ORF was an "original" Piedmont Airlines base, that is now US Airways/'Merican with probably close to 100+ active commuting employees.
-ADD all the ex Navy/AF/Army/Coast Guard/Marine pilots that were based somewhere close to the 7-cities that now commute to any number of bases that now employ them.
-ADD the 100+ ZW employees that commute to ORF (while a good number live in the area, a larger number still commute)
-ADD summertime vacation loads being close to 100% from March to August.
-ADD the majority of flights are on RJs with only 1 jumpseat.

EQUALS = Not a commuter friendly base.

But what do I know...I live there.

I currently work for AWAC. This is my 3rd airline in 10 years. (furloughed, company shut down, ect) This is by far the best regional right now in regards to pay and contract. As for ORF, I'd have to agree. The lines are what made it difficult to commute for me. I currently live in Virginia Beach, so life is great. As for ATL, CLT, or NYC. I only have experience with ATL. Having lived there most of my life, and commuting out of there for the majority of my aviation career I'd say it's the easiest. A big reason is that it's the busiest airport in the world. There are direct flights to pretty much anywhere you want to go.

Example: NYC area there are almost 30+departures a day. ORF, over 6 flights a day. PHL, around 17 a day and DCA, around 15 a day. All direct. No connections. If you add in connecting flights your options triple.

I'm not sure of the other airports you had listed, but from my experience it is a little more difficult to get around from those locations. Hope this helps. PM me if you have any other questions. Best of luck and thank you for your service!

As others have said - many RJ flights, many, many, many commuters from many airlines. Lots of former military pilots who work for major carriers live here and the flights are often full.

IMHO, it's an underserved market but airlines prefer full RJs over half-full mainline airplanes, so what do I know?

Just believe me, commuting is stressful and commuting in and out of ORF is even more so.

But if you work here in ORF it's pretty decent. Schedules are usually, at best, commutable on one side and almost never both. You can usually get commutable on one side but when you're junior even that won't happen.

I live here now but that could change.

DryMotorBoatin, BAe3100FO, cubanfiredawg, and saab2000,

Thanks for the quick replies. Hard to get a feel for this stuff with no experience doing it. If we moved there I would be joining the ranks of the "ex Navy/AF/Army/Coast Guard/Marine pilots that were based somewhere close to the 7-cities that now commute to any number of bases that now employ them." Pretty soon I'd be either commuting out to an airline job or moving to an airline base and having to commute in for a reserve job. Either way it sounds difficult.

Thanks again!

rdc/saab,

Thank you for the replies. I am starting to drop my applications now.

Would one of the current AWAC pilots who doesn't mind answering a couple of questsions please shoot me a PM? Thank you!

Thank you for the PMs! You guys are awesome!

Hey AWAC-ers.... I'm currently looking at a move to the regionals and Air Whiskey looks like the best option by far, all things considered. I've got a lot of happy friends there. I'm wondering if anyone thinks it's feasible to live near BTV and commute to PHL or DCA. Really want to move back to Vermont and maintain a professional flying career. Just wonder if anyone has any thoughts on whether it would be a good or bad idea. One leg commute.. Mostly on your own airline...? And are the lines/reserve commuter friendly ever?

I have only taken 1 jumpseater to BTV from PHL/DCA ever... Don't see a ton of commuters when I do it.

I know of a person who is based in lga works for air willy Commutes to bTV, I know they drive sometimes (like 4 hrs) yikes. But I know delta connection does a lga-btv. PHL may be easier since its on Awac mostly but who knows.

Thanks guys