I'm about to get furloughed and exploring my options. I have never had a job for which I was required to commute on my own, so this is new to me.

I am considering applying at Chautauqua for the possibility of living in base to ride out the furlough until the call-back (if that happens at all).

1) Does living in base make the lower pay worth it?

2) How much does living in base make up for the other cons of regional life?

3) Can a new-hire get SDF? If not, how long until I would be able to hold SDF?

4) Do you think I'd be better off commuting and working at another airline, i.e. Spirit?

I think you are comparing apples and oranges when it comes to a place like Spirit and Chautauqua.. At spirit you would be starting at double pay, better schedules and more days off.. That alone could make it worth commuting. I know I would avoid a regional carrier if I could.

But for some, living in base is worth more than any paycheck, so in the end it is a decision you have to make.

Chautauqua is an airline that opens and closes bases on a whim. CMH and IND are the only sure things there. If you can get on at an airline like Spirit or Jetblue, take it over Chautauqua. No contest. I know Chautauqua captains that lived in base that quit to take a job at Spirit as a commuter. You would be starting at Chautauqua at the bottom. It simply is not worth it. A reserve at Chautauqua starts first day at 6am and finishes last day around 10pm. You will work every single day you are on reserve.

Right now I'd say SDF and CMH are the only sure things. Rumors have been going around that they want to close CLE and IND for a while now. They're already shutting down MKE and GRR.

Like someone else said, apples to oranges. Go to Spirit if you can. Either way, live within your means and save up your "Furlough Fund."

What makes you think you will get CHQ? If they need you in Shuttle you will get shuttle.. If they need you in Republic you will get that.. This airline is full of pilots that live on a domicile of another wholly owned but commute to a different base because they are not in the right certificate.. Commuting from SDF is easy, go with an airline that will respect you .. pretty much any regional airline but RAH is the answer..

+1
I can't believe I actually agree with hockeypilot...

For the love of all things holy, go to Spirit if you can. I would only come to RAH if it were my last option to stay current. You want CHQ SDF, so naturally you'll be assigned RW GSO. Thats the Republic way. We have too many pilots commuting out of airports that are bases on different certificates.

Thanks for the replies. I think y'all have me convinced to stay away, even if I could live in base.

Cheers!