Poll: ExpressJet or Chautauqua?

[afav8r]

If you were being hired now, which company would you rather work for and why?

 

[SennaP1]

In 3, .....2,......1.

This will be good.

I chose CHQ. If you have questions PM me.

 

[Baronman]

I say CHQ....

That being said, I have a friend who works for XJT and his wife at CHQ. Better company to work for is XJT hands down, trip trades, pay, vacation etc are all better at XJT.

But it seems like CHQ is growing fast now, contracts with American, Delta, USAIR, CAL, and United. They're like mold growing...

Then again, with things being as cyclical as they are if you go with CHQ now you may be stuck there for a while. Who know, they may lose most of their 50 seat flying in 2 years and then you're stuck at laughable FO rates on the 170. Oh yeah, did I mention 1 pay rate for FO's on the 145/170? It's disturbing. But if you like Shiney Jets, the 170 is one Shiney JET!

 

[Turtlesfly]

Today it is XJT, but tomorrow we could not be as good as Mesaba. It all goes in cycles. Comair used to be the place to be, then AWAC, then Mesaba . . . . hopefully we're not going to be another one of those "great places in the past"

 

[time builder]

But if you like Shiney Jets, the 170 is one Shiney JET!

Indeed. Cool plane, but they should really pay the pilots more. Maybe they should take a look at what USAir and Jetblue are paying pilots to fly the stretched version.

 

[rattler]

When I was looking for my first airline job my top choices where 1. COEX 2.American Eagle 3. Air Wisconsin 4. Comair 5. ACA. So do you see how this "cyclical thing" works? I was lucky enough to get hired by COEX, Comair and ACA. I chose COEX. After a year COEX started to furlough and Comair got big raises. I said to my self "I should have gone to Comair". Well after a few more years have gone by, I am gald I chose COEX (which is now called ExpressJet). So where is the best place to work for the next 5-10 years? It's hard to say.

ExpressJet has 275 ERJs, as of now 54 of them are homeless. And in 2 years, another 69 may also become homeless if CAL decides to remove them from the Capacity Purchase Agreement. We are lucky to have a very good management team, and most are confident they will find a home for these aircraft.

If you want to look at pilot contracts, there is really no comparison. Both have some similar payrates, strickly dollar per hour rate. But that's where it ends. Quality of life at ExpressJet can be very good, with a nice W2 at the end of the year. I haven't seen any other regional get close to the ExpressJet contract. And this contract was extended for 2 more years with pay raises and additional improvements to Quality of life.

Ultimately you have to choose where you will be happy for the next 5+ years (unless your daddy is incharge of hiring at CAL), so take your time a do alot of reseach.

 

[volav8r1]

CHQ gets a lot of flack on this site (some is warranted, some is BS). I have been 5+ years at CHQ and have loved every second of it. (I was also an express jet furlough following 9-11 and chose not to take the recall for my own reasons).

People talk about quality of life at various regionals and I won't get into a pi$$ing contest about which is better, but I will tell you what I like about CHQ:

1. No junior manning

2. Year end bonus ($1250 after 2nd year with company) not a lot, but helps around the hollidays.

3. multiple aircraft types to chose from

4. people (we have our ******************************bags like everyone else, but overall the pilots are great to work with).

5. Average between 14 and 17 days off per month.

6. Multiple bases to chose from

7. Maintenence (planes are kept in good working order resulting in a comfortable working environment)

There are others that appeal to me personnaly but these are just a few of the highlights.

Coex is a great company with great crews overall. I wish nothing but the best for them and hope that we can learn to co-exist in the CAL system.

Bottom line is they are both still regional airlines that exist at the mercy of the majors that contract us out to do THEIR flying, make the decision based on what is best for you and your family.

One other thing: CHQ starts contract negotiations very soon. Things are likely to get very dicey around here as the company is making money hand over fist and we as a pilot group feel we have palyed a major role in the companies good fortune. We are expecting nothing less than an industry leading contract now that we are not staring down the business end of an alter ego carrier this time around.

Now resume your regularly scheduled CHQ bashing.......

 

[Capt. Caucasian]

1. No junior manning

Neither does XJT. With the new contract all the pilot has to say is "I am unavailable". I left there recently but there never was an instance of junior manning since the new contract was signed. We made too expensive.

 

[Yudso]

I understand why a First Officer of a 767 should be paid more than the pilot of a 737. Explain why it should be the same between an E145/E170

 

[D.sanchez]

I understand why a First Officer of a 767 should be paid more than the pilot of a 737. Explain why it should be the same between an E145/E170

Because the 170 has 20 more passenger seats which means the airline makes more revenue off of the 170..... If you can understand why a 767 driver should make more than a 737 driver, it shoudlnt' be a leap in logic for you to understand why a 170 driver should make more than a 145 driver.. jacka$$

 

[Yudso]

Okay A$$jack. I just think that the FO's at the regionals are better off with a blended rate.

 

[FlyingSig]

Neither does XJT

That's because Ellie took a job at Delta (or so it seems with the way my phone rings off the hook at all hours)... old timers will know what I'm talking about....

 

[SizzleChest]

...RAH works on a fee per departure..... the same is paid whether full or empty.... that is why completion is more impt. than on-time perf. RAH gets their pay when the plane leaves the ground.

 

[Baronman]

Bottom line is they are both still regional airlines that exist at the mercy of the majors that contract us out to do THEIR flying, make the decision based on what is best for you and your family.

Now resume your regularly scheduled CHQ bashing.......

Ok...I'll start...Funny how the CHQ guys love to point out it's "their" flying. If all of a sudden some company, (let's say MESA) came and operated your United Express routes, you'd be a little peeved if it meant you were going to move backwards at your company. Oh yeah, silly me, it was never your route...It was just a plane you were occupying being asked to do so by United.

Trust me....You see things your way cause you're the one taking the flying, if you were working at a company like Comair or XJT, or ASA you'd be peeved too cause some outfit came out of nowhere to do the flying. But again, since you're the one taking it you can make statements like the one highlighed above without losing sleep.

And for the tool that says he's happy with blended rates, I'm sorry for you. You MUST be subsidized by your mommy and daddy. They must have paid for your flight school, cell phone bills etc with that attitude. I got bills to pay and suckers like you are happy to get paid less to fly more people. You'll see things differently when you grow up.

 

[SXMp2c]

Ok...I'll start...Funny how the CHQ guys love to point out it's "their" flying. If all of a sudden some company, (let's say MESA) came and operated your United Express routes, you'd be a little peeved if it meant you were going to move backwards at your company. Oh yeah, silly me, it was never your route...It was just a plane you were occupying being asked to do so by United.

Trust me....You see things your way cause you're the one taking the flying, if you were working at a company like Comair or XJT, or ASA you'd be peeved too cause some outfit came out of nowhere to do the flying. But again, since you're the one taking it you can make statements like the one highlighed above without losing sleep.

And for the tool that says he's happy with blended rates, I'm sorry for you. You MUST be subsidized by your mommy and daddy. They must have paid for your flight school, cell phone bills etc with that attitude. I got bills to pay and suckers like you are happy to get paid less to fly more people. You'll see things differently when you grow up.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Get over yourself asshat. if the cal flying hadnt gone to chq it would have gone to mesa.

CAL decided to expand THEIR regional feed. Not mesa, not chq, not xjt.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

 

[wmudriver]

A regional is a regional....arguing over which one is better is like watching 2 dudes fight over a fat chick.

Each company has their plus and minuses. Either way, its still an airline who is at the mercy of a major for business.

 

[Capt. Caucasian]

That's because Ellie took a job at Delta (or so it seems with the way my phone rings off the hook at all hours)... old timers will know what I'm talking about....

Yeah, I remember her. BTW, a little trivia, do you know who her son is? Actually, I think you left before that though.

 

[volav8r1]

Ok...I'll start...Funny how the CHQ guys love to point out it's "their" flying. If all of a sudden some company, (let's say MESA) came and operated your United Express routes, you'd be a little peeved if it meant you were going to move backwards at your company. Oh yeah, silly me, it was never your route...It was just a plane you were occupying being asked to do so by United.

Trust me....You see things your way cause you're the one taking the flying, if you were working at a company like Comair or XJT, or ASA you'd be peeved too cause some outfit came out of nowhere to do the flying. But again, since you're the one taking it you can make statements like the one highlighed above without losing sleep.

And for the tool that says he's happy with blended rates, I'm sorry for you. You MUST be subsidized by your mommy and daddy. They must have paid for your flight school, cell phone bills etc with that attitude. I got bills to pay and suckers like you are happy to get paid less to fly more people. You'll see things differently when you grow up.

well the most recent scenario I can think of is: Mesa/Freedom replacing the Delta routes in MCO that we took from Comair. Subsequently, we closed down our Florida operation. It does happen to us also. Most of us just realize that it is out of our hands. Codeshare partners will do what they wish with THEIR flying. It's a shame you can't comprehend that.

 

[FlyingSig]

Yeah, I remember her. BTW, a little trivia, do you know who her son is? Actually, I think you left before that though.

No but I remember the urban legend of her calling her neighbor to get her husband on the phone to jr. man him...

 

[mamba20]

This is like trying to decide if you want to sleep with the fat one or the ugly one. Just pick one and get it done. Things change over night, no pun intended.

 

[8HourPilot]

Happens every month sir.

Last month my company, let's say it's RAH had service into and out of my hometown. Taken by Mesa this month, taken back by mainline next month. Most likey back to a mix of us and Skywest the month after that.
Things may stay the same, or close to it over at CAL, but every month is something new at United. So who's route is it, one never knows. Go back far enough, and I'd say it's mainlines.

Again, how did one pilot "Take" the flying. I remember mainline CAL running planes into my hometown, which now recieves service from IAH/CLE/EWR with XJT 145's/135's......did you personally "take" the flying, if so shame on you.

Honestly, I would challenge you to take a look at what you typed, and then consider how you could possibly accuse someone of being not grown up.

Ok...I'll start...Funny how the CHQ guys love to point out it's "their" flying. If all of a sudden some company, (let's say MESA) came and operated your United Express routes, you'd be a little peeved if it meant you were going to move backwards at your company. Oh yeah, silly me, it was never your route...It was just a plane you were occupying being asked to do so by United.

Trust me....You see things your way cause you're the one taking the flying, if you were working at a company like Comair or XJT, or ASA you'd be peeved too cause some outfit came out of nowhere to do the flying. But again, since you're the one taking it you can make statements like the one highlighed above without losing sleep.


And for the tool that says he's happy with blended rates, I'm sorry for you. You MUST be subsidized by your mommy and daddy. They must have paid for your flight school, cell phone bills etc with that attitude. I got bills to pay and suckers like you are happy to get paid less to fly more people. You'll see things differently when you grow up.

 

[Baronman]

I hope you don't consider the FO rate at CHQ "blended." I call it flying a 70 seater for 50 seat pay. What do you call it?

 

[FlyingDawg]

Take the job that has a base in your hometown. If that is not possible then that the one that will allow the best commute. It all about quality of life.

 

[jvrac]

What's the reserve callout for Republic/CHQ? How easy is it to get based in IND or SDF? Are those bases pretty stable/secure? I only want to make the switch if I can be based at home.

 

[volav8r1]

What's the reserve callout for Republic/CHQ? How easy is it to get based in IND or SDF? Are those bases pretty stable/secure? I only want to make the switch if I can be based at home.

Hour and a half callout to report, then 45 minutes to have the airplane off the gate. If you live in base you have 2:15 from your living room until your taxiing out. Not a bad deal at all.

SDF and IND are both here to stay. IND is headquarters and would survive a nuclear blast. SDF is a major Maintenence facility and will be around for quite some time.

 

[Yudso]

All I am saying is that at our level seniority does not determine what aircraft you can hold. Why should one's payrate for the next few years be chosen at random. I agree that the fo pay rates at rah are low, but I am not going to fight for higher pay on the 170 at the expense of 145 fo's.

 

[sleddriver77]

If all of a sudden some company, (let's say MESA) came and operated your United Express routes, you'd be a little peeved...

Actually, I'd be ecstatic! I can't STAND flying into IAD or ORD.

 

[cfdoubleeye]

Not a bad deal? Our reserves get a 2 hour callout to show at the airport, and 45 minutes to out. 2:45 was barely enough time to show and get off on time. 30 to dress, :30 drive, :30 bus ride from the lot, :15 security, 10 min to walk to the gate/crew room.... right on time, and here come the lemmings for a 10 early push).

That's tough... I don;t see why a guy with 500+/100 multi would go to places with there work rules. Much less Corpex, Mesa, Colgan - XJT max legs are usually below 5 in a day and by contract no more than 6... if you can fly at a turboprop company (right now) you can also get an FO position at a regional jet carrier. I recommend very highly XJT.

 

[RP170]

ExpressJet has 275 ERJs, as of now 54 of them are homeless. And in 2 years, another 69 may also become homeless if CAL decides to remove them from the Capacity Purchase Agreement. We are lucky to have a very good management team, and most are confident they will find a home for these aircraft.

And that's many of us thought about ACA's management when they decided to start Independence. Look at us now. Don't believe the "we have good management" hype.

 

[SXMp2c]

If you have 500 and 1 please go to XJT. especially if you went to "THE ACADEMY"