Dark Knight

hey fellas,

so from a learning standpoint...

which regional aircraft is a great "starter"?

i guess the CRJ is bigger than the ERJ and some prop jobs vary....

so which aircraft has the easier flows and is easier to fly and learn how to fly

would a saab340 be a better starter than an ERJ135 because it is bigger or would it be not as good because it is a prop plane?

thanks

Dark Knight

or even a dash 8? worst? best? any advice...

thanks...again

POPA

Two important points:
1) The Slaab is not bigger than the 135. Is it taller, and it has a wider wingspan. However, the 135 is longer and has a much higher MTOW.
2) There is no "better" between the three. There's only "different."

Slice

The prop is better to start. In general, a more forgiving aircraft. The biggest point is you will learn about flying in the weather since usually, you'll do more takeoffs and landings in the same weather system. So if it's crappy, it often is so all day long.

dvd1

If what you want is to build a career as a pilot, aim at jet flying. However Turboprops seem like a lot of fun, altough very noisy and vibration after a few hours drives you crazy. I only had few oportunities to fly Turbprops. I flew as a copilot of a C90 twice (not really a required crew member), a Turbolet 410 twice and jumpseated in Bae J32s, beech 1900Cs and EMB120. ERJ's compared to CRJs (I fly CRJs never flown ERJs) they do about the same except that the ERJ is truly a regional jet. Obviously the CRJ200 and ERJ145 carry 50 passengers, but the CRJ is little bit more heavy and has better range with max pax. (CRJ200LR compared to ERJ145LR). CRJ200LR carries full pax for about 3 hour legs i.e. BOS-MEM. (at least during summer). ERJ145LR is much more limited to about 2 hour legs with full pax I think? (any ERJ pilots around?). Obviously CRJ700-CRJ900s are in a different category (togheter with EMB170-190).
The differences as a pilot, as told by a pilot that has flown both ERJ and CRJ is that the ERJ is easier to fly, specially for landings. CRJ200s approach (I call it dive) with the nose down and the flare is could be very tricky and is extremely sensitive to speed, if you come a little fast you're going to float along over the runway for a while. If the runway is long, it's OK but when you have a short runway you gotta watch out, specially in wet/ice conditions. Again I never flown a ERJ but they seem to be more "JET NATURAL" during aproach and flare, and just observing them landing you can tell. I've rearly seen an ERJ in a bad landing, but I defenetly seen a lot of very bad CRJ landings.Floating in ground effect, landing flat on 3 wheels (never me thoug jaja ). I wish I had flown turboprops in 121 ops, but the truth is that even if I had the opportunity, career wise I would have still chosen a JET)

P.S. I heard from many Dash 8 pilots that DHC8s are really fun to fly.
Any Dash 8 pilots?

CL65driver

The ERJ does 3 hour legs easily... well the XR at least. IAH-ABQ, EWR-YYT and IAH-PSP just to name a few... and with a heavy load as well. The ERJ is more forgiving in crosswinds... heck, all landings in general. CRJ is sturdier with better avionics. It's a catch 22 between the two IMHO.

soon2bfo

The ERJ is a good plane with a lot of solid automation in the systems and a good setup in the cockpit. Despite what has been said I like the ERJ avionics better. Maybe its just prejudice, but I like the ergonomics of the cockpit with the overhead panel, the pedestal, and the rams horns. The CRJ has to cram all of the controls on the pedestal and instrument panel with a limited overhead that makes some of the controls hard to reach/use according to one CRJ pilot. Either way you choose will have a solid jet to fly. The EP's are dogs in the summer, but the LR's can usually perform well enough with a full load. I've been told that the CRJ 200 isn't a top performer in the summer heat either. The CRJ 700 is a solid jet though.

The RJ's are less forgiving with poor descent planning, in the props you can go flight idle and drop so fast you'll give some poor center controller a heart attack. Good luck with your interviews!

dvd1

Thanks for info. I always like to learn something. I was talking about the LR but defenetly the XR is doing a good job on longer legs. Also I was wondering which plane has better performance on single engine flying. Also in hot and high ops, what's the maximum density altitude an ERJ145 can take-off full pax (part 121 reqs.)? (Asuming you are flying a 300NM leg)?

check6

Who cares. . .an air transport category airplane is what it is.

dvd1

I do. If you don't care it's ok don't need to post. You are in the wrong forum.