This is the post you should pay attention to. These regionals change constantly and so do the bases....

Yes it is management. They took a tiny turboprop airline and expanded it into a huge, mostly jet fleet during a time of rapid growth at the regionals. They took a gamble on the embraer product, and it payed off. Their success of the last decade has made them cocky and devoted to a way of doing business. They are unable to adapt to a changing industry. Management sees labor as merely a cost, and not an asset. They fight us tooth & nail on anything that improves our quality of life, because they only see the cost in it. You know that old expression "stepping over a dime to save a nickel"? That should be our corporate motto. Nothing will change until our top two executives are gone. They set the tone for the entire company. Air Wisconsin would be a great choice for PHL, and I have heard good things about Commutair. Good luck to you.

Well Bzzt and Bedrock, I am starting flight school May 19 and I am 22, it is a pilot mill school but I am willing to work hard and I will be able to fly everyday. the reason I asked about republic because they have 3 bases within 1 and a half hours driving distance, meaning there is a good chance I would not have to commute. Being 22 I do not have "my own family", wife and kids. I do have a girlfriend whom I have discussed this with and dated long distance in college so we think we are as best tested as anyone entering this industry. Spending a few days away from your wife/family is nothing like 3-4 months, then only getting a week at best during college breaks.

So Bedrock, do you think with my situation, starting at practically the youngest age I can hopefully being at a regional by 24, is alright for this industry? Someone has to fly RJs for the future of aviation, of course who wouldn't love to be at a major before 30? I will do everything in my power to get to a major asap, hopefully the industry is on a so called uprise and that may be possible, but I am going in open minded about worse cases, stuck as regional FO for 5-10 years or at the regional permanently.

Bzzt, if you were 22 could live at your base not having to commute and had no family you would be missing, do you think you might have a better perspective on the career? Would you still regret it? If a major hired you in the next couple years before you quit in your current situation would you still feel the same?

When I was in your shoes back before I knew anything and about anything, independence air was the shiniest turd in the toilet. The best way to plan this career is to not plan anything at all.

If I were doing calculations, I'd add a few buffers. Two years to get from 0 to ATP is a very difficult situation. I'd say a fair expectation is to be instructing between 2 and 3 years. You should also plan to be at a regional for no less than 4-6 years (2-3 years to upgrade at the shortest and 2-3 years to get 1000 TPIC). Again, these are the absolute shortest times I'd be using when making a decision. Make sure you are okay with making between 18-30k for 4 years.

I only reply to this thread because I think 90% of people interested in making the airlines their career ask the same thing. I've been asked this many times in an airport but young high-school kids looking at college choices and their parents on deadheads sitting next to me wondering if they should fork over the 'roughly' 100k to get them started. (Keep in mind that tuition number can vary greatly depending on a multitude of factors)

So for them, for you, and for anyone reading this forum, here is what I tell them:

This is not an easy field to get into no matter what the flight school brochures tell you. Pilot Mills get you tickets but often not the time and experience you really need to be properly prepared for a career in the airlines, I'm talking the day to day and crew aspects particularly, as well as the schedule. It's a huge hurdle to get that 1500 and your first 121 Job, and despite what anyone tells you, it's not really any easier after that either. Major jobs are still hard to come by due to the 5 year back up of age 65. We talk about movement, but think of all the highly qualified guys ahead of you that have been racking up PIC for 5 years.

I would NEVER tell my kids to get into this career. However I know that I love my job and can't imagine doing anything else. You are the only person who knows how much you want to fly.

Starting at 22 and hoping to be at a regional by 24 may be a stretch, though I'm sure it has been done, things change all the time. With the 1500 hour rule and now the new ATP rule where you need level D? simulator time to get your ATP, this career is getting more costly and the barrier of entry is getting harder, not easier and the regionals are about to go into a tailspin due to this.

I see you talking about living in base, one thing you have to understand is that bases close and open all the time. You could be living in base then 2 years later, poof, it is gone. Are you going to move again? I see this happening as the regionals struggle to staff their aircraft fleets.

I may have missed it and apologize if I did but do you have a bachelors degree? If not, the Majors won't even look at you without one, I hope you plan on getting one if you haven't already.

Right now, work on getting the ratings and instructing, by the time you reach 1500 hours, this industry, especially the regionals, will be a whole new animal.

No, even if I was 22 with no family I wouldn't. The chances of me getting hired at a major in 3 years are roughly 0.0. The fact is you spend half of your career at a regional flying bad schedules and making little money. It's just not worth it in my opinion.

Then what are you waiting three years for? Quit. One less grouch for the rest to compete against.

Half your careers at the regionals? Maybe a select few. Everyone I know usually moves on within a few years. Pic time or not
Bzzt you've been at egl for 3 years, have you worked anywhere else?