While you wait for training you might also want to apply to other regionals.

You bid for where you want and times for the sims. Ground school is in IAD. Sims are currently run in STL, CVG, PHX and IAH. IAH I think is only for recurrent at this time.

Already did. Republic hired the ex UPS and the ex-B2/B-52 pilots but passed on me, Envoy never replied after encouraging me to call them for the interview about 2 weeks ago, and Endeavor didn't even look at me or a really good candidate friend of mine who went up against 5 guys with prior 121 time. The other regionals don't have base that work for me, because of where I'm commuting from. So for a flying job, it's CommutAir (for now).

Endeavor is really focusing on prior-121 guys at the moment and are very backed up. Their pay and overall good working conditions have them very backed up getting back to people, folks getting interviews are waiting three months for class dates.

Envoy is also backed up and not having trouble filling classes. Don't give up on them. Three people from my new hire class left within a year to go there and are much happier. It's a MUCH better run airline. Keep hounding their recruiters to show your drive. Two weeks is nothing. Be patient.

How about Piedmont or Air Wis? Have you considered Mountain Air Cargo?

Endeavor is just not going to happen...the pay there attracts people way more experienced than me. Piedmont commute would not work - only one flight a day to base from home, and not even on company metal. Air Wis and Envoy also limited flights to bases (and both of those airlines have their own PotatoChip-type APC advice givers as well, quick with the wave-off). Mountain Air Cargo has no base near me, and no commuting option. I did get an offer flying Caravans for an Ameriflight sub, which has a base that is ALMOST tolerable to drive to, but it is so full of old timers I'd be driving to much further airports as worked their equivalent of reserve ("floater" - reserve where you show at your base and then DRIVE to an outstation to fly a plane somewhere. I draw the tolerable line at sitting around at airports - racking up road miles is beyond that line) for an indistinct amount of years. So I passed on that. But for a turbine job, that meets all the parameters (including "no relocation" and "they hired me"), it's CommutAir. I really wanted Republic and the extra $9/hr plus paid uniforms, but it didn't work out. I can put up with anything for a couple years while I network for that holy grail of a JB job. That said - I will absolutely interview with Envoy if they call, no harm in having multiple offers to choose from.

How long does the current C5 contract extend to?

FWIW, don’t count Endeavor out.
In the past three new hire classes, at least half of all of the pilots were brand-new to the 121 world, and there have least 15 to 20 people that are under 24 years old with only instructor experience. If you have a degree and a relatively decent GPA, you most certainly have a chance.
Keep calling those recruiters!

Welcome to CommutAir bud . Build your 121 hrs and move on. Every regional is a stepping stone unless you plan on being a lifer.

Cozy driver welcome. (from a line pilot, not management)

Some concepts on getting flights canceled and put on reserve. At a busy hub like Ewr United cancels flights (referred to as drawdowns) lessening the traffic for ATC so as to not have massive delays for their mainline flights. Its SOP. Obviously those flights have crews assigned to them, who are then either reassigned or put on reserve until the scheduled end of their duty day.
Some people are upset with this, some are more philosophical since it was scheduled anyway. How you choose to react will be up to you, which obviously affects your own enjoyment of the job.

As to claims that others don't do it (place you on reserve), well bully for them. At my more recent airlines they all did it. Perhaps it is a more common item in recent contracts, but in my airline experience a canceled flight= ready reserve unless scheduling waives it. Such is life.
You may not have 121 experience, but you have life experience. Use that and you will be fine. C5 is a small company. Fellow pilots, schedulers and dispatchers learn who the Richards are. it's not rocket science how to make life smoother.
Enjoy the ride and look forward to flying with you.

Somehow I almost always came out making more money for the draw down days and I sat in the airport watching tv shows and talking to my fellow crew members who were in the same boat.

Life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Put the lemons on chips and it makes them soggy. I have never had a 121 just send me home when a flight cancelled.

So you see cozydriver, it's not always a Potatochip or an Apprentice day here at CommutAir. Build your hrs, make extra cash every month if you want to (since you live in base that would be easy) and drink your freshly squeezed lemonade, made by yourself.

Again, welcome.