Another Regional Or Fractional

[Cpt Splash]

I would like to pose a question to all the regional pilots out there. If you had the choice between quiting a Captain position on a 1900 and going to another regional right into a capt position and having a 8k year contract or go to a fractional( doesn't matter which one), get a type rating in a jet and better pay and QOL, which would you go for?

I have a friend right now in that position and I am just wondering if you regional pilots feel that working for a regional is the best way to a major 5 to 10 years down the road. He feels that going from one regional to another regional still flying turbo props is the way to SWA or Continental. I have never flown for a regional so I don't know what it is like, but when I did work for the fractionals, there were a lot of regional pilots that I worked with that would never go back to the regionals. Also, has anybody here, ever go from a fractional to a regional?

I am not comparing skills as a pilot between the two, just wondering what the opinions are.

Thanks

 

[viper548]

It all depends how much PIC turbine you have. If you've got 1500+, I'd say move on to a jet. If not, stay in the 1900

 

[shamrock]

Which Fractional may not matter but which regional he's going into the left seat for might. Who might that be?

 

[Lear70]

There's only ONE regional right now that's hiring directly into the left seat of a jet and that's G0Jets.

There MIGHT be a few turboprop operators who are, but I don't really keep track of that.

For your friend, if he has a shot at Netjets, I would say GO, and don't ever look back. Better than ANY regional is EVER going to be in terms of pay and QOL, and there are PLENTY of guys and gals who get hired at Southwest out of Fracs. There was one at my Southwest interview who was an F/O when I was flying Lears for Flexjet and she got hired (depressing, but good for her).

I would NOT go to Flexjet, Options, or CShares right now though. Things are going to get rough over there, especially at Flex with the big push for unionization right now and the relationship with management sucks beyond belief, plus upgrade time at Flex is like... forever.

I agree with Viper however, if he doesn't have the 1,000 turbine PIC and then some, he should stay put until he does, THEN make the jump to Netjets, unless he's planning on making a CAREER out of Netjets (which it doesn't sound like).

 

[av8tor4239]

STAY AWAY... FAR AWAY FROM THE REGIONALS.... READ SOME OF THE CRAP ON THIS BOARD....

unless you like flying 6 legs a day to the armpits of america.. hauling the dumpiest trashiest people on earth to the ugliest places on earth

 

[SkyBoy1981]

STAY AWAY... FAR AWAY FROM THE REGIONALS.... READ SOME OF THE CRAP ON THIS BOARD....

Yeah, because the "crap on this board" is some of the most reliable information that you will ever get.

 

[indianboy7]

it all depends on what his goals are....if his purpose in life is to get into a seat on a major airline's equipment, then gettin all the turbine PIC he can is the name of the game, doesn't matter where he gets it. Now, if his goal is to have good pay and a decently cushy lifestyle, then the fractionals (especially netjets) are the way to go....

 

[Lear70]

it all depends on what his goals are....if his purpose in life is to get into a seat on a major airline's equipment, then gettin all the turbine PIC he can is the name of the game, doesn't matter where he gets it. Now, if his goal is to have good pay and a decently cushy lifestyle, then the fractionals (especially netjets) are the way to go....

I disagree with you...

All the PIC Turbine time in the WORLD won't help you if you don't have any contacts. ESPECIALLY at places like FedEx, UPS, CAL, and AirTran, places that pretty much REQUIRE an internal rec to get your foot in the door unless you've been furloughed from a going-out-of-business carrier and one of those airlines gives preferential interviews (CAL with ATA, etc).

There are literally THOUSANDS of regional pilots with several THOUSAND hours of PIC turbine who have been trying to get on with those carriers for YEARS, including a couple hundred just here at PCL that I know PERSONALLY and, without internal LOR's, no one's going ANYWHERE except to jetBlue and, if you have the type, Southwest. Trust me on this, most of those guys I'm talking about have been Captains for YEARS and have 4,000 - 6,000 PIC Turbine and no skeletons to mention in their closets and can't get the interview.

So again, if you have that 1,000+ PIC Turbine, unless you have VERY good internal LOR's at a major carrier, go for the better QOL of the fracs.

Been there, done both, and can honestly say if I could get on with NJA right now I would leave PCL in a heartbeat... NJA is a CAREER job that, if you never made it on with a major, you COULD financially and QOL-wise make it your last stop in aviation.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

I could be wrong, but I think we are going to see a large volume of hiring at major airlines over the next 10 years. I know there are furloughs, but one must consider that places like US Airways have basically an entire pilot group that is over the age of 50.

Thats not to say that these airlines will ever be the quality places to work that they were 10 years ago, but the opportunity will be there again at some point.

 

[indianboy7]

I could be wrong, but I think we are going to see a large volume of hiring at major airlines over the next 10 years. I know there are furloughs, but one must consider that places like US Airways have basically an entire pilot group that is over the age of 50.

Thats not to say that these airlines will ever be the quality places to work that they were 10 years ago, but the opportunity will be there again at some point.

You've been drinking the Kit Darby Juice again Haven't You???

 

[Cpt Splash]

Ok, here's the situation.

He's going from Commutair to Colgan, and he claims that he is going straight into the left seat. I asked about the training and he says 4 sim sessions and 1 week of indoc and ground school. He claims that Colgan is still holding him to a year contract in the amount of 8k. A newhire has a year contract for 12k. Again I don't have any experience in the regionals but to hold a guy to a contract for an aircraft that he is already typed in is retarded. I really think that he got scammed on this one.

I agree with Lear 70 with the notion that all the Turbine PIC time in the world is not going to help unless you network. I don't agree on the notion and status of Flexjet though. I worked for Flex and recently left for a position that pays about 50% more and is closer to where I live. I really don't think the union drive is going to succeed at Flex because, most of my friends that work there seem to feel that those pilots who want the union are in the minority. Upgrade at Flex is about 2 Years. Keep the opinions coming

 

[Lear70]

I used to work at Flex, too, from 1998 to 1999 on the 31. Evidently all the malcontents are on here, 'cause almost every Flex guy on THIS board are pro-union. It's the only way they'll EVER match Netjets for compensation and QOL.

Last I heard upgrades at Flex was 4-5 years because they weren't growing, just replacing the 31's with new aircraft but I haven't talked to anyone in quite a while, maybe enough guys are bailing to Netjets and other places to create some movement, which would be nice for them.

That info about Colgan doesn't sound 'right', but a Colgan guy could probably chime in for more specific info. I think he got scammed, too...

Good luck to you and your friend, sounds like you got a good gig if you found a comparable position closer to home with better QOL making 90k+. Would that we ALL were so lucky!