Best Regional

[TGT]

Which regional is the best to work for today, and which do you see as having the most potential in the next few years (upgrade, QOL, larger a/c, etc). Since most of the majors are struggling and will be for a while, it seems that one should look at a regional as if they would spend their career there. Any input would be great. Thanx.

 

[chperplt]

Which regional is the best to work for today

Probably the one that won't be the best tomorrow.

 

[kj6991]

SkyWest is probably the best place to be.

 

[nimtz]

To paraphrase an old airline pilot expression "the best regional is the one you retire from." F*CK, that's a sad thing to consider. Well let's all keep flying those 70's and get to work on 90 seaters.

 

[WolfManPack]

Why?

KJ,

This is a straight up question because I've wondered the same thing....who IS the best regional to work for!

Anyway...I'm not doubting SkyWest is the best....but why do you think so?

Later!

 

[chperplt]

How can anyone say who the "best" regional to work for is? Sit the pilot group down and ask them for a list of Pros and Cons about their airline and they will all be different.

Skywest might be best for you if you live in SLC and think the work rules are great. CVG might be the best if you're from Cincinnati and so on and so on.

The "best" is way too subjective a term.

 

[jaybird]

How can anyone say who the "best" regional to work for is? Sit the pilot group down and ask them for a list of Pros and Cons about their airline and they will all be different.

Skywest might be best for you if you live in SLC and think the work rules are great. CVG might be the best if you're from Cincinnati and so on and so on.

The "best" is way too subjective a term.

Who's CVG? Are they hiring?

 

[kj6991]

wolfman.

my times are low and considered in-experienced, which i agree upon. but after working for SkyWest for 6 months, you really get the feeling that their pilot group feels very fortunate to be there. Of all the pilots I met and talked with, I never, ever, once heard any of them say they want to be anywhere else but there. Are they a little bias, well maybe, but you don't hear SkyWest pilots leaving for other regionals. And the pilots that are now there and have come from other 121 carriers usually say that they are extremely glad to make the switch and they don't want to go anywhere else. But hey, what do i know anyway.

 

[Dodge]

All regionals are equally bad in their own ways. They all have the same problems. Lack of staffing, poor training of dispatchers, FA's, ramp agents, pilots, etc....Poor pay, small airplanes, no pensions, lousy sick time accural. They are all the same. The key is to try to get hired at one where you will average the most days off. Everything else to me is equal.

Remeber, everyone working at a regional is there because they aren't deemed "employable or qualified" at a major. That holds true for management all the way down to the guys who sweep the hangar floors.

 

[Rogue5]

All regionals are equally bad in their own ways. They all have the same problems. Lack of staffing, poor training of dispatchers, FA's, ramp agents, pilots, etc....Poor pay, small airplanes, no pensions, lousy sick time accural. They are all the same. The key is to try to get hired at one where you will average the most days off. Everything else to me is equal.

And you know this because you have worked at how many regionals?

 

[cl65capt]

The best regional is the one with a resonable upgrade time so you can get your PIC and try to move on. Keep in mind the best one should also be one you wouldnt mind being stuck at if the above doesnt happen.

 

[scotts]

I talked to another FO who went to Skywest after being furloughed from XJT. He took the recall to XJT after flying the CRJ at Skywest. He said that he liked the ERJ more and that the cockpit culture at Skywest was more rigid. He was happy to be back at XJT.

FWIW...

 

[rattler]

The best regional is the one with a resonable upgrade time so you can get your PIC and try to move on. Keep in mind the best one should also be one you wouldnt mind being stuck at if the above doesnt happen.

and go where?

I don't know, compare the contracts at different regionals and see which one is the best for you. Remember pay isn't everything, there are many equally important sections, such as scheduling, work rules and scope. Plus living at your base is great, commuting just takes some time to get use to.
Personally SkyWest may be good, but I just can't get past the union thing. In my personal opinion having representation in this industry is essential. Without it, there are no rules in which the company must follow. In any case, I hope you all find the place that's best for you.

 

[CiFIknow]

If you look historically, the cards have shifted many times. When I first started looking into this profession, Mesaba was near the top of the list as far as one of the best places to work. At that time, Express One (now Pinnacle) was hiring PFT'ers from FlightSafety with 500 hours. Now look how the worm has turned. Mesaba is basically stagnant and Pinnacle is flying around in shiny new CRJ's. One could never have predicted that in the long run. There are several other examples similar to this. I guess you have to go with who presents the best opportunity for you at the moment and hope that it will work out in the long run. One never knows what changes a few years can bring.

 

[Mustang5.0]

Is there a website that has the contracts for various regionals? Sure would be nice for comparison purposes.​

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There used to be airlinepilotcontracts.com but it doesn't work anymore.​

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