If one views the time at the regionals as predominately a stepping stone, it stands to reason that the most important factor is how quickly you can upgrade to CA and build TPIC.

The fastest upgrade time is going to come with the regional that is expanding the fastest, correct?

How can we judge which of the regional airlines are staged to grow the fastest over the next 2 to 5 years?

How are regional contracts awarded? How long do they usually last?

Don’t worry about it. Upgrade times vary from month to month for a myriad of constantly shifting factors. Trying to base a decision on what things are going to look like 2-5 years out in the regional industry is like playing Russian Roulette. Focus on the one that you could stomach for the long term if and when the music stops.

Don't forget to factor in DECs.

Over my 20 years + in and out of the regionals my thinking has done a complete 180 on this. I used to think about a long term stint at the regionals and twin-turbine pilot in command time. I now realize that everything you consider with a regional should be how is it looking for the next year, and that is it. Also, TTPIC time doesn't seem to be worth as much as it once was. Most majors seem to care more that you have had a training event in the past couple years to show you are still trainable. So a new company or a new aircraft, even if it's all right seat, seems to work just as well, if not better, than TTPIC time. So the PIC time seems to be more about getting better pay than as essential to career progression.

My advice nowadays is to find the best place for your first year and then get out and find something better. Don't get too comfortable. Don't put any stock whatsoever in any regional airline's future more than a year out.

Sorry, don't know that TLA (three letter acronym) -- DECs ?

Just go to skywest. So you don't have to about DEC. TSA had a lot of DEC and they are still sitting reserve after almost 3 years.

You can get a fast upgrade anywhere! Just go to the one you can have the best QOL at and could be happy at if the wheels stopped turning. Not expecting that, you never know.

My Crystal Ball:

If you are asking which regional will grow the most over the next 5-7 years (likely the time to get hired at a major), you are probably asking the wrong question.

As big retirement backfills hit with the majors, the sucking sound out of the regionals will make it hard for them to keep up.

I predict several of the regionals will fold up their tent and go away. Others will merge. So in that time there will be significantly fewer regionals. I would even go so far as to predict more flying will be done by the majors.

This is simply because 76 seat routes will get upgraded to 100 seat at the majors and many 50 seat will upgrade to 76 seat. A lot of the 50 seat metal will be parked. This eases the demand for pilots needed just a bit; bigger planes, less number of pilots to fly the same PAX numbers.

Your question should be which regional will be around long enough for you to get hired at a major? (I suggest avoiding dumpster fires.) Where are you going to live; hopefully at a regional domicile (or second choice easy commute)? Do you want to be at a regional with guaranteed flow or interview?

Or, if you want to stay with a regional and never go to a major, where are you living vs. domiciles, and which are strong enough and stable enough to continue to exist. And I would ask why wouldn't you want to go to a major? Most lifers at regionals, if they had it to do over again would now jump at the chance to go to a major (assuming they have enough runway of years in front of them to make it worthwhile.)

If you are asking about the next 2 years, growth is a valid question, but that is just one of the factors to consider for upgrade to CA. But that has little bearing on when one can get hired at a major.

Just my opinions. YMMV

SKW has grown consistently for at least 20+ years (with a time out for the economy back in 2008-2010). They show no signs of stopping until they run out of entry-level pilots.

But if all you want is fast PIC, then pick any half-way decent regional with growth prospects and a junior base that works for you (avoid mesa and gojet at all costs).

Pendulum is swinging back on that...the experimental kids hired over the last five years with no PIC are starting to upgrade and majors are realizing what a mistake they made.


This is true. Best if your regional operates more than one type, in case you get stuck for a while you can always switch types to punch that ticket.