for career progression. Not only are places like PSA, Envoy, Piedmont owned by AA they have bonuses for new hires, also with the amount of retirements over the coming years flows won't be as bad as the past because it will move along alot quicker with those retirements at AA Its really a no brainer at this point.

May want to place your residency status at the top of your priority list. How much time left on a 3 year visa? Can a part 121 outfit can sponsor due to Homeland Security requirements.? You'll want to nail down the answers to those questions first.

An ERAU kid without SJC, now that's an oxymoron

There are plenty of Q400, ATR, CRJ, legacy 650 (ERJ-145) jobs available abroad too...

Same boat kind of!
 

I am making the jump back into 121 to increase my odds at being picked up my a major.

I am a former Regional guy who went 135-91-135 and was hoping that the Jet PIC time I picked up there would mean something to the majors but it doesn't seem to.

I have dirty jet syndrome, I really don't care what I'm flying, a plane is a plane as long as it pays the bills. I am seeking the best place to get time fast and I am well prepared for the suckiness that may come along with it. I will be leaving a well paying job where I have a great schedule and incredible layovers.

I am highly interested in:
Go Jets: I know the back story but they have offered me street captain (upon getting 85 more hours of sim/flight time), my pay hit would be less and I would probably get the crap flown out of me

Endeavor: I have a job offer from them as well, Apparently upgrade time is around 9 months but I am told it should decrease, however I have been burned by regional airlines and their forecasting in the past. I would again have descent pay because of the bonuses especially in year two if I were to upgrade that quick. The interview with Delta in two years is enticing as well, but again I have been burned and it doesn't take much for something like that to go away.

Piedmont: Quick upgrade, bonuses that make the transition easier, AA flow through? That is all I know at this point.

I have:

5000 TT
1100 TPIC
3200 Turbine
2600 PIC
900 pt.121 Jet
1555 pt.135 (550 or so jet)
1600 pt.91 Jet
I live in the midwest and don't mind commuting especially to DTW, ORD, STL, MSP

Upgrade time is key for me to maintain income, yes it is that important.
Are there any other options out there I should consider and why?

Thanks guys!

Piedmont is your best choice. Endeavor has a long upgrade time (two years).

Screw HoJet. Those guys are an abomination.

Don't go to freakin gojet. Turbine PIC is not the magic bullet it once was. I have higher total time, 3000ish 121 turbine PIC, LCA for 2+ years, 4 year degree, no skeletons etc etc. My phone is not ringing(Delta, United).

Don't sell yourself short and go to GoJet. You'll make more 1st year at Piedmont with the bonus and more thank likely upgrading in that 1st year. Your life will not suck while being abused on PERMANENT RESERVE. All that and you have a flow number incase things don't work out elsewhere.

Very true. But the E170 share the same type with the 190, which is even heavier, potentially with better long-term pay.

Good copy. I'll start researching about WOs, too.

Full three years left. And yes I believe they can. They used to not accept student working visa, now some of them are. I think it just depends on how desperate they are for pilots. They try to avoid extra legal process and paperwork at best.

Right? I guess I'm the black sheep of the family, or just plain stupid 😦

Except a WO pays more than your options with a guaranteed flow to AA. I dont know what better long term pay you could ask for than a legacy airline. PDT has quick upgrades, great pay, and a growing fleet but no E170s. Our turboprop FOs out earn Mesa Captains. You pick what matters more to you. Personally, i'd think hose ERAU loans are gonna be hard to pay off making 22k a year at Mesa.

You need to spend some time reading on this site about the various work rules and pay at each airline, as well as the number of people who can't get a call from a major despite all their glorious wing mounted engine time. Aircraft type should be one of your least concerns versus pay and a path to a legacy. Mesa shouldn't even be considered as an option at all.

If you REALLY must have an E170 that bad, go to Envoy.

I think Endeavor's upgrade time is <1 year.

EDV or PDT are your best options. With your experience and some preparation, I wouldn't foresee any issue in a Delta interview so I would recommend interviewing at both and choosing the one where you feel you fit in best or whichever leads you to the legacy airline you prefer.

In what world is 2 years, long? It's not 2 years currently if you've got previous 121 time, but like all things, that's subject to change

Piedmont has the best story right now, especially if you are in the east coast or have an easy jump to PHL. I would say apply even if you can't start until May or June. A confirmed class date is like gold right now.

PDT is your best option for sure. Under no circumstances go to GoJet. I sent you a PM. Happy to talk to you if you want info.

2 years = long time...did someone say "entitlement?" LOL!

If you want West Coast, Skywest has four ERJ bases out there and they are all growing for that airplane. LAX, SFO, PDX, and SEA. I'm not sure what Compass' future is in the west. Don't go to Mesa.

If only that were true. Most recent award had at least two Feb 16 hires upgrading to CA. Even using common core math, that is not a "long upgrade time", nor is it two years.

Help getting into the industry!
 

Background:
10 years US Army helicopter pilot with 2,500 helicopter
Full up ATP-Multi grandfathered under the previous system with no ATP-CTP
300 hrs. Fixed wing with only 52 hrs. multi.
Master’s degree
To me it seems the most appropriate way to get to the big leagues is through the regionals so I can build fixed wing time and part 121 in a hurry.
My priorities are Salary > push to majors ASAP > Live in Domicile > Live in PNW > QOL > Shiny Jet.
Domiciles of choice would be GEG>SEA>PDX etc.
I told Horizon TBNT for an interview offer and requested they call me if they decide to pay their pilots more than the guy sacking groceries at the local store.
I have a CJO from Envoy and a scheduled interview with PDT. Assuming PDT is kind enough to offer me a job I am left with the decision of commuting to New York with Envoy (since I am not old enough to likely get assigned DFW or the shiny jet) and living in Philadelphia. Neither of these options get me anywhere near home but possibly give me an opportunity to jump the flow and get closer with my next job.
Does anybody have any advice that may help steer me in the right direction or possibly family friendly places to live (wife and three kids) near PHL or that would be an easy commute?
I am leaning towards PDT for faster upgrade and higher second year pay. Although I would hope to be in and out before the flow it seems to be a nice backup plan.

Oh no, your flying 208's so you don't end up on the news. An opportunity to "fly" in the right seat of a 747 with 250tt is an opportunity to kill yourself, I don't know how proud you should be of that.
What you mean is you have the opportunity to "ride" in the right seat let someone else keep you safe, and log the time.

Ignore the dingus that said Endeavor's upgrade is more than 2 years. With prior 121 time you will upgrade at Endeavor in less than a year. Maybe faster. You'll jump seniority numbers and be on reserve, but you'll be making CA pay.

This^^^^ lots of Endeavor FO's #1 have the time and refuse to upgrade because it's "hard time" next to Riker's Island #2 have a CJO with Delta and like their schedule with a (mostly) known jump date to mainline reserve and pay. The other half of the FO's here (for the most part) don't have enough 121 time yet to upgrade. So if you are willing to be a captain in NYC you can be one as soon as you get that last 100 hours in.... Now you risk being reserve for eternity for jumping the upgrade line, but it still pays better than FO.

Not necessarily true. Endeavor is advertising 1000 hours 121 company time, not just 1000 hours 121 time.

Great Post too many people don’t get into the details of all these “upgrade bonus interview” ploys by the regionals.

Thank you, I’ll ask the question when I call them after the first of the year.

EDV has a 2500TT as well as a 1000 company time "requirement" in addition to the 1000 121 time, which is not waviable.

However, the first two are waviable, and have been. IIRC, the most recent bid had company hours down around 390.

ETA: Our last bid had two Aug 16 hire's on the CA upgrade.

Doesn't really fit your preferred geography, but Republic is about to grow by about 18 E170/75s, which means 180 new pilots. And they have a couple other aircraft coming back to the line.

Get in early 2017 and you'll quickly build some seniority.