NWA or a good regional

[jasone145]

With NWA starting to hire again I'm trying to figure out whether to stay senior at a regional with good schedules, no commuting and decent pay or go for NWA. I know the first year will suck for pay and schedules and the pays not much better the next year. My question is how are the schedules for say a 2-3 year FO? I plan to eventually move to where I'm based, MSP or DTW with NWA. What kind of trips do they have, all 4 days or are there shorter trips available? Any insight especially from those that are there would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[Whine Lover]

Have you looked at NWA Pay scales?

If you are a 8-10 year 145 Capatain you'd be going BACKWARDS for many years financially.

Not to mention having a crappy QOL for an equal number of years.

Stay put...The Game has changed, THERE IS NO GREEN GRASS ON ANY SIDE OF THE FENCE ANY MORE.


YKW

 

[Captain Overs]

Although I might agree with the above post I would offer something else in addition. Most of the time when people talking about moving on or staying put, people always talk money. Personally, I think quality of life and how much you like the job is more important. If I had a good wage, good seniority with lots of days off, and not having to commute I would be hard pressed to leave.

I think if you ask some people who've spent many years chasing that "Dream" job they will tell you it wasn't all they thought it'd be.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

I personally measure my wealth in time. More time at home with my family is worth more to me than an additional 20 grand a year.

 

[General Lee]

You guys sound like a bunch of disgruntled RJDC members. You can look at the big picture or the small picture. Will wages always stay small? Will you ever gain enough seniority to get a good schedule and maybe fly to places other than Cedar Rapids? If you are 45 years old at your regional and you attend all of your sons baseball games religiously, and your life revolves around that, then maybe you should stay where you are. If you have another business and need the extra time off to run it and it will provide financial security for you in the future, stay where you are at. If you are single or have very small children that won't care if you are busy the next few years, then go to the major. IF you are sick of Cedar Rapids and Shreevport, then go to a Major that can give you some INTL variety eventually. If you don't care and need to watch the football games on the weekends with your fat friends and are a lazy azz anyway, stay where you are at and complain.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[PCL_128]

Yeah, what the General said.

By the way, what exactly is a "good regional?" Such a thing doesn't exist. Your job is just one more RFP away from nonexistence.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

So is yours if you guys take anything close to the TA that Airtran is offering you.

 

[SEVEN]

You guys sound like a bunch of disgruntled RJDC members. You can look at the big picture or the small picture. Will wages always stay small? Will you ever gain enough seniority to get a good schedule and maybe fly to places other than Cedar Rapids? If you are 45 years old at your regional and you attend all of your sons baseball games religiously, and your life revolves around that, then maybe you should stay where you are. If you have another business and need the extra time off to run it and it will provide financial security for you in the future, stay where you are at. If you are single or have very small children that won't care if you are busy the next few years, then go to the major. IF you are sick of Cedar Rapids and Shreevport, then go to a Major that can give you some INTL variety eventually. If you don't care and need to watch the football games on the weekends with your fat friends and are a lazy azz anyway, stay where you are at and complain.


Bye Bye--General Lee

BRANIFF-BELIEVE IT!!!

 

[On Your Six]

I would avoid NWA for now - there are too many uncertainties. If you need to make that jump to the majors and you have the hours and contacts, I would aim for Delta, UPS, Fedex or even SWA if you don't mind working hard on domestic-only routes (to each his own).

If you have to get out of the regional and you want to do something new, look into Netjets. I have no affiliation with Netjets but I hear great things all the time and there are plenty of former ERJ drivers there.

 

[iaflyer]

I was looking at the NWA payscale and ran some numbers in excel; it looks like that if I went to NWA now, my career earnings are higher at my current job.
Of course, that doesn't include future pay raises, but I didn't include the 5% a year (for each of the next 4 years) that I'm expecting at my current job either. And I did try to include what retirement exists at each place. (I used airlinepilotcentral, seems accurate).

Of course, at NWA I live 25 minutes from DTW, that's an advantage.. but pay wise... I dunno.

 

[General Lee]

I was looking at the NWA payscale and ran some numbers in excel; it looks like that if I went to NWA now, my career earnings are higher at my current job.
Of course, that doesn't include future pay raises, but I didn't include the 5% a year (for the next 4 years) that I'm expecting at my current job either. And I did try to include what retirement exists at each place. (I used airlinepilotcentral, seems accurate).

Of course, at NWA I live 25 minutes from DTW, that's an advantage.. but pay wise... I dunno.

Don't expect any legacy to remain low in pay. We were all hit hard after 9-11, and we may not get it all back at once, but it will increase from where it is now no doubt. But, if you want to stay in a 747, I would stay at Connie. I would stay there now and watch the fallout at NWA first.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Rough67]

Staying at a regional also has its risks I think. If you were at ACA around 2002 things were looking pretty good, with the high payscales and good contract. I guess nothing is for certain or safe (referencing job security) in the aviation industry.

 

[iaflyer]

Don't expect any legacy to remain low in pay. We were all hit hard after 9-11, and we may not get it all back at once, but it will increase from where it is now no doubt. But, if you want to stay in a 747, I would stay at Connie. I would stay there now and watch the fallout at NWA first.

Yeah, that's what I *think* but it depends on solidarity and the pilot group. Who do I think has the best chance? Delta actually. They seem pretty united and together on things. Of course, I'm outside looking in. Of course, first I have to get a major to call me...

 

[brokeflyer]

Those crappy payscales, schedules and other stuff will all disappear as soon as you guys STOP taking the jobs in the first place......make a pilot shortage and things will get better.......but we have too many regional airlines and even far more major airlines.......need to get rid of some of them.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Those crappy payscales, schedules and other stuff will all disappear as soon as you guys STOP taking the jobs in the first place......make a pilot shortage and things will get better.......but we have too many regional airlines and even far more major airlines.......need to get rid of some of them.

You haven't tried to go anywhere on NWA lately have you? They already have a pilot shortage. Anyone care to over/under the cancellations for the end of this month?

 

[waveflyer]

Did I just read "high payscales" at ACA??-
Man there are some deluded types out there.

Management going after regional pilots for pay should show everyone that you will NEVER make a low enough amount.

General- you are flame bait most times but thank you for saying that. The one comment i hate:
'it'll never be like the good ole days back in 1999'

Adjust it for inflation and a Pan Am captain made close to $600/hour. Now everyone's up in arms about $300??

It won't be like the good ole days until we all remember our history- that all all major airlines WERE once paid worse than regionals- and then they united - and didn't leave one pilot behind.

That has to be the new theme:

"Not one aviator struggling and on survival mode. From flight instructor to 777 captain- Everyone is taken care of."

We've seen what looking out for #1 has cost us all.

 

[JAM-BRO]

With NWA starting to hire again I'm trying to figure out whether to stay senior at a regional with good schedules, no commuting and decent pay or go for NWA. I know the first year will suck for pay and schedules and the pays not much better the next year. My question is how are the schedules for say a 2-3 year FO? I plan to eventually move to where I'm based, MSP or DTW with NWA. What kind of trips do they have, all 4 days or are there shorter trips available? Any insight especially from those that are there would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jason

Any major airline job is better than ANY regional...
​

 

[JoeMerchant]

Did I just read "high payscales" at ACA??-
Man there are some deluded types out there.

Management going after regional pilots for pay should show everyone that you will NEVER make a low enough amount.

General- you are flame bait most times but thank you for saying that. The one comment i hate:
'it'll never be like the good ole days back in 1999'

Adjust it for inflation and a Pan Am captain made close to $600/hour. Now everyone's up in arms about $300??

It won't be like the good ole days until we all remember our history- that all all major airlines WERE once paid worse than regionals- and then they united - and didn't leave one pilot behind.

That has to be the new theme:

"Not one aviator struggling and on survival mode. From flight instructor to 777 captain- Everyone is taken care of."

We've seen what looking out for #1 has cost us all.

Too late.... that train has already left the station....

The rules changed in 1978, and we are trying to ignore the new reality....

 

[waveflyer]

yeah- but what's your point? Everyone knows how I think we should change=- what do you think?

In any case- "too late" just encourages apathy- you all believe you are just along for the ride- reality is- airplanes don't fly without pilots- we have to get creative and get a system that works for us. This undervaluing and lowballing is something that requires our consent

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I think a lot of regional (and other) guys aren't applying at UAL, and the same will be true for NWA.

From another board...

]...word around the DEN training center (called "TK" by UA peeps) is that there were only 600 apps after the first 3 days - they were expecting 3000+.

cliff
LRD