I think it’s $10, so pretty close to free. It says “fee paid” when you click any of the new tail numbers, so that’s what I was going off of.

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinq...ion=1&PageNo=1

What I was told talking to someone in flight standards: they’re waiting for the instructors and check airman to finish 175 training before likely ramping up the bonuses, so that they’re ready with the training infrastructure if there’s a big influx of new hires. They’re planning to get another sim in the empty bay in Houston, probably a 145. There’s also talk of using the vacant United training center across the parking lot. The flight standards people think that best case scenario, if we can hire, is that within 18 months anyone here who wants to be a captain should be able to hold it. Will it happen? Maybe, maybe not.

Probably also waiting for the deal to be done and ownership transferred.

isn't that supposed to be tomorrow?

AA ends tomorrow. I read somewhere, can’t find it now of course, that the closing date of the deal is Jan 9th.

I have offers from Commutair and Expressjet. Both look like great options for new hires for reasons outlined below. Please let me know your input on a couple factors I'm using to make my decision:

My priorities are listed the following order:

1) New York domicile.
2) Maximum flight time.
3) Quickest class date and training pipeline.
4) Upgrade time
5) Variety of flying
6) Pay / Work rules

Here's how I see them measure up. Tell me if I'm wrong, or if you have something to add to this list.

1) NYC domicile: EWR is the junior base for both. Tie.
2) Most Flight time: Expressjet and Commutair pilots have both said a new FO at EWR can fly as much as legally allowed. Tie.
3) Quick Class date and training: Both have immediate start, and offer 80-90 day training (including IOE) without delays or long breaks. Tie.
4) Upgrade time: Commutair is upgrade at 1000 hrs with company (~18 months). Expressjet projects that "if the company gets all 171 airplanes, all current FOs will have the opportunity to upgrade inside of 24 months." Commutair wins. Commutair upgrade is based on current need for captains, Expressjet's "24 month" hopeful is based on projections. The junior captain at Expressjet was hired in 2011.
5) Variety: Expressjet flies to Canada, Mexico, and as far west as Colorado. Commutair flies to the east coast and the ohio river valley. Expressjet wins.
6) Pay / work rules: Expressjet wins. With EQO, they pay $50 per hour.

Intangibles: Expressjet has AQP and "best in class" training. Do you think this is worth considering?

Commutair IS ACTUALLY growing. Expressjet hopes to grow. Their addition of 4 E175s per month will create vacancies and movement in Houston, but probably not EWR.

Expressjet flew 376,627 hours in all of 2018 (source). With 1400 pilots, that's only 269 hours per pilot, and down by 38% from 2017. Going there with a top priority of getting flight time is putting a lot of stock into hope.

Commutair doesn't report their annual traffic, or at least I can't find it on the internet. Can anyone help?

What do you think? I am leaning toward Commutair because they match Expressjet in domicile, training time, and win out for upgrade time and are a better bet for the "most" flight time.

Anything else you think I should consider?

You can fly a ton in Newark if you want. I do. Most pilots commute and want to be as far away from Newark as possible. As vacancies open in Houston and Chicago, pilots bid out of Newark and create vacancies. Ideally you can move up the list fast.

Future upgrades and such, no one knows about for sure. The 25 Ejets we’re bringing on this year is almost equal to Commutair’s entire fleet. That’s serious growth, plus all the 145 and 200 flying.

Finally, don’t be surprised if Xjet and commutair eventually merge and this convo becomes a moot point.

And yeah, our contract and training and overall culture are far superior to commutair. We do far more diverse flying and see lost of places. I’ve been as far west as ABQ, all over Mexico and eastern Canada. We also get downtown hotels when we’re there longer than 15 hours. That’s a huge difference.

Honestly pay (contract) needs to be farther up your list.

The best airline job is where you get paid to not fly.

Fixed it for you. Those priorities will change in months. Trust me, you will be looking back wondering what you were thinking. Plan a year ahead of your current priorities. It’ll help big time.

Watch, do what's best for you with all the facts you have at the present time. You'll get people from both airlines trying to further their own interests convincing you to come over. If there's one thing you'll learn about this industry, it's every man for himself.