chrisreedrules

If the economy goes south no one will be hiring and preferential interviews won’t mean anything. It’s not as if the economy doing poorly will only affect AA. But, if AA runs even 1 class in a bad year it has to be full of a certain amount of pilots from the WOs. If your goal is AA, go to a WO. The flows will likely increase.

TheWeatherman

Envoy's pay and QOL is so laughingly bad, it's not worth the small infinitesimal chance that you will flow in 30 years if the economy goes bad because they will have one class a year full of WOs.

With the hiring climate that is expected, there is no reason to be miserable to have that "in your back pocket" as they like to say. Because guess what, if the economy goes down and they don't backfill the retirements and places stop hiring, the flow slows down to a trickle and you are not going to flow any way.

SilentLurker

So many carriers hiring now or will be hiring!Flow is a comfort zones. In fact a false sense of security. Breeds lazy pilots.

It's not hard to find a career airline with QOL contracts making $200K+ after 5 years, and quick upgrades or very well paid FO’s.

In flow we trust is the mantra here at envoy tho many gripe about everything on the thread, few are willing to do anything about it, it's like crack cocain. In this environment flow is not needed. Republic stopped hiring for good reason!

Republic & Endeavor are the top two regional carriers to be at. No regional is safe. Music can stop anytime or in 1-6 years if trade war / cyber war escalates into just a ”war”.

riviation

Any advice on what’s the better choice for a prior MIL guy committed to living in the MIA area?

Shenzi105

For sure take the airline with the flow. QOL won't be as good as Republic in the first couple years but as long as there's a flow, you can't beat it. Think about the future.
And, if you don't like it after 2-3 years there and don't want to wait for the flow, you will have the same chances as any Republic pilot to go to SWA, B6, NK or else. Things can get pretty wild in the next 5 years, why not be at a place that could guarantee you a seat at a legacy.

Jungle Jim

A well-pressed sharp suit, a fresh high and tight buzz cut, a nice pale nimbus heavy stock resume, and a few career fairs. Skip the regionals and get to AA for MIA.

In all seriousness, other than Republic, the only other regional in MIA is Envoy. With that said, MIA is Envoy's holy grail. It's a very small base, and on the CA side, it's very senior aka virtually unattainable. They've been offering CA TDY there recently, but I think that's more of a signal of seasonal needs than impending vacancies. However, the FO list is always churning over there. You'll be able to get to MIA as an FO eventually, but as soon as you hit 950 hours, you're off to upgrade in ORD or LGA, which is where you'll be for a while.

Republic is quite a bit more stable in MIA. It's going to take you some months to get to MIA as an FO, and you'll be on reserve for a year or more when you do, but once you get there, it'll be a pretty good life for a regional pilot. Reserve in Miami isn't so bad either if you bid right. You won't have to worry about getting displaced to a base you don't want to be in, and upgrades aren't forced if you'd rather enjoy some QOL than commute to long, agonizing reserve stints at Envoy. No matter if what airline you're going to be at, if you want to upgrade, you'll be commuting out of MIA for years before you can hold a line.

Prior mil, I definitely wouldn't even have a bad daydream about Envoy. You've already got the mil bro network to tap into, and thus have a leg up with the way the airlines still like to hire. You won't need the flow as a back stop, so don't give up your freedom and become a slAAve to Envoy. It really is a terrible company that treats their pilots like abused captors.

ninerdriver

Umm... so they're coming from the military. Why would they go to an AA WO and deal with crap QOL to wait 8-9 years to flow, when AA will probably hire them OTS in 2-3?

Jet757

Don't go to an airline for a birthday card or a shiny jet.

When I interviewed with republic I was impressed with their facility. But what I didn't like is how much older the pilot group was. I flew on multiple RPA jumpseats and most times the CA I had was 12+ years with the company.... If that same person went to Envoy all those years ago they would've been in a mainline jet by now, and possibly in the left seat.

The contract at RPA is better no doubt, but no matter how many times recent CFIs now Republic FOs tout that they fly a "real airplane" and park at "mainline gates" the fact won't change that it is a regional airline. And an expensive one for that matter. As far as AA flying is concerned, the WO airlines get the same job done for much less than republic. And guess who AA would rather do their bidding. 3 airlines they can whipsaw against each other or Republic?

If you live in a republic base, it's a no brainier. Hopefully the hiring waves will last and we all get to where we want to be.

Longhornmaniac8

I've literally never heard one Republic pilot say that we fly a "real airplane" with the insinuation that CRJs or 145s aren't "real." I certainly say all the time I think it's more comfortable than those, and it's not much of a stretch to say objectively it is.

Likewise, I've never heard anyone bragging about flying at "mainline gates." They're obviously flying to different places than I am, because D60 at MIA and the A and B terminals at IAH are anything but "mainline."

I've found the YX pilot group to be some of the most chill, least egotistical of all the pilot groups I've interacted with.

I think you'll see the median age of captains at the company start dropping precipitously as more and more people from the current hiring boom start upgrading.

stabapch

Most of this is complete BS! We have a more senior group simply due to the fact we work under a livable contract and are able to live in bases where the dollar goes ten times further than in a hub, thus people build seniority and get comfortable with where they work. Going to legacy would be a DRASTIC cut to pay and QOL for a few years so most of the senior guys with set roots/families don’t see it necessary take. Yes there are ones that just can’t get hired as well, but a good majority have no desire. This one major difference that separates RPA from Envoy or any other regional for that matter. You’re not forced to hate your life and immediately start filling out apps to the next place as soon you’re hired.