I'm looking to start with a regional this fall, and want ORD as a base. That brings it to SkyWest, Envoy, Republic, Air Wisconsin, GoJet, ExpressJet, and Trans States. Currently, MQ, YX, and OO are at the top of the list.

Unfortunately, I can't get anything back from MQ and probably won't for the near future. I'm not able to be in their cadet program, and regardless I'm not interested in signing a long term contract. Even if they opened up off the street hiring, it could be a long wait for a class date. They have a great bonus and flow, but could get stuck in LGA as both an FO and eventually CA.

YX seems to be a good option, based off of their contract, quality of life, and pay/bonus but their ORD base is in question. Could probably hold ORD as an FO pretty quick, but it is difficult to see a future there as upgrading would most likely equal a move or a commute for years. I've also heard that many people tend to get "stuck" at YX and they don't have as many pilots moving on to the majors as other carriers do. Don't know the actual truth behind this, but I've heard it from a variety of people.

OO is a solid option, because they are so large in ORD, have a fast upgrade, and I can get a class date and through training relatively quickly. I'm currently involved in their pilot pathway program. But based off of the forums, it seems to be an increasingly unpopular place to work and QOL is deteriorating and their future pay/work rules are unknown. It's difficult to not drink the Kool Aid and try to understand the truth at what their future looks like and if it is worth going to a place that many seem unhappy at. Their pay is a tough pill to swallow also, especially if on reserve for more than a few months.

ZW, G7, EV, and AX are off the table for multiple reasons, as many people are unhappy at each and each of them have hard negatives that make life there seem miserable. ZW and AX have great bonuses, but they appear to be get rick quick scams into a terrible work environment and unknown future. EV and G7 also don't appear to have futures.

It's more difficult than it looks to find an ORD regional that I would be happy with. As this forum points out, it could be the place where I work for a while if everything doesn't line up how the "experts" guarantee it will with the pilot shortage and airline growth.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, or corrections are appreciated.

-Thanks

I am in the exact same boat as you. I’m starting late fall and am having trouble choosing which company to work for out of ORD. Ultimately, it’s between Envoy and SkyWest. When you consider it’s 9+ years to flow at Envoy, and taking flow out of the equation entirely, SkyWest looks better overall in my situation.

I’ve ruled out Republic because holding ORD as a CA is out of the question, and while I considered Air Wisconsin, they took over a month to respond to any emails or phone numbers half way through the new hire process and it really turned me off that they lost all my documentation (in addition to the reasons you listed). TSA, GoJet are just .... no.

The myth of LGA for Envoy as the only option for new hires and captains is basically not a thing anymore. Sure you may get that but there are other options as well usually. If anything you can get out pretty quick.

Go to a place that has the best chance at a long term future... Envoy Republic and Skywest.

If you want QOL and are okay with the idea that you could end up a lifer, go to Republic or Skywest... if you want a way out in your back pocket go to Envoy. Moral/QOL is probably highest at Republic at the moment but that could change..

This. In fact, ORD CRJ and 145 are both open for street captains right now. Obviously things can change on a dime, but don't think you're doomed to LGA for eternity, because that's not the case. If you're really worried as an FO, put in for the 145 which exists in all bases.

That’s good to know, but as someone at ATP mins with no 121 time, street captain doesn’t work. Envoy isn’t an option right now, unfortunately.

Wouldn’t someone have to be okay with the idea of being a lifer at any regional other than the wholly owned? And since the wholly owned isn’t an option right now, i think it’s down to OO and YX because if I was at any of the others, I’d hate to end up as a lifer there.

I am not bashing Skywest, I am really not, but I will say that the talk around the airports is that things are not great over there. I don't work for them, but I do know people there and it seems to be declining in terms of pilot satisfaction.

Revisiting this and playing devil's advocate...

Let's say the OO TA passes and goes into effect Nov. 1. Would it be silly for any new regional FO wanting ORD as a base to not jump right to SkyWest? Regardless of ERJ or CRJ, it seems OO will have the highest industry total compensation as well as the quickest upgrade and flight time. It's difficult to compare since everyone is now wrapping in bonuses/profit sharing/etc. into the graphs, but doing the math out here is what I got:

Year 1:

SkyWest:
First year pay now at $45/hr:
$45/hr at 76 hrs: $3420 * 12 months = $41,040

According to their charts, PPS will be an average of $3.78 per hour:
$3.78/hr at 76 hrs: $287 * 12 months = $3444

Operational Rewards at $1.16:
$1.16/hr at 76 hrs: $88 * 12 months = $1056

Excluding benefits, per diem, 401K, etc. it looks like at min credit pay, $45,540 is base compensation for first year SkyWest FO given the TA passes.

Republic:
First year pay at $45/hr:
$45/hr at 75 hrs: $3375 * 12 months = $40500

First year Bonus Payout $1,500 + $8,500 after IOE:
$10,000

Excluding benefits, per diem, 401K, etc. at min credit pay, $50,500 is base compensation for first year Republic FO.

End of year 1, the YX FO made roughly $4,960 more than the OO FO.

Year 2:

SkyWest's bonuses/profit sharing stay the same but pay goes up $5/hr. Their chart says a total compensation pay rate of $55.15 giving $50,296 before benefits, per diem, 401K, etc.

Republic pilot will get $7,500 in bonuses and a $5/hr raise giving them $52,500 before benefits, per diem, 401K, etc.

End of year 2, the YX FO made roughly $2,204 more than the OO FO.

Year 3:

This is where it looks like SkyWest FO rates really jumps ahead, however with today's career progression projections (yes, things could change) a pilot at both SkyWest and Republic will be able to upgrade during/at year 3.

If still an FO though, going off SkyWest's charts, a FO will make $57,766 based off of total compensation rates of $63.34 at 76 hr guarantee.

A Republic FO, now out of signing bonuses, will only make $45,900 based off of $51/hr at 75 hr guarantee.

End of year 3, the OO FO made roughly $11,866 more than the YX FO.


In total, at SkyWest 3 years of compensation for a 2018 hire FO is $153,406.

At Republic, 3 years of compensation is $148,900, or $4,506 less than a comparable pilot at SkyWest.

Please correct me if my math is incorrect, but it does look that the new SkyWest TA, given that it passes, will easily be the highest paid with an ORD base IF the pilot stays as an FO through 3 years at each carrier.

Now looking at Captain upgrade:

Year 3:

CRJ200 CA at SkyWest will make Total Compensation rate in the year 2020 of $91.12/hr, at 76 hr/month, totaling $83,101.

ERJ CA at Republic will make $95.06/hr at 75 hr/month, totaling $85,554 or $2,453 more than the newly upgraded SkyWest captain.

Following a common upgrade at year 3, all these numbers added up, the Republic pilot will make less than the SkyWest pilot. Obviously the amount of money over the course of 3 years is small enough that it can be changed easily given the amount of flying, credit, etc. each pilot is able to get at either airline. It can also change depending on how much more/less SkyWest pays out in their profit sharing programs.

Hopefully this math checks out and can help anyone trying to decide between OO and YX. From a total compensation stand point, it looks to be a wash through year 3 given that both pilots upgrade in the year 3 mark. If not, then the SkyWest FO will begin to make a good amount more than the Republic FO. The thing that could change all this are two things in the SkyWest TA: The ability for up to $40,000 in additional signing bonuses and the ability to raise FO pay at anytime by $5/hr. If either of those happen, or even a fraction of the $40,000 is given as a recruitment bonus, then SkyWest will clearly have the highest overall compensation of ORD based carriers (for the time being).