Best regional thats hiring?

[crashpad]

RJs' were brought into the industry to suppliment cashflow on a larger scale than the Dash, 1900, etc. RJ speed made it a worthy adversary for mainline, but the bottom line of cost vs profitability overwhelmingly favored the big jets (see Air Trans comparison of figures).
Besides people not liking the RJ for any flight longer than 75 minutes, it also has a substantially higher accident/incident rate when compared to mainline, due to lower experience levels combined with the higher speed.
There is definitely a niche for the RJ. I'm not referring to UALs' blatant abuse of the regionals/mainlineers to pit one against one another.
Legitimate Airlines are now using RJs not as feeders, but as hunters and gatherers. Opening new markets in small places and growing the customer base to a level that supports the big jets and then relocateing the RJs to continue their mission. It's win-win for all, employee-company-passengers.

 

[acaTerry]

The one that hires you is the best one

I must disagree. When pilots had a decent pay scale, some semblence of a retirement and the companies were not slavemasters...the above statement was true.
But now you need to make an informed choice. Upgrade time, FO pay in the meantime (not just hourly---LOOK AT THE GUARANTEE), 401K match (there are NO retirements) and also the issue of whether you go to 8-12 weeks of training for NO pay, NO hotel and NO food are issues you need to consider.
I am not insulting anyone here, but the excitement of flying a jet with only 1000 hours gets old when you can't pay the bills and don't get to see your family. You need to feel good about what you do, and make a living at it. I'm not saying we need to get millions of dollars a year, but it is ridiculous that ALL first and second year regional FO's qualify for WIC vouchers in most states.
Don't settle for crud just b/c they offer you a job. They need pilots and you CAN be choosy, even if you have to wait a little longer.
Good luck.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Regionals SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK. I'm totally with Learjet_pilot and the others on this one. I quit a $45K a year copilot job in a Learjet b/c I didn't want to move to the Carribbean (boss decided to move us from FL and I wasn't having that). Got a job at a regional, worked there for a year....that was about 11 months and 29 days too much. Treated like $hit, worked to death, paid nothing. The ONLY good thing about that job was the friends I made. There is no worse a job in aviation that regional jet FO. All you 1000 hour guys that are just happy to be in a jet, trust me, it wears off fast as you can't pay bills, are never home, and are doing multiple reduced rests in $hitty hotels. And as fares go down, and more pilots flood the market, it's not going to do anything but get worse. There's no $300K a year DC-10 captain job at the end of the rainbow anymore. To me, it's just not worth it. I'll take $70K a year driving a little Slowtation around about 200 hours a year, and being home every night anyday. I hear a lot of guys that hate being on call 24/7, but it really doesn't bother me, as long as it's done right. With my job now, I'm technically on call 24/7, but 99% of the time, I get called the day before. In the 4 months I've worked here, it's happened once...and I have a 1.5 hour callout. That's NOTHING. I play golf, do whatever I want, home every night. I seriously doubt I'll EVER go back to the airlines.

 

[SLFLYHI]

Regionals SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK. I'm totally with Learjet_pilot and the others on this one. I quit a $45K a year copilot job in a Learjet b/c I didn't want to move to the Carribbean (boss decided to move us from FL and I wasn't having that). Got a job at a regional, worked there for a year....that was about 11 months and 29 days too much. Treated like $hit, worked to death, paid nothing. The ONLY good thing about that job was the friends I made. There is no worse a job in aviation that regional jet FO. All you 1000 hour guys that are just happy to be in a jet, trust me, it wears off fast as you can't pay bills, are never home, and are doing multiple reduced rests in $hitty hotels. And as fares go down, and more pilots flood the market, it's not going to do anything but get worse. There's no $300K a year DC-10 captain job at the end of the rainbow anymore. To me, it's just not worth it. I'll take $70K a year driving a little Slowtation around about 200 hours a year, and being home every night anyday. I hear a lot of guys that hate being on call 24/7, but it really doesn't bother me, as long as it's done right. With my job now, I'm technically on call 24/7, but 99% of the time, I get called the day before. In the 4 months I've worked here, it's happened once...and I have a 1.5 hour callout. That's NOTHING. I play golf, do whatever I want, home every night. I seriously doubt I'll EVER go back to the airlines.

CaptVegetto,

I respect your opinion, but must completely disagree. I flew for a regional and was furloughed after 1 yr. I got a job flying a CE-550 at a charter company making more $$$ than every captain at the regional. I thought it would be great. It wasn't. I was gone from home at some points for 21 days straight, flew airplanes that had more MELs than night freighters, and was miserable.

I came back to my regional after 2 yrs flying charter. At least at the regionals I have the holy grail - a set schedule. I fly on average 15 days a month, and last year I cleared $42K - about half as much as I did flying charter. I would never go back.

The regionals are a tough business, to be sure. But IMHO, the charter lifestyle is more brutal than the pay is worth. I'm glad you are at a place where the type of flying I did is rare. Nevertheless, I'd take a set schedule and $40K over $90K and getting my a$$ kicked every month.

But as with anything, where you are is just as important as what you fly and how much you make.

Best of luck to you.

 

[crashpad]

I seriously doubt I'll EVER go back to the airlines.

Capnvirgino has a very practical point of view. Work less and make more per hour.
I agree with that, but if you can pull that off with an airline job - EVEN BETTER!

 

[CapnVegetto]

CaptVegetto,

I respect your opinion, but must completely disagree. I flew for a regional and was furloughed after 1 yr. I got a job flying a CE-550 at a charter company making more $$$ than every captain at the regional. I thought it would be great. It wasn't. I was gone from home at some points for 21 days straight, flew airplanes that had more MELs than night freighters, and was miserable.

I came back to my regional after 2 yrs flying charter. At least at the regionals I have the holy grail - a set schedule. I fly on average 15 days a month, and last year I cleared $42K - about half as much as I did flying charter. I would never go back.

The regionals are a tough business, to be sure. But IMHO, the charter lifestyle is more brutal than the pay is worth. I'm glad you are at a place where the type of flying I did is rare. Nevertheless, I'd take a set schedule and $40K over $90K and getting my a$$ kicked every month.

But as with anything, where you are is just as important as what you fly and how much you make.

Best of luck to you.

Respect right back at ya bro.....and to each his own. Sounds like you had a really crappy job there. 21 days straight? I work for a 135 company, but I'm treated worlds better than that! Like I said, I'm home almost every night, and I LOVE life right now. I sure don't make $84K a year, but I'll always trade $$$ for QOL and being happy. It's just different. At every regional, you can count on about the same thing.....work 15-20 days a month, 800-1000 hours a year, for about $25-$35K as a 1st year copilot, then about the same work for about $55-$68K as captain. I just look at it like this.....why do I want to work for 1000 hours a year for $65K when I can work about 200-300 hours a year for the same pay? Sounds like you just had a crappy job, but that's exactly what I had at my regional. Low pay, even though I had a schedule, it sucked. I was lucky to be home 10 days a month with commuting, and that was holding a line. More like 7 or 8 on reserve. Low pay, and I can't recall EVER flying a CRJ without at least one MEL on it. Most of the time it was more like 3 or 4. There are PLENTY of GREAT jobs out there, you just have to land the right one, and now that I've got a little time under my belt, I know what to look for and what not to. I'm at a 135 company now. I don't make as much money as I should for my job, but I'm treated right, have a great schedule, and I'm not nickel and dimed on the road.....and that goes a LONG WAY with me. I'll do my time here, and move on to a high paying 91 gig in a year or two, when I've got a couple of types under my belt and some PIC time in type.

As for you, enjoy your time there at a regional. When I say they SUCK SUCK SUCK, that's just my opinion. If you're happy, then I'm happy for ya! To each his own, man. Good luck to you too!

 

[Nova]

...it also has a substantially higher accident/incident rate when compared to mainline, due to lower experience levels combined with the higher speed.

Mind telling us all where you got this information?

The most common stats that I've seen compare accident rates per flight (usually 1 million flights). So it would go without saying (or perhaps it should be for your sake) that the widebodies will always have a lower "accident rate" since they operate less flights. A 777 flies 17 hours for 1 flight where a 737 or EMB145 will fly 10 flights for the same total flight time. Being that the takeoff and landing are the most critical phases of flight it would be easy to see how those with more cycles will have a higher accident rate.

With the RJ's approaching 10 years of service how many accidents have we seen in the US? How many "mainline" accidents have there been during the same period? I don't see much of a difference between the 2.

 

[crashpad]

It's a ratio long standing, and don't forget about the 'incidents'. The important thing is how RJs are being utilized more productively for the airlines they are commited to serve.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Capnvirgino is so obviously trying to validate his life as a corporate pilot.
We understand that you're trying to define your self worth, but that has very little to do with this board. There is a Corporate board here where you can comiserate and validate with others like yourself, but this board is for 'airline pilots'.

Sorry the airlines did'nt work out for you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. There are countless pilots who did'nt have what it takes to succeed at this level and went on flying to serve in some other part of aviation. It's a vocation to be an airline pilot because of the enormity of responsiblity involved.
You sleep better knowing your girlfriend or mother is traveling on an airline because you know the standard of professionalism that exists at this level cannot be duplicated.

Yes, corporate pilots are often required to imitate the airlines by wearing the uniform with bars, but that's just a pony show for their clients.

The best analysis for you is this:
Airline Pilots are to players in the NFL, as corporate pilots are to Roller Derby.

OK this is either flamebait, or you're a complete jacka$$. I'm guessing flamebait, but I'll respond anyway.

This is too stupid to even sum up into words. I'm literally speechless. I fairly sure that you're not representative of the others in your profession, so I'll just speak directly about you. Enjoy your life of showing up, flying, and going home, because you don't have to do jack $hit other than that. You don't have to maintain maintenece records, do your own flight planning, check your own weather, fill out your own customs paperwork, arrange fuel deals, hangar rent, negotiate with MX, your boss, arrange your own hotels on the roads, deal with the FAA on RVSM and MNPS......

My guess is you're sitting reserve in the right seat of an Airbus somewhere and you think you're hot $hit because look at my nice big plane, and you're probably straight out of a CRJ or something like that. Ironically that's the job I just QUIT to go back to flying my small jets. I hated it. It's not to say that it's not great for others, it's just not for me. I want to be the one in control. I hated the idea of someone else doing my flight planning, checking my weather, making my fuel orders, and having to call company every time I needed to make a decision. It's MY plane, and company isn't there. Rest assured dude, if I wanted to be there, I would. But I don't, so I'm not. Jacka$$es like you simply do nothing but vaildate what I'm saying.

Go back to flying your shiny CRJ or whatever. Have a ball. But I'll put my skills and knowledge up against yours anyday. It sure would be fun to make you look stupid. I wonder if YOU could even make it in the corporate world. God forbid if you had to handle anything without someone else baby walking you through what to do.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Crashpad...

Erased your previous post?

 

[Rook]

Crashpad...

Erased your previous post?

Don't worry bout the previous post dude. Regionals didn't work out for you and you found a better gig. When I was freight doggin' we did more challenging flying than I've ever done in the 121 world. It's no secret that 121 ops have more support than the guys in the corp/135 world having to file, order fuel, etc. But by the same token, don't knock all of us 121 dudes. Some of us have seen the 'other side' of the coin. The last guy is just misinformed.

Rook

 

[Rhoid]

There's no $300K a year DC-10 captain job at the end of the rainbow anymore.

You are right! There is the $300K to $400K A-380 captain job at FedEx and UPS at the end of the rainbow!!!!

 

[CapnVegetto]

Don't worry bout the previous post dude. Regionals didn't work out for you and you found a better gig. When I was freight doggin' we did more challenging flying than I've ever done in the 121 world. It's no secret that 121 ops have more support than the guys in the corp/135 world having to file, order fuel, etc. But by the same token, don't knock all of us 121 dudes. Some of us have seen the 'other side' of the coin. The last guy is just misinformed.

Rook

I tend to spout when I get pi$$ed. I took the flamebait, I deserve to be smacked. I'm only knocking guys like him, not all of ya, I promise. I used to be one, remember? As I said before, it's just not for me. Airlines are just like anywhere else. There are fan-freaking-tastic pilots, and there are dumba$$es that you wonder how they ever slipped through the cracks.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Dude, top pay at FedEX for senior widebody CA is $206 an hour, an UPS top CA pay is $190 an hour. At 1000 hours a year (and hardly anyone works that much), that's $206,000 or $190,000. What makes you think they're going to pay $300-$400 an hour for an A380 CA?

 

[CapnVegetto]

Wait a minute, it's Rhoid!!! Oh my GAWD!! I took flamebait twice in one thread!! Somebody shoot me now!!

 

[ERJDRVR]

don't forget the other reason to avoid Shatugwa:

TRAINING AGREEMENT

$15,000 Training Cost will be paid by Chautauqua. All new hire pilots will be required to sign a two-year commitment/agreement.

Well you pay training cost if you quit within two years. You stay over 2, you do nto pay anything.

FYI GUPPYKILLER IS NOT a CHQ pilot. HE is a flame-baiter. He has been doing this stuff for kicks for a few months.

 

[Rhoid]

Just wait till their new contracts are finished. I heard that FedEx is going to ask for $380/hr for the A-380.

 

[Nova]

It's a ratio long standing....

Then I guess you wouldn't have any trouble showing them.


50% of all statistics are made up.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Just wait till their new contracts are finished. I heard that FedEx is going to ask for $380/hr for the A-380.

Maybe, but some Netjets guys are asking for $150K a year for a CE-560. Will they get it, no way, but that's how you negotiate. Start high, and meet in the middle.

I sure wish they'd get it though, because it'd REALLY raise the bar. Everybody would have to start paying more to keep their people.

 

[Steveair]

The best regional to be at today will be the worst regional to be at tomorrow...

 

[cl604driver]

well the regionals suck and always will suck. The most you can EVER expect to make is about 70,000 maybe a little more with some overtime. That is about enough to buy a house on wheels and have no money for anything else in life. But hey you have the airline job going nowhere, flying 1000 hrs. a year and being treated like dirt. And if another 9/11 tragedy takes place your job will be gone or in serious jeporady as in the corporate world since 9/11 it has grown rapidly and keeps growing. I fly about 300 hours a year and make more than you guys will ever make in a lifetime at the regionals. But hey it is what you choose to do. So more power to you, and I will look down on you from FL430 above the level 3,4 &5 thunderstorms and wave to you guys. See ya

 

[145 Lawndart]

CapnVeggeto,

From your A/C experience CL65-200,700,900 I would guess that your opinion is based on working for Mesa. I don't think it would be correct to judge all regionals the same. I have been at ExpressJet for 7 years and am treated very well I have 15-16 days off a month. I don't work weekends or fly more that 3 legs a day on average and expect to make about 85,000 this year. That is based on working very little overtime and including profit sharing. I will probably turn down a job with CAL if offered because I don't want to lose my quality life.

The original poster wanted to know what regionals are the best and hiring. Depending on what you are looking for out of life ExpressJet is probably one of the best aviation jobs out there. Unfortunatly the regional you worked for was probably the worst.

Good luck in your career.

 

[Alchemy]

I love the corporate guys on here who like to come up and talk down to us. You guys are so cool. Can I have your autograph?

 

[crashpad]

OK this is either flamebait, or you're a complete jacka$$. I'm guessing flamebait, but I'll respond anyway.

This is too stupid to even sum up into words. I'm literally speechless. I fairly sure that you're not representative of the others in your profession, so I'll just speak directly about you. Enjoy your life of showing up, flying, and going home, because you don't have to do jack $hit other than that. You don't have to maintain maintenece records, do your own flight planning, check your own weather, fill out your own customs paperwork, arrange fuel deals, hangar rent, negotiate with MX, your boss, arrange your own hotels on the roads, deal with the FAA on RVSM and MNPS......

My guess is you're sitting reserve in the right seat of an Airbus somewhere and you think you're hot $hit because look at my nice big plane, and you're probably straight out of a CRJ or something like that. Ironically that's the job I just QUIT to go back to flying my small jets. I hated it. It's not to say that it's not great for others, it's just not for me. I want to be the one in control. I hated the idea of someone else doing my flight planning, checking my weather, making my fuel orders, and having to call company every time I needed to make a decision. It's MY plane, and company isn't there. Rest assured dude, if I wanted to be there, I would. But I don't, so I'm not. Jacka$$es like you simply do nothing but vaildate what I'm saying.

Go back to flying your shiny CRJ or whatever. Have a ball. But I'll put my skills and knowledge up against yours anyday. It sure would be fun to make you look stupid. I wonder if YOU could even make it in the corporate world. God forbid if you had to handle anything without someone else baby walking you through what to do.

I erased my post because I thought 'this guy has some valid points'. Even the above response is partially correct. I did fly an RJ, I do like my shiney plane and having others do all the rest of the work, I enjoy my time off, and don't claim to be representative of others in my profession. I'm confident you're a good stick given the diversity of your experience.

The opportunity to compare flying skills is remote, as I stopped logging hours about 5 years ago after 10K. I don't list all the a/c I've flown because 'who cares'. I did upgrade in the Airbus, but I think being an FO at this level is equally as important. We'll just call you the winner and I'll buy the beer.

 

[say again]

I love the corporate guys on here who like to come up and talk down to us. You guys are so cool. Can I have your autograph?

No...

 

[acaTerry]

Stevair,
I love that avatar. Now THAT's what flying is about...

 

[rattler]

CapnVeggeto,

From your A/C experience CL65-200,700,900 I would guess that your opinion is based on working for Mesa. I don't think it would be correct to judge all regionals the same. I have been at ExpressJet for 7 years and am treated very well I have 15-16 days off a month. I don't work weekends or fly more that 3 legs a day on average and expect to make about 85,000 this year. That is based on working very little overtime and including profit sharing. I will probably turn down a job with CAL if offered because I don't want to lose my quality life.

The original poster wanted to know what regionals are the best and hiring. Depending on what you are looking for out of life ExpressJet is probably one of the best aviation jobs out there. Unfortunatly the regional you worked for was probably the worst.

Good luck in your career.

Dude, please go to CAL...so I can have your job, of course!

 

[CapnVegetto]

CapnVeggeto,

From your A/C experience CL65-200,700,900 I would guess that your opinion is based on working for Mesa. I don't think it would be correct to judge all regionals the same. I have been at ExpressJet for 7 years and am treated very well I have 15-16 days off a month. I don't work weekends or fly more that 3 legs a day on average and expect to make about 85,000 this year. That is based on working very little overtime and including profit sharing. I will probably turn down a job with CAL if offered because I don't want to lose my quality life.

The original poster wanted to know what regionals are the best and hiring. Depending on what you are looking for out of life ExpressJet is probably one of the best aviation jobs out there. Unfortunatly the regional you worked for was probably the worst.

Good luck in your career.

Nice catch man. Yep, I worked for Mesa, and it sucked. I just wouldn't be happy at a career at a regional, or a major for that matter. 15 to 16 days a month off? Do you commute? Best line I ever held at Mesa I had 14 days off in a 28 day bid, and I was home about 10 of them with the commuting. Of course, if you don't commute, then life is a whole lot better, but then you have to live in a big city somewhere, which also is not for me. Yeah, if I stuck it out and went to a major, I'd probably end up making $200K a year in about 20 years, but #1, I don't want to wait that long to enjoy my life, and #2, I'll still be gone away from home at least half the month. That's why you'll never see me flying a Gulfstream or Falcon or something like that. Because I'm not real wild about spending 2 weeks at a time on the road in Asia or Europe. Probably, for the rest of my career, I'm going to be flying a Citation, Lear, or Kingair, (something small), unless I find the right job in a big jet, which I doubt. I suppose maybe I've got laziness down to a science.

 

[CapnVegetto]

I erased my post because I thought 'this guy has some valid points'. Even the above response is partially correct. I did fly an RJ, I do like my shiney plane and having others do all the rest of the work, I enjoy my time off, and don't claim to be representative of others in my profession. I'm confident you're a good stick given the diversity of your experience.

The opportunity to compare flying skills is remote, as I stopped logging hours about 5 years ago after 10K. I don't list all the a/c I've flown because 'who cares'. I did upgrade in the Airbus, but I think being an FO at this level is equally as important. We'll just call you the winner and I'll buy the beer.

Sounds good to me. Let's call it a draw instead. One profession isn't better than another, they're just different. Although I think being an FO at any level is just as important.

 

[IAHERJ]

After 5 years with COEX, I'm at AirTran. Will make around 75K as a 2nd/3rd year FO and plan on upgrading within the year. Average 15 days off but 17 last month with weekends off. I have a B-fund retirement that will dump around 7-8K into my retirement account this year alone. I bring this up to point out that some companies like AirTran only hire 121 or military pilots and a regional guy is a perfect fit for our airline. We are not a legacy and don't fly widebodies but we are a great company with good pay and we have many pilots in their 20's making over 100K with a good schedule. The regionals are and have always been a great way to get into larger equipment. Now some regionals like Expressjet, Comair, Skywest, and several others can be career carriers. You can even fly 100 seat planes at places like CHQ and Mesa. I know the pay needs to come up at those two so don't flame me for mentioning them.

To answer the origional poster's question before we were all sidetracked by the corporate guys; Shoot your resume's out to the 3 you really want to work for. Take the first job out of those 3 and just go with it. Have a great time and enjoy your travel benifits, schedule, and layovers. Most regionals actually put you up in nice hotels in larger cities. In fact Expressjet put us up in some really nice places, expecially in Mexico. 33 hour layovers in Veracruz!!

IAHERJ